Array constants can be used to create arrays, or to modify existing arrays in a worksheet.
The worksheet is set up for a vertical array and a horizontal array. First, we’ll use array constants to fill in the x column of the vertical array. Select the cells in this column. An array is designated with a curly bracket { after the equals sign. In a vertical array, the constants are separated by semicolons.
Type into the formula bar:
={1;2;3;4}
Type Ctrl-Shift-Enter to fill in the vertical array with those constants:
If you forget and use Enter instead of Ctrl-Shift-Enter, the formula won’t be applied to the whole array.
To fill in the x2 column, we can perform an operation as in the previous section. To do this, select the empty cells in the x2 column. In the formula bar, enter an equals sign, then select the x values in column B. Add ^2 to raise it to the second power:
=B5:B8^2
Then type Ctrl-Shift-Enter. No curly brackets are needed for this method.
However, it’s possible to use array constants to fill in the x2 column and the x3 column together, with a single array formula.
First, select all the cells to populate. Go to the formula bar and enter an equals sign. Select the x values, and add a carat (^). So far you should have:
=B5:B8^
Next, we’ll add the exponents as a horizontal array. In a horizontal array, the values are separated with commas.
=B5:B8^{2,3}
Type Ctrl-Shift-Enter, and the formula will populate the other two columns.
There is a similar table in a horizontal orientation. To fill in the x values, select the empty cells, then enter into the formula bar:
={1,2,3,4}
Then type Ctrl-Shift-Enter. Remember to separate the values with commas to obtain a horizontal array.
To fill in the remainder of the horizontal array, select the remaining empty cells. In the formula bar, type:
=G4:J4^{2;3}
Remember to use a semicolon to create the vertical component of this array. Again, type Ctrl-Shift-Enter to enter it as an array formula.
