TRANSPOSE and MMULT don't work together

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi,

I found that TRANSPOSE and MMULT do not work together well. if I type the
following I get #VALUE!.

=MMULT(A1:C1,TRANSPOSE(A2:C2))

where A1:C1 and A2:C2 are two 3*1 vectors of numbers.

However, through trial and error, I find if I type in the above formula as
an array formula (by pressing CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER), although the 'array formula'
takes only one cell, it actually works.

Can anyone let me know why this would be the case? Anyway to type the
formula in as a regular formula?

Thanks,
Geoffrey
 
cmart02 said:
The TRANSPOSE function returns and array; thus, it only works if you press
CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. The bet way to see it working is to use the transpose
function on its own and then bring the two together.
Click to expand...

Light testing would show your statement isn't entirely accurate.

=TRANSPOSE(1+2)

returns 3, and

=TRANSPOSE({1;2;3})

returns {1,2,3}, well, it returns 1 if entered as a nonarray formula, but it
doesn't return #VALUE!. Perhaps a better example would be

=MMULT(TRANSPOSE({1;2}),{3;4})

which returns 11 even if not entered as an array formula.

It's more accurate to say that TRANSPOSE usually does nothing useful unless
entered in array formulas. It can be used as an intermediate term in a
larger formula only with scalar or array constant arguments if that larger
formula isn't entered as an array formula.
 
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