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's useful for comparing measurements, experimental results, or any two values where you want to understand their relative difference.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — First value
• \( B \) — Second value
• The vertical bars \( | \) indicate absolute value

Explanation: The difference between the values 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 values being compared.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative). The calculator will show the percentage difference between them.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between percentage difference and 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 values.

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

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

Q5: When should I use this instead of percentage error?
A: Use percentage difference when comparing two experimental values, and percentage error when comparing an experimental value to a known theoretical value.