1. What is Percentage Change?

Percentage change measures the degree of change over time. It's used to compare the relative change between an original (base) value and a new value, expressed as a percentage of the original value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage change formula:

Where:

• \( \Delta \) — The difference between new and original values
• Base Value — The original reference value

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage the change (Δ) is of the original value.

3. Importance of Percentage Change

Details: Percentage change is widely used in finance, economics, science, and data analysis to compare changes across different scales and magnitudes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the original base value and the change (Δ) from that value. The base value cannot be zero. Positive Δ values indicate increase, negative values indicate decrease.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?
A: Percentage change compares a new value to an original value, while percentage difference compares two values without designating one as original.

Q2: How do I interpret negative percentage change?
A: A negative percentage change indicates a decrease from the original value.

Q3: What if my base value is zero?
A: Percentage change is undefined when the base value is zero, as division by zero is not possible.

Q4: Can percentage change be more than 100%?
A: Yes, if the change is greater than the original value, percentage change will exceed 100%.

Q5: Why use percentage change instead of absolute change?
A: Percentage change provides context by showing the change relative to the original size, making comparisons more meaningful.