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 size.

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 two values is divided by their average, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

3. Importance of Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference is useful in comparing measurements, experimental results, or any two values where you want to understand their relative difference.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values. The calculator will show how much they differ as a percentage of their average.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is this different from percentage change?
A: Percentage change compares a new value to an old one, while percentage difference compares any two values without reference to which is "before" or "after".

Q2: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: It means the two values are identical (A = B).

Q3: Can the difference be more than 100%?
A: Yes, if one value is much larger than the other relative to their average.

Q4: When would I use this calculation?
A: Useful in scientific comparisons, quality control, financial analysis, and any situation comparing two measurements.

Q5: Why use the average in the denominator?
A: Using the average makes the calculation symmetric - swapping A and B gives the same result.