Syntax
MAKEARRAY(rows, cols, lambda)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| rows | Parameter of the MAKEARRAY function. |
| cols | Parameter of the MAKEARRAY function. |
| lambda | Parameter of the MAKEARRAY function. |
Examples
Multiplication table
Formula
=MAKEARRAY(10, 10, LAMBDA(r, c, r*c))
Creates a 10x10 multiplication table where each cell is the product of its row and column number.
Identity matrix
Formula
=MAKEARRAY(5, 5, LAMBDA(r, c, IF(r=c, 1, 0)))
Creates a 5x5 identity matrix with 1s on the diagonal and 0s elsewhere. Useful for linear algebra calculations.
Checkerboard pattern
Formula
=MAKEARRAY(8, 8, LAMBDA(r, c, IF(MOD(r+c, 2)=0, "B", "W")))
Creates an 8x8 checkerboard grid alternating between 'B' (black) and 'W' (white) based on position parity.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
The LAMBDA function doesn't accept exactly 2 parameters (row and column index), or rows/cols is not a positive integer.
#CALC!
The LAMBDA function returns an error for one or more row/column combinations.
Tips
Row and column are 1-based
The LAMBDA receives row and column indices starting from 1, not 0. The top-left cell gets r=1, c=1.
Generate test data
Use MAKEARRAY to create structured test data: =MAKEARRAY(100, 5, LAMBDA(r,c, r*100+c)) generates unique IDs for a 100x5 grid.
Any formula inside the LAMBDA
The LAMBDA body can use IF, MOD, math, text functions — anything. The row and column arguments let you create position-dependent patterns.
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