MINVERSE Function (LibreOffice Calc)

MINVERSE returns the inverse matrix of a square numeric matrix. Multiplying an invertible matrix by its inverse gives an identity matrix, within floating-point precision. In Calc 25.2.3.2 the full result must be entered as an array result: for a 2×2 input, use a 2×2 output area.

=MINVERSE(Array)

Array — Required. A square, non-singular numeric matrix supplied as a cell range.

LibreOffice 26.8 Help calls it an inverse array and describes array-formula entry. The function itself has only one argument. The following examples were calculated in LibreOffice Calc 25.2.3.2, not 26.8.

Create a blank sheet with these values:

On a narrow screen, scroll this table sideways to see every column.

Select the empty output range H10:I11 (two rows × two columns), enter:

=MINVERSE(Q10:R11)

Confirm as a matrix formula (on Windows/Linux normally Ctrl+Shift+Enter). The expected result, independently checked as four native Calc output cells, is:

On a narrow screen, scroll this table sideways to see every column.

The inverse follows from determinant 2×3 - 1×1 = 5 and the 2×2 inverse formula (1/5)*[[3,-1],[-1,2]]. Braces displayed around a Calc array formula are entered by Calc; do not type them by hand.

To avoid needing an output block when only one value matters:

=INDEX(MINVERSE(Q10:R11);1;1)

Expected: 0.6. This nested formula was natively calculated and is useful when you only need one element of the inverse. The separate check:

=ROUND(MDETERM(Q10:R11)*INDEX(MINVERSE(Q10:R11);1;1);1)

Expected: 3. It multiplies the (1,1) inverse coefficient by determinant 5. It is a diagnostic of this specific 2×2 example, not a general matrix-identity test. For a general cross-check, multiply the original matrix by MINVERSE with MMULT and compare its resulting matrix to the identity.

If your input is [[1,2],[2,4]] in cells V1:W2, its determinant is 0. The native calculation =INDEX(MINVERSE(V1:W2);1;1) returned Err:502 in Calc 25.2.3.2. There is no inverse for this matrix. Before troubleshooting separators or formatting, use MDETERM and inspect the source numbers.

The result size must match the source dimensions. If only one scalar appears or Calc refuses to edit a subcell, select the complete target array when entering or changing the formula. Large near-singular matrices can have unstable numerical inverses even without a hard error; an unrounded residual check is more informative than pretty number formatting.

MINVERSE exists in Excel and Google Sheets, but output-array mechanics and automatic spilling differ from Calc’s documented array workflow; test before migrating. Related: MDETERM, MMULT, TRANSPOSE, INDEX.

• LibreOffice 26.8 Help — MINVERSE and Array Functions, directly reviewed 2026-10-11.
• Native Calc 25.2.3.2 passed: minverse-2x2, minverse-scalar, minverse-identity; minverse-singular was an additional observed error case.

Selected example formulas were run in LibreOffice Calc 25.2.3.2 on Linux on October 12, 2026. The official Help may cover a newer version. Tests of selected formulas do not certify every locale, interactive array operation or file round trip. View the example-check record.

Official MINVERSE reference · Editorial standards