mathDifficulty: 1/5
Percentage Increase Calculator
Compare two values to get the absolute change and the percentage increase or decrease. Explains the formula and handles zero and negative values honestly.
Formula
percentage change = (new − original) ÷ |original| × 100
How it works
- Enter the original value and the new value.
- Press Calculate to see the absolute change and the percentage change.
- The formula is (new − original) ÷ |original| × 100.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the original value is zero?
Percentage change from zero is mathematically undefined, so no percentage is shown. The absolute change is still reported, with an explanation.
How are negative values handled?
The change is measured against the absolute size of the original value, so the sign of the percentage matches the real direction of the change.
What formula is used?
Percentage change equals (new value minus original value) divided by the absolute original value, times 100.