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Math function

MINVERSE

Returns the inverse of a square matrix as an array.

Rarely usedDifficulty 1500 · AdvancedUsage rank #403 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Inverse of a square matrix, returned as an array that spills. Solve a linear system A·x = b with MMULT(MINVERSE(A),b).

The shape of it

Syntax
=MINVERSE(array)

Worked examples

  • 2 by 2

    =MINVERSE({1,2;3,4}) → {-2,1;1.5,-0.5}

    Spills into 2 by 2.

  • Diagonal

    =MINVERSE({2,0;0,4}) → {0.5,0;0,0.25}

    Diagonal inverts element-wise.

  • Check the inverse

    =MMULT(A1:B2,MINVERSE(A1:B2)) → {1,0;0,1}

    A matrix times its inverse is the identity.

Worth knowing

  • Solve equations: =MMULT(MINVERSE(A),b) where A is the coefficient matrix and b the constants column.
  • In older Excel select the output range and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
  • Check MDETERM first to avoid #NUM!.

Where it goes wrong

  • #NUM! for a singular matrix.
  • #VALUE! for a non-square range or one with text or blanks.

Related

SUMSUMIFSUMIFSROUNDABSSUMPRODUCT

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