1. What is Percentage Difference?

Percentage difference measures the relative difference between two values expressed as a percentage. It shows how much one value differs from another in relation to the original value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage difference formula:

Where:

• \( Diff \) — The difference between two values (can be positive or negative)
• \( Original \) — The original or reference value

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage the difference is of the original value. A positive result indicates an increase, while a negative result indicates a decrease.

3. When to Use Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference is commonly used in finance (price changes), science (experimental results), statistics (data comparison), and everyday life (discount calculations).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the difference between two values (new - original) and the original value. The original value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between percentage difference and percentage change?
A: They use the same formula. Percentage difference is the more general term, while percentage change typically refers to changes over time.

Q2: How do I interpret negative percentage differences?
A: A negative result indicates a decrease from the original value, while positive indicates an increase.

Q3: What if my original value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined (division by zero). Consider using absolute difference instead.

Q4: Can percentage difference exceed 100%?
A: Yes, if the difference is larger than the original value (e.g., a 200% increase means the value has tripled).

Q5: How is this different from percentage error?
A: Percentage error specifically compares experimental to theoretical values, while percentage difference is more general.