1. What is a Percentage Change Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps analyze changes in quantities over time, such as price changes, growth rates, or performance improvements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( New \) — The new or current 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 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 new and old 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 if my old value is zero?
A: Percentage change is undefined when the old value is zero, as you cannot divide by zero.

Q3: How do I interpret a 100% increase?
A: A 100% increase means the new value is double the old value (100% of the original plus the original).

Q4: What's the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
A: Percentage change measures relative change from an original value, while percentage points measure absolute differences between percentages.

Q5: Can I calculate percentage change between percentages?
A: Yes, but be careful to distinguish between percentage change and percentage point change.