1. What is Variance Percentage?

Variance percentage measures the relative change between a new value and an old value, expressed as a percentage. It shows how much something has increased or decreased compared to its original value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the variance percentage formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates the difference between the new and old values, divides by the old value to get a ratio, then multiplies by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Variance Calculation

Details: Variance percentage is widely used in finance, statistics, quality control, and performance measurement to understand changes over time or between different data sets.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both new and old values in the same units. The old value cannot be zero (as division by zero is undefined). Positive results indicate increase, negative results indicate decrease.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a positive variance percentage mean?
A: A positive result indicates the new value is higher than the old value (increase).

Q2: What does a negative variance percentage mean?
A: A negative result indicates the new value is lower than the old value (decrease).

Q3: Can I compare variances of different magnitudes?
A: Yes, percentage variance normalizes the change relative to the original value, allowing comparison between different scales.

Q4: What if my old value is zero?
A: The calculation is undefined when old value is zero, as you cannot divide by zero. Consider alternative metrics in such cases.

Q5: How is this different from percentage difference?
A: Variance percentage is directional (new vs old), while percentage difference is symmetric and doesn't distinguish between reference values.