Why array formulas process ranges at once in Google Sheets - Formula Trace Breakdown

Sample Data

Two columns of numbers to be multiplied element-wise using an array formula.

Cell	Value
A1	2
A2	4
A3	6
B1	3
B2	5
B3	7

Formula Trace

=ARRAYFORMULA(A1:A3 * B1:B3)

Step 1: A1:A3

Step 2: B1:B3

Step 3: [2, 4, 6] * [3, 5, 7]

Step 4: ARRAYFORMULA(A1:A3 * B1:B3)

Cell Reference Map

     A    B
  +----+----+
1 | 2  | 3  |
  +----+----+
2 | 4  | 5  |
  +----+----+
3 | 6  | 7  |
  +----+----+

References: A1:A3 and B1:B3 feed into the formula.

The formula uses two vertical ranges from columns A and B, rows 1 to 3.

Result

     A    B    C
  +----+----+----+
1 | 2  | 3  | 6  |
  +----+----+----+
2 | 4  | 5  | 20 |
  +----+----+----+
3 | 6  | 7  | 42 |
  +----+----+----+

Column C shows the results of the array formula.

The array formula in column C multiplies each pair of numbers from columns A and B, showing results 6, 20, and 42.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the ARRAYFORMULA function do with the ranges A1:A3 and B1:B3?

A It adds all numbers in A1:A3 and B1:B3 separately.

B It multiplies only the first numbers in each range and ignores the rest.

C It multiplies each pair of numbers element-wise and returns all results at once.

D It returns the sum of all numbers in both ranges combined.

Key Result

ARRAYFORMULA processes entire ranges at once, applying operations element-wise and returning arrays of results.