1. What is a Percent Change Calculator?

Definition: This calculator measures the percentage change between an old value and a new value.

Purpose: It helps analyze growth, decline, or change in various metrics like prices, quantities, or measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( New \) — The current or new value
• \( Old \) — The previous or original value

Explanation: The difference between new and old values is divided by the old value, then multiplied by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Percent Change Calculation

Details: Percent change helps compare relative changes across different scales, making it useful in finance, statistics, science, and business analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both new and old values. The old value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined). Positive results indicate increase, negative results indicate decrease.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative percent change mean?
A: A negative result indicates a decrease from the old value to the new value.

Q2: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when old value is zero, as you cannot divide by zero.

Q3: How do I interpret a 100% change?
A: A 100% increase means the value has doubled. A 100% decrease means the value has gone to zero.

Q4: Is percent change the same as percentage points?
A: No, percent change measures relative change, while percentage points measure absolute difference between percentages.

Q5: Can I use this for multiple percentage changes?
A: For sequential changes, you need to calculate each step separately and compound the results.