1. What is Percentage Change?

Percentage change measures the degree of change over time. It expresses the difference between an old and new value as a percentage of the old value. This calculation is widely used in finance, economics, statistics, and general data analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage change formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates the relative change between two values. 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 across different scales, tracking growth or decline, analyzing trends, and making data-driven decisions in business and research.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both old and new values. The old value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined). The calculator automatically determines if the change is 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 (sequential), while percentage difference compares two values at the same time (parallel).

Q3: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when the old value is zero, as you cannot divide by zero. In such cases, consider using absolute change instead.

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

Q5: How do I interpret a percentage decrease greater than 100%?
A: A decrease greater than 100% means the new value has not only decreased but changed direction (e.g., from positive to negative).