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Google Sheetsspreadsheet~10 mins

ARRAYFORMULA function in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

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Sample Data

This data shows names in column A and their scores in column B.

CellValue
A1Name
A2Alice
A3Bob
A4Charlie
B1Score
B280
B390
B485
Formula Trace
=ARRAYFORMULA(B2:B4 * 2)
Step 1: B2:B4
Step 2: B2:B4 * 2
Step 3: ARRAYFORMULA(B2:B4 * 2)
Cell Reference Map
    A       B       C
1 | Name  | Score |       
2 | Alice |  80   |       
3 | Bob   |  90   |       
4 | Charlie| 85   |       

Formula in C2: =ARRAYFORMULA(B2:B4 * 2)
Arrows: B2:B4 → C2:C4
The formula in cell C2 references the range B2:B4 to multiply each score by 2 and outputs results in C2 to C4.
Result
    A       B       C
1 | Name  | Score | Double Score
2 | Alice |  80   | 160         
3 | Bob   |  90   | 180         
4 | Charlie| 85   | 170         
The ARRAYFORMULA outputs the doubled scores in column C for each row corresponding to the scores in column B.
Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions
Test your understanding
What does the ARRAYFORMULA function do in this example?
AIt multiplies each score in B2:B4 by 2 and outputs all results at once.
BIt multiplies only the first score in B2 by 2.
CIt sums all scores in B2:B4 and multiplies the total by 2.
DIt copies the scores from B2:B4 without changes.
Key Result
ARRAYFORMULA applies a formula to an entire range and outputs an array of results.