1. What is a Percentage Difference Calculator?

Definition: This calculator measures the relative difference between two values as a percentage of their average.

Purpose: It helps compare two values to understand how much they differ relative to their average size.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — First value
• \( B \) — Second value
• \( |A - B| \) — Absolute difference between 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. Importance of Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference is useful for comparing measurements, experimental results, or any two quantities where relative difference matters more than absolute difference.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative). The calculator will show how much they differ relative to their average.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is percentage difference different from percentage change?
A: Percentage change compares a new value to an old value, while percentage difference compares any two values without reference to time.

Q2: Can I compare negative numbers?
A: Yes, the calculator works with both positive and negative values.

Q3: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: It means the two values are identical (A = B).

Q4: What's the maximum possible percentage difference?
A: When comparing a value with zero, the difference approaches 200%. When comparing values with opposite signs, it can exceed 200%.

Q5: When should I use percentage difference vs. absolute difference?
A: Use percentage difference when you want to understand the difference relative to the values' sizes. Use absolute difference when the actual numerical difference matters most.