1. What is Percentage Reduction?

Percentage reduction measures how much a quantity has decreased relative to its original value, expressed as a percentage. It's commonly used to compare changes in prices, measurements, or performance metrics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage reduction formula:

Where:

• \( Old \) — Original value before reduction
• \( New \) — New value after reduction

Explanation: The formula calculates the relative decrease from the old value to the new value, expressed as a percentage of the old value.

3. Importance of Percentage Reduction

Details: Percentage reduction is widely used in business, finance, science, and everyday life to quantify changes. It provides a standardized way to compare reductions across different scales.

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 reduction mean?
A: A negative result indicates an increase rather than a reduction. The new value is larger than the old value.

Q2: What's the maximum possible percentage reduction?
A: The maximum reduction is 100%, which occurs when the new value is zero (complete elimination).

Q3: How is percentage reduction different from percentage change?
A: Percentage reduction specifically measures decreases, while percentage change can be either positive (increase) or negative (decrease).

Q4: Can I use this for percentage increase calculations?
A: This calculator specifically shows reductions. For increases, you would need to swap the old and new values.

Q5: Why is the old value in the denominator?
A: Using the old value as the reference point makes the percentage reduction relative to the original quantity.