1. What is a Percentage Difference Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps compare two values to understand how much they differ relative to their average, useful in statistics, finance, and scientific comparisons.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Num1} \) — First value for comparison
• \( \text{Num2} \) — Second value for comparison
• The vertical bars \( | \) indicate absolute value (always positive)

Explanation: The difference between the two numbers is divided by their average, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

3. Importance of Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference provides a standardized way to compare differences regardless of the magnitude of the numbers being compared.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numbers (positive or negative) to calculate their percentage difference. The result shows 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 which is "original."

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

Q3: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: It means the two numbers are identical (no difference between them).

Q4: What's the maximum possible percentage difference?
A: When comparing a number with zero, the maximum difference approaches 200%.

Q5: When would I use this calculation?
A: Useful for comparing experimental vs theoretical values, before/after measurements, or any two related quantities.