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, useful in science, finance, and data analysis.

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 is divided by the average of the two values, 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 values being compared.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values. The calculator will show their percentage difference. Both values cannot be zero.

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: When should I use percentage difference?
A: Use it when comparing two parallel values (like two measurements or experimental results) rather than tracking change over time.

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

Q4: Can percentage difference be more than 100%?
A: Yes, if one value is much larger than the other relative to their average.

Q5: How do I interpret negative results?
A: The calculator uses absolute value, so results are always positive (0% to ∞).