Percentage change calculator

What is a percentage change calculator?

A percentage change calculator is a useful tool that allows you to quickly and accurately determine how much a quantity has increased or decreased in percentage terms compared to its original value. This calculator is valuable in various fields, such as finance, statistics, analytics, and everyday use, when it’s necessary to assess changes in metrics like income, product prices, population numbers, or any other quantitative characteristic.

Why use a percentage change calculator?

The percentage change calculator is especially valuable when assessing growth or loss between two values. For instance, if a company’s stock price increases from 50 to 75 dollars, the calculator will indicate that this is a 50% increase. Users can employ this tool to understand the success of investments, analyze business efficiency, or track market price trends.

Thanks to the calculator, it’s possible to easily perform calculations with negative numbers and decimals. This simplifies the process since the tool automatically accounts for all mathematical nuances of percentage change calculation, regardless of the nature of the numbers.

How to use the percentage change calculator?

To use the percentage change calculator, you need to specify the original value and the new value. The calculator will automatically compute the percentage change, indicating whether the number has increased or decreased and by how much. For example, if you want to determine what percentage your monthly expenses have decreased, by entering the total expenses for the previous and current month, the calculator will show how effectively you’ve managed your budget.

Moreover, using our calculator, you can not only calculate the result of a percentage change but also determine the initial or final value if the percentage change and one of these values are known. For example, if you know your expenses increased by 20% and resulted in a total of 100 dollars, you can use the calculator to find that the initial expenses were about 83.33 dollars.

With the capabilities to work with negative values, the calculator is handy in more complex calculations where the current value might be less than the previous one. It is also useful in cases where numbers are expressed in decimal forms, such as analyzing changes in substance concentration or economic planning.

Formula

The formula for percentage change is simple and is as follows:

$$\text{Percentage Change} = \left(\frac{\text{New Value} - \text{Original Value}}{\text{Original Value}}\right) \times 100\%$$

This formula helps determine how much a quantity has increased or decreased relative to a given original value. Proper use of this formula facilitates accurate analytical calculations in various areas.

Examples of using

1. Change in stock price: The stock price of Company “A” increased from 120 to 150 dollars. Substituting these values into the calculator, we get:

   $$\left(\frac{150 - 120}{120}\right) \times 100\% = 25\%$$

   This means the stock price increased by 25%.

2. Expense reduction: You spent 500 dollars last month, and this month only 450 dollars. Calculating the percentage decrease:

   $$\left(\frac{450 - 500}{500}\right) \times 100\% = -10\%$$

   This indicates you reduced your expenses by 10%.

3. Working with negative numbers: The company’s revenue last year was -100 thousand dollars, and this year it is -50 thousand dollars. Entering these values into the calculator:

   $$\left(\frac{-50 - (-100)}{-100}\right) \times 100\% = 50\%$$

   In this case, the losses reduced by 50%.

Notes

• The percentage change calculator available on our website is an online and free tool that provides users with the ability to perform complex calculations without the need to understand the calculation details.
• The tool also considers the sign of change, helping automatically determine if there’s been an increase or decrease.
• It works with both whole and fractional numbers, easing data processing across different tasks.

FAQs

How to determine if the change is an increase or decrease?

Percentage change is considered an increase if the new value is greater than the original, and a decrease if it’s less. This is determined automatically by the calculator.

Can the percentage change be calculated for decimal numbers?

Yes, our calculator supports decimal calculations, allowing for more precise results.

Why can percentage change be negative?

A negative percentage change indicates a decrease compared to the original value. For example, a reduction in cost leads to a negative percentage change.

Is the percentage change calculator available for free?

Yes, the tool is provided online and is completely free for all users without any limitations.

Can the calculator determine the initial or final value?

Yes, the calculator allows you to calculate the initial or final value if the percentage change and one of these values are known. This extends its usage possibilities.

Can the calculator compute percentage change for volume or other quantities?

Yes, the calculator is versatile and can be used for any quantities. For example, if a tank’s volume decreases from 200 liters to 150 liters, the calculation is:

$$\left(\frac{150 - 200}{200}\right) \times 100\% = -25\%$$

This means the volume decreased by 25%.