What is the difference between percentage change and percentage difference?

Percentage change compares a new value to an original value. Percentage difference compares two values without designating one as the original.

Can percentage change be negative?

Yes. A negative percentage change indicates a decrease from the original value.

Arithmetic

Percentage Change

Formula

((New Value − Original Value) / Original Value) × 100

What is Percentage Change?

Percentage change measures the relative change between two values, expressed as a percentage of the original value. A positive result indicates an increase, while a negative result indicates a decrease.

Variables

N
New Value — The final or current value
O
Original Value — The starting or initial value

Worked Examples

Example 1

A price increased from $80 to $100. What is the percentage change?

Solution:

((100 − 80) / 80) × 100 = (20 / 80) × 100 = 25%

Example 2

A stock dropped from $50 to $40. What is the percentage change?

Solution:

((40 − 50) / 50) × 100 = (−10 / 50) × 100 = −20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Formulas

Simple Interest

I = (P × R × T) / 100

Compound Interest

A = P × (1 + R/100)^T

Speed, Distance, Time

Speed = Distance / Time

Percentage of a Number

Result = (Percentage / 100) × Number

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