1. What is Percent Difference?

The percent difference is a measure of how much two values differ relative to their average. It's commonly used to compare two experimental values or to compare an experimental value with a theoretical value.

2. How the Calculation Works

The calculator uses the percent difference formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — First value
• \( B \) — Second value
• \( |A - B| \) — Absolute difference between values
• \( \frac{A + B}{2} \) — Average of the two values

Explanation: The formula calculates the absolute difference between two values as a percentage of their average.

3. When to Use Percent Difference

Details: Percent difference is useful when comparing two values where neither can be considered a "reference" or "correct" value. It's commonly used in experimental physics, chemistry, and engineering.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative). The calculator will compute their percent difference based on the average of the two values.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is percent difference different from percent change?
A: Percent change compares a new value to an old value, while percent difference compares two values without designating either as reference.

Q2: What does a 0% difference mean?
A: A 0% difference means the two values are identical.

Q3: Can percent difference be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, percent difference can exceed 100% when the values are very different relative to their average.

Q4: What if both values are zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when both values are zero, as it would involve division by zero.

Q5: When shouldn't I use percent difference?
A: Avoid using percent difference when one value is a known reference or standard - use percent error instead in those cases.