Home Back

Percentage Increase And Decrease Corbettmaths

Percentage Change Formula:

\[ \text{Percentage Change} = \left( \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Old Value}}{\text{Old Value}} \right) \times 100 \]

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From: To:

1. What is Percentage Change?

Percentage change measures the degree of change over time, expressed as a percentage. It's commonly used to compare an old value to a new value, showing either an increase or decrease in percentage terms.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage change formula:

\[ \text{Percentage Change} = \left( \frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Old Value}}{\text{Old Value}} \right) \times 100 \]

Where:

Explanation: The formula calculates the difference between the new and old values, divides by the old value to get a relative change, then multiplies by 100 to convert to a percentage.

3. Importance of Percentage Change

Details: Percentage change is widely used in finance, economics, science, and everyday life to compare changes in values over time. It provides a standardized way to express changes regardless of the original values' magnitude.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the old (original) value and the new (current) value. The calculator will show the percentage increase or decrease. Note that the old value must be greater than zero.

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: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when the old value is zero, as division by zero is impossible.

Q3: How is this different from percentage difference?
A: Percentage change compares two values over time, while percentage difference compares two values at the same time.

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

Q5: Why is percentage change useful?
A: It allows comparison of changes across different scales and magnitudes by standardizing the change as a percentage.

Percentage Increase and Decrease Calculator© - All Rights Reserved 2025