1. What is the Old Value Calculation?

This calculator determines the original value before a known percentage increase was applied. It's useful for reverse-engineering prices, values, or quantities when you only know the increased amount and the percentage it was increased by.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• New Value — The increased amount
• Rate — The percentage increase that was applied (e.g., 10 for 10%)

Explanation: The formula works by reversing the percentage increase calculation. If you know something increased by X% to reach a new value, this tells you what it was before the increase.

3. Practical Applications

Details: This calculation is commonly used in:

• Financial analysis to determine original prices before markups
• Salary negotiations to understand pre-raise amounts
• Inventory management to calculate original stock levels
• Data analysis to normalize values after percentage changes

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter the new value (after increase) as a positive number
• Enter the percentage increase rate (without the % sign)
• The calculator will show the original value before the increase was applied

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can this be used for percentage decreases?
A: No, this specific formula is for increases only. For decreases, you would need a different formula.

Q2: What if the percentage increase was 0%?
A: The old value and new value would be identical, as no increase occurred.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's mathematically precise for the given inputs, assuming the new value resulted from a single percentage increase.

Q4: Can this handle multiple percentage changes?
A: No, this calculates for a single percentage increase. For multiple changes, you'd need to apply the formula sequentially.

Q5: What if I get a negative result?
A: With valid inputs (positive numbers), you shouldn't get negative results. If you do, check your input values.