1. What is Percentage Difference?

Percentage difference measures the relative difference between two values expressed as a percentage. It shows how much two values differ relative to their average value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage difference formula:

Where:

• \( Value1 \) — First value to compare
• \( Value2 \) — Second value to compare
• The vertical bars \( | \) indicate absolute value

Explanation: The formula calculates the absolute difference between two values, divides it by their average, and converts it to a percentage.

3. When to Use Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference is useful when comparing two values where neither is clearly a reference or "correct" value. It's commonly used in experimental measurements, quality control, and data analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values. The calculator will determine the percentage difference between them. Both values cannot be zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is percentage difference different from percentage change?
A: Percentage change compares a new value to an old value (reference), while percentage difference compares two values without designating either as a reference.

Q2: What does a percentage difference of 0% mean?
A: A 0% difference means the two values are identical.

Q3: Can percentage difference be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, if one value is more than three times the other, the percentage difference will exceed 100%.

Q4: What's considered a "good" percentage difference?
A: This depends on the context. In some fields, <5% might be acceptable, while others might tolerate higher differences.

Q5: How should I interpret negative percentage differences?
A: The calculator uses absolute value, so results are always non-negative. The order of values doesn't affect the result.