1. What is a Percentage Increase/Decrease Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the percentage change between two values, showing either an increase or decrease.

Purpose: It helps analyze growth rates, price changes, performance improvements, and other comparative metrics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• New — The current or final value
• Old — The original or initial value
• Change — The percentage difference between the values

Explanation: The difference between new and old values is divided by the old value, then multiplied by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Percentage Change Calculation

Details: Percentage change provides a standardized way to compare changes across different scales and magnitudes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both new and old values. The calculator will show the percentage change and indicate whether it's an increase or decrease.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative percentage mean?
A: A negative percentage indicates a decrease from the old value to the new value.

Q2: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when old value is zero (division by zero). Use absolute difference instead.

Q3: How do I interpret a 100% increase?
A: A 100% increase means the new value is double the old value (2x).

Q4: What's the difference between percentage change and percentage points?
A: Percentage change compares two values, while percentage points measure the difference between two percentages.

Q5: When is percentage change most useful?
A: It's most useful when comparing changes across different scales or when the absolute difference might be misleading.