1. What is a Percentage Difference Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the percentage difference between two values, showing how much they differ relative to their average.

Purpose: It's useful for comparing measurements, experimental results, or any two numerical values to understand their relative difference.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — First value
• \( B \) — Second value
• \( |A - B| \) — Absolute difference between the values
• \( \frac{A + B}{2} \) — Average of the two values

Explanation: The absolute difference between values is divided by their average, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

3. When to Use Percentage Difference

Details: Use this calculation when comparing two values where neither is inherently "correct" or a reference value (unlike percentage change which compares to an original value).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative). The calculator will show their percentage difference. Both values cannot be zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is percentage difference different from percentage change?
A: Percentage change compares to an original value, while percentage difference compares two values symmetrically.

Q2: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: It means the two values are identical (A = B).

Q3: Can I compare negative numbers?
A: Yes, the calculator works with both positive and negative values.

Q4: What's the maximum percentage difference possible?
A: When comparing a value with zero (but not both zero), the maximum is 200%.

Q5: When would this calculation be most useful?
A: For comparing experimental results, measurement variations, or any two values where you want to understand their relative difference.