1. What is Relative Change?

Relative change measures the percentage difference between a new value and an old value. It shows how much a quantity has changed in relation to its original value, expressed as a percentage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the relative change formula:

Where:

• New Value — The current or updated measurement
• Old Value — The original or previous measurement

Explanation: The formula calculates the proportional difference between two values, showing the change as a percentage of the original value.

3. Importance of Relative Change Calculation

Details: Relative change is crucial for comparing changes across different scales, analyzing growth rates, tracking performance improvements, and making data-driven decisions in business, economics, and scientific research.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both new and old values in the same units. The old value cannot be zero. The result will be displayed as a percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative relative change indicate?
A: A negative relative change indicates a decrease or reduction from the old value to the new value.

Q2: How is relative change different from absolute change?
A: Absolute change shows the simple difference (New - Old), while relative change shows the proportional difference as a percentage of the old value.

Q3: When should I use relative change instead of absolute change?
A: Use relative change when comparing changes across different scales or when the proportional change is more meaningful than the absolute difference.

Q4: Can relative change be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, a relative change greater than 100% indicates that the new value is more than double the old value.

Q5: What are some practical applications of relative change?
A: Stock price changes, population growth rates, sales performance analysis, scientific experiment results, and economic indicators.