Large Matrices in Microsoft Word 2010

Ever want to simply go beyond 3×3 matrices in the Microsoft Word 2010 Equation Editor?

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
You don’t have a lot of choices for dimensions of matrices.

It looks like 3×3 is as large as you can go, but you can go ‘under the hood’ to create matrices of arbitrary size by switching between “Linear” and “Professional” modes.

Let’s first create a 3×3 matrix and populate it.  It doesn’t have to be 3×3, but for sake of explanation, it makes a clearer example.

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
This is a 3×3 Matrix with all cells populated

Once you have the matrix complete. Click on the black arrow on the lower right-hand corner of the Equation Editor.  This pull-down window selects between Professional and Linear modes.  Click on Linear.

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
Select Linear Mode

You will see your equation editor change the layout of the equations into a textual form.  You can think of this as a markup language for the matrix editor.

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
Textual mode of the equation editor.

The ampersand symbols delimit the columns and the at symbols delimit the rows.  If you have an incomplete entry of a row or column, the equation editor will try to make it complete.

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
A larger matrix created and fully populated to resembler a DTMF key arrangement.

At this point, go back to your menu and switch back to professional to view your new matrix.

Screen shot of Microsoft Word 2010 graphical interface.
A complete 4×4 matrix with all cells populated

And there you have it.  A hand-made 4×4 matrix in Equation Editor for Microsoft Word 2010.