To calculate percent difference, start by finding the absolute value of the difference between two values. Then, divide that number by the average of the two values. Finally, multiply by 100 to get the percent difference. Keep reading to learn more about how to calculate percent difference and how it can be used!
How to calculate percentage difference
The steps to follow when determining the percentage difference are as follows:
1. Determine the values youre using
Choosing the values to use is the first step in calculating the percentage difference. To calculate the percentage difference, keep in mind that you’ll need two related values. As an illustration, consider the difference between the amount of sneakers sold last year and this year. Since both of these concern sneaker sales, theyre related values. You can move forward with your percentage difference calculation once you’ve established that your two variables are closely related.
For illustration, suppose you sold $1,000 worth of sneakers this year and $800 worth of sneakers the year before. 1,000 and 800 are your values.
2. Calculate the difference between the two values
You can determine the difference once you are aware of the values you are comparing. Do this by subtracting one value from the other. For example, 1,000-800 = 200.
3. Calculate the average of the values
Next, calculate the average of the two related values. You must add the two values together in order to determine the average. Once you have the sum, divide it by two. This will result in an average.
For example, 1,000=800=1,800 (sum). 1,800 / 2 = 900
4. Divide by the average
Next, multiply the average you calculated in step three by the difference you calculated in step two.
For example, 200/900=.2222
5. Convert to a percentage
Finally, youll need to convert the numeral into a percentage. To do so, multiply it by 100. For example, if you end up with 0. 05, youd multiply 0. 05 by 100 to get 5 percent. This is your percentage difference.
For example, .2222 x 100 = 22.22%
You can ignore the minus sign if your calculation yields a negative percentage. If you receive a percentage difference of -5, for instance, you would state that the difference is actually 5 percent rather than -5 percent.
What is percentage difference?
The difference between two values divided by their average is known as the percentage difference. It is expressed as a percentage and used to calculate the difference between two related values. For instance, you could contrast the cost of a laptop this year with that of a laptop last year.
It’s crucial to distinguish between percentage error, percentage change, and percentage difference. A percentage error contrasts an exact value with one that is not, whereas a percentage change compares an older value with a newer one.
When to use percentage difference
Various measurements can be used if you need to compare two values. When measuring two related or similar values, you should use the percentage difference in particular. The following situations call for the use of a percentage difference:
In contrast, you would calculate the percentage change if you were contrasting a new value with an old value. You would calculate the percentage error if you were comparing an exact value to an estimate. Check to see if the values you are using match the calculation you are using.
How to calculate percentage difference with negative numbers
As was previously stated, it’s crucial to disregard any warning signs regarding your resulting percentage difference. However, if your equation contains negative numbers as values, these numbers will resolve themselves. For instance, the minus sign won’t matter if your negative values produce a negative result. In order to calculate a percentage difference that can be seen by using negative numbers, follow these steps:
1. Determine the negative values youre using
You must first decide which negative values you’ll use in your calculations. Keep in mind that two related values are required since you’re calculating the percentage difference.
For example, lets say youre using -5 and -7.
2. Calculate the difference between the two negative values
You can determine the difference once you are aware of the negative values you are comparing. Do this by subtracting one negative value from the other.
For example, youd subtract -7 from -5 to get -2.
3. Calculate the average of the negative values
Next, calculate the average of the two related, negative values. You must add the two negative values together in order to calculate the average.
To get -12 in the example above, add -5 and -7. Once you have the sum, divide it by two. This will result in an average. Consequently, you would divide -12 by 2 to get an average of -6.
4. Divide by the average
Next, multiply the average you calculated in step three by the difference you calculated in step two.
For instance, you would calculate about 0 by dividing -2 (the difference) by -6 (the average). 33.
5. Convert to a percentage
The number you obtained in step four must then be converted into a percentage. To do so, multiply it by 100.
For example, 0. A difference of 33 percent would result from multiplying 33 by 100.
How to Figure Out the Percentage of Increase Between Two Differences
FAQ
What is the percentage difference between two numbers?
Formula for Percentage Difference: Percentage difference is calculated by taking the absolute value of the value change, dividing it by the average of the two numbers, and multiplying the result by 100. We then append the percent sign, %, to designate the % difference
Why do we calculate percent difference?
The difference between two values divided by their average is known as the percentage difference. It is expressed as a percentage and used to calculate the difference between two related values. For instance, you could contrast the cost of a laptop this year with that of a laptop last year.
How do you find the percent difference between two numbers decreased?
- Subtract starting value minus final value.
- Subtract that sum from the starting value’s absolute value.
- Multiply by 100 to get percent decrease.
- A negative percentage indicates that there was an increase rather than a decrease.
