Knowledge Base

FREQUENCY() Returns Zeroes When Entered as Horizontal Array

Article ID: 129774

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2005

Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q129774

SYMPTOMS

If the FREQUENCY function is entered as a horizontal array, regardless of the orientation of the data array or the bins array, the function returns zeros (0).

CAUSE

This problem occurs as a result of the way the FREQUENCY function processes data.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, nest the FREQUENCY function inside the TRANSPOSE function as in the following example.

Example

Type the following information into a worksheet:
A1: 79 B1: Bins
A2: 85 B2: 70
A3: 78 B3: 79
A4: 85 B4: 89
A5: 83 B5:
A6: 95 B6:
A7: 88 B7:
A8: 97 B8:
Select cells C1:F1 and type the following formula:
```
      =TRANSPOSE(FREQUENCY(A1:A8,B2:B4))
						
```
NOTE: You must enter this formula as an array formula. To enter a formula as an array formula in Microsoft Excel for Windows, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, press COMMAND+RETURN.

The returned results are as follows:

   C1:  0   D1:  2   E1:  4   F1:  2

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a 97 XL97 XL7 XL5 XL

Keywords: kbprb KB129774