Percent Difference Formula:
From: | To: |
Definition: Percent difference measures the relative difference between two values as a percentage of their average.
Purpose: It's used to compare two experimental values or to compare an experimental value with a theoretical value.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The difference between the two values is divided by their average, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.
Details: Use when comparing two experimental values where neither is considered "correct" or "standard". For comparing to a known value, use percent error instead.
Tips: Enter any two numerical values. The calculator will determine their percent difference. Both values cannot be zero.
Q1: What's the difference between percent difference and percent change?
A: Percent change compares a new value to an old value, while percent difference compares two equal-status values.
Q2: Can percent difference be negative?
A: No, the absolute value ensures it's always positive (0-100% range).
Q3: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: The two values are identical.
Q4: What's a good percent difference?
A: This depends on your field, but generally smaller values indicate better agreement between measurements.
Q5: How is this different from percentage error?
A: Percentage error compares a measured value to a known "true" value, while percent difference compares two experimental values.