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Percent Change Calculator

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The percent change calculator computes the percentage increase or decrease between an initial and a final value.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter the initial value (must be nonzero)
  2. Enter the final value

A positive percent change result indicates an increase between the initial and final values, and a negative value indicates a decrease.

Understanding the Formula

Percent Change=(Final−InitialInitial)×100\text{Percent Change}=\left(\frac{\text{Final}-\text{Initial}}{\text{Initial}}\right)\times 100

Using the formula:

  • Subtract the initial value from the final value to get the change.
  • Divide the change by the initial value to find the relative change.
  • Multiply by 100 to convert the result into a percentage.

Example Problems

Percent Increase

After finding out that the shirt you wanted is no longer on sale, you want to decide if it's still worth buying. During the sale, the price was $50. Now, it's $90. Find the percent change of the shirt price.

  • Initial value = 50
  • Final value = 90
Percent Change=(90−5050)×100\text{Percent Change}=\left(\frac{\text{90}-\text{50}}{\text{50}}\right)\times 100=(4050)×100=\left(\frac{\text{40}}{\text{50}}\right)\times 100=0.8×100=\text{0.8}\times 100=80=\text{80}

This indicates an 80% increase between 50 and 90.

Percent Decrease

A concert venue decided to sell all of the remaining tickets at a discounted price. Normally, each ticket was $50 and now they're only $30. Find the percent change of the ticket price.

  • Initial value = 50
  • Final value = 30
Percent Change=(30−5050)×100\text{Percent Change}=\left(\frac{\text{30}-\text{50}}{\text{50}}\right)\times 100=(−2050)×100=\left(\frac{-\text{20}}{\text{50}}\right)\times 100=−0.4×100=-\text{0.4}\times 100=−40=-\text{40}

This indicates a 40% decrease, or -40% increase, between 50 and 30.