1. What is a Percentage Increase/Decrease Calculator?

Definition: This calculator measures the relative change between two values expressed as a percentage.

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:

• Change — Percentage increase or decrease
• New — The current or final value
• Old — The original or initial value

Explanation: The difference between new and old values is divided by the old value to get the relative change, 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, making it essential for financial analysis, scientific research, and business metrics.

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. Old value cannot be zero.

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: Percentage change is undefined when the old value is zero, as division by zero is impossible.

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

Q4: Can I use this for percentage difference between two values?
A: Yes, though percentage difference is typically calculated by dividing by the average of the two values.

Q5: Why use percentage change instead of absolute change?
A: Percentage change provides context about the relative size of the change compared to the original value.