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Percent Change Calculator

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How to Calculate Percent Increase or Decrease with Steps and Examples

Percent Change Calculator – Free Online Tool with Formula, Steps & Examples

Percent Change Calculator



What is Percent Change Calculator?

A Percent Change Calculator helps you quickly determine the percentage increase or decrease between two values. It tells you by what percent a value has changed, making it useful in school maths, finance, science, business, and everyday life—wherever you need to compare changes over time. With this calculator, you instantly know whether it’s an increase or a decrease, and by exactly how much, saving time on manual calculations.


Formula or Logic Behind Percent Change Calculator

The main formula for percent change is:


Percent Change = ((New Value - Old Value) / |Old Value|) × 100


If the result is positive, it’s a percent increase. If it’s negative, it’s a percent decrease. For example, if your marks go from 60 to 75, the percent change is ((75 – 60)/60) × 100 = 25%. Referencing the absolute value in the denominator ensures the calculation works equally with positive or negative starting values.


Common Percent Change Examples

Old Value New Value Percent Change Type
5075+50%Increase
10090-10%Decrease
2040+100%Increase
7236-50%Decrease
1827+50%Increase
80100+25%Increase
2510-60%Decrease

Steps to Use the Percent Change Calculator

  • Enter the required number or values: Old Value and New Value
  • Click on the 'Calculate' button
  • Get instant results showing percent increase/decrease and method steps

Why Use Vedantu’s Percent Change Calculator?

Easy to use, mobile-friendly, and trusted by students and professionals, Vedantu’s Percent Change Calculator gives step-by-step clarity for homework, business, and daily maths needs. Developed by expert maths teachers and aligned with CBSE and competitive exam patterns, you get reliable, exam-ready results every time. Plus, it saves you from manual errors and is perfect for quick learning, review, or teaching.


Real-life Applications of Percent Change Calculator

Percent change is everywhere! Use this calculator in academics to check improvement or drop in exam marks, in shopping for calculating percentage discounts or price rises, in science to compare changes in quantities, and in finance for profit/loss or stock analysis. Businesses compare last month’s and current sales, while anyone can use it for distance, weight, population change, and more. For further calculations, try Vedantu’s Percentage Increase Calculator , Percentage Decrease Calculator or explore fraction conversions with the Fraction Calculator .


You can also boost your maths foundations with resources like the Prime Numbers List or review Algebra Principles for deeper understanding.


FAQs on Percent Change Calculator

1. What is a percent change?

Percent change shows how much a value increases or decreases compared to its original value, expressed as a percentage. It's calculated by finding the difference between the new and old values, dividing by the old value, and multiplying by 100. This helps us understand the relative change, useful in various fields like finance and statistics.

2. How do you calculate percent change?

The formula for percent change is: [(New Value - Old Value) / Old Value] * 100. First, subtract the old value from the new value. Then, divide the result by the old value. Finally, multiply by 100 to express the result as a percentage. A positive result indicates an increase, while a negative result shows a decrease.

3. What is the formula for percent change in algebra?

The algebraic formula remains the same: [(New Value - Old Value) / Old Value] x 100. Replace 'New Value' and 'Old Value' with the appropriate algebraic expressions or variables. This formula applies whether you are dealing with numbers or algebraic expressions.

4. How to find percent change between two numbers?

1. **Identify** the old and new values. 2. **Subtract** the old value from the new value. 3. **Divide** the difference by the old value. 4. **Multiply** the result by 100. The answer is the percent change. Remember a positive result means an increase, and a negative result shows a decrease.

5. What is the percent increase from 50 to 75?

The percent increase is calculated as [(75 - 50) / 50] * 100 = 50%. Therefore, there's a 50% increase from 50 to 75.

6. What is the percent decrease from 100 to 80?

The percent decrease is calculated as [(80 - 100) / 100] * 100 = -20%. There's a 20% decrease from 100 to 80.

7. How do I calculate percent change in Excel?

In Excel, you can use the formula: =(New Value - Old Value)/Old Value. Then, format the cell as a percentage to display the result correctly. For example, if the old value is in cell A1 and the new value is in B1, the formula would be =(B1-A1)/A1, formatted as a percentage.

8. What are some real-life examples of percent change?

Real-life examples include calculating sale discounts (e.g., a 20% discount), determining population growth or decline, analyzing stock market fluctuations, and tracking changes in personal income or expenses. Understanding percent change helps interpret data in many everyday scenarios.

9. What is the difference between percent increase and percent decrease?

Percent increase represents a positive change (new value is greater than the old value), while percent decrease shows a negative change (new value is less than the old value). The calculation method is the same, but the sign of the result indicates whether it's an increase or decrease.

10. How is percent change used in business?

In business, percent change is crucial for analyzing sales growth, profit margins, comparing revenue over time, evaluating marketing campaign effectiveness, and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs). It provides insights into trends and business performance.

11. What is the percent change from 20 to 30?

The percent change from 20 to 30 is calculated as: [(30 - 20) / 20] * 100 = 50%. This represents a 50% increase.

12. Can percent change be negative?

Yes, a percent change can be negative. This indicates a percent decrease, meaning the new value is smaller than the old value. The negative sign in the result signifies this decrease.