Arithmetic operators

Overview

Arithmetic operators combine numeric values in formulas.
When inputs have different dimensionality, arithmetic can also change the output shape.

Mental model

Arithmetic operators work row-wise on a specific combination of level values.

When inputs don’t share the same dimensionality, the operator can change the output shape:

• + and - align to shared dimensions

• * and / apply across the combined dimension set

If your output shape matters, make dimensional intent explicit (for example with ROLLUP, ROLLUP_TO, EXPAND, DROPLEVEL) before combining nodes.

Operator reference

When to prefer a function

• Use RATIO('Gross Profit', 'Revenue') when you want a ratio that keeps only the shared dimensions of both inputs

• Use ADDEACH('Sales', 1) when you want to add a constant to each value without relying on arithmetic shape behavior

Pitfalls & troubleshooting

• Wrong shape after + or -: check whether the inputs have different dimensionality and aligned to shared dimensions

• Unexpected expansion after * or /: check whether the result expanded across combined dimensions

• Need stricter mismatch handling: use validated functions such as MULTIPLY(...) or DIVIDE(...) where available

• Sign mistakes: consider modeling cost positions as negative values and using + consistently

Related sections

• Formula basics: evaluation order, constants, and quoting rules

• Dimensionality & hierarchies: functions for explicit shaping

• Troubleshooting guide: wrong shape, wrong numbers, and empty output