1. What is Percentage Decrease?

Percentage decrease measures the reduction in a value as a percentage of its original value. It's commonly used to track declines in prices, quantities, or performance metrics over time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage decrease formula:

Where:

• \( Old \) — Original/starting value
• \( New \) — Current/new value

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the original value has been lost in the change from old to new value.

3. Importance of Percentage Decrease Calculation

Details: Percentage decrease is crucial for analyzing trends, comparing reductions across different scales, and making informed decisions in business, finance, and science.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the original (old) value and the new value. Both values must be positive numbers, with the old value greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative percentage decrease mean?
A: A negative result indicates a percentage increase rather than decrease (when new value > old value).

Q2: How is percentage decrease different from absolute decrease?
A: Absolute decrease shows the numerical difference (Old - New), while percentage decrease shows this difference relative to the original value.

Q3: What's the maximum possible percentage decrease?
A: The maximum is 100%, which occurs when the new value reaches zero.

Q4: Why use percentages instead of absolute numbers?
A: Percentages allow comparison between changes of different magnitudes by standardizing to a common scale (out of 100).

Q5: How do I calculate percentage decrease over multiple periods?
A: For compound decreases, multiply the successive decrease factors rather than adding percentages.