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How to Calculate Percent Change

Percent Change Formula:

\[ \%\ Change = \frac{New - Old}{Old} \times 100 \]

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1. What is Percent Change?

Percent change measures the relative difference between an old value and a new value, expressed as a percentage. It's widely used in finance, economics, statistics, and various scientific fields to track growth, decline, or changes over time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent change formula:

\[ \%\ Change = \frac{New - Old}{Old} \times 100 \]

Where:

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

3. Importance of Percent Change Calculation

Details: Percent change is essential for analyzing trends, comparing performance, making investment decisions, tracking growth rates, and understanding market dynamics across various industries.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the original value and the new value. Both values must be positive numbers. The old value cannot be zero as division by zero is undefined.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a positive percent change indicate?
A: A positive result indicates an increase or growth from the old value to the new value.

Q2: What does a negative percent change indicate?
A: A negative result indicates a decrease or decline from the old value to the new value.

Q3: Can percent change be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, percent change can exceed 100% when the new value is more than double the old value.

Q4: How is percent change different from percentage points?
A: Percent change measures relative change, while percentage points measure absolute difference between two percentages.

Q5: When should I use percent change vs. absolute change?
A: Use percent change for relative comparisons and absolute change when the actual numerical difference is more relevant to your analysis.

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