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Percent Change Calculator

Percent Change Formula:

\[ \%\ Change = \frac{New\ Value - Old\ Value}{|Old\ Value|} \times 100 \]

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1. What is a Percent Change Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps analyze changes in quantities like prices, measurements, or performance metrics over time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ \%\ Change = \frac{New\ Value - Old\ Value}{|Old\ Value|} \times 100 \]

Where:

Explanation: The difference between values is divided by the absolute value of the old value to determine relative change, then converted to a percentage.

3. Importance of Percent Change Calculation

Details: Percent change provides a standardized way to compare changes across different scales and units of measurement.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both old and new values. The calculator handles both increases (positive result) and decreases (negative result).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use absolute value for the denominator?
A: This ensures consistent results whether the old value was positive or negative.

Q2: What does a negative percentage mean?
A: A negative result indicates a decrease from the old value to the new value.

Q3: How do I interpret a 0% change?
A: This means the new value is exactly the same as the old value.

Q4: What if my old value was zero?
A: Percentage change is undefined when dividing by zero. The calculator will not compute in this case.

Q5: Can I use this for percentage difference?
A: No, percentage difference uses the average of the two values as the denominator.

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