1. What is Percentage Change?

Percentage change measures the degree of change over time. It compares the difference between a new value and an old value relative to the old value, expressed as a percentage. This calculation is widely used in finance, economics, statistics, and many other fields.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage change formula:

Where:

• New Value — The current or ending value
• Old Value — The original or starting value

Explanation: The formula calculates how much a value has changed relative to its original amount. A positive result indicates an increase, while a negative result indicates a decrease.

3. Importance of Percentage Change

Details: Percentage change is crucial for comparing changes over time, analyzing trends, making business decisions, and understanding growth or decline in various metrics. It provides a standardized way to compare changes of different magnitudes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both old and new values in the same units. The old value must be greater than zero. 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 change mean?
A: A negative percentage change indicates a decrease from the old value to the new value.

Q2: How is percentage change different from percentage difference?
A: Percentage change compares two values over time (before/after), while percentage difference compares two different values at the same time.

Q3: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when the old value is zero, as division by zero is not possible in mathematics.

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

Q5: How is percentage change used in finance?
A: In finance, it's used to calculate returns on investments, track stock price changes, and analyze revenue growth or decline.