1. What is a Percentage Change Calculator?

Definition: This calculator measures the percentage increase or decrease between two values.

Purpose: It helps analyze growth rates, price changes, performance metrics, and other comparative measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• New — The current or updated value
• Old — The original or previous value

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

3. Importance of Percentage Change Calculation

Details: Percentage change provides a standardized way to compare changes across different scales and magnitudes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both old and new values. The old value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: What's the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
A: Percentage change compares two values over time, while percentage difference compares two simultaneous values.

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

Q4: Why can't the old value be zero?
A: Division by zero is mathematically undefined, making percentage change calculations impossible.

Q5: What are common applications of percentage change?
A: Financial analysis, sales growth, population changes, scientific measurements, and performance metrics.