1. What is a Percentage Change Calculator?

Definition: This calculator measures the relative change between an old value and a new value expressed as a percentage.

Purpose: It helps analyze growth rates, performance changes, and statistical differences in various fields like finance, economics, and science.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( New \) — The new or current value
• \( Old \) — The original or previous 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 easier to interpret data trends.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the old (original) value and new (current) value. The old value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: What's the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
A: Percentage change compares new to old, while percentage difference compares any two values without directionality.

Q3: How do I interpret a percentage change from 0?
A: Percentage change from zero is undefined because you cannot divide by zero. Consider absolute change instead.

Q4: Can percentage change be more than 100%?
A: Yes, when the new value is more than double the old value, the percentage change exceeds 100%.

Q5: When is percentage change most useful?
A: It's most useful when comparing changes in values of different magnitudes or scales.