Can you tell me the difference between Percentage Change, Percentage Increase, Percentage Difference and please give an example of each, I am very visual. Thank so much.
Betty
Hi Betty,
If some quantity changes its value then the percentage change is the difference between the two values, expressed as a percentage of the starting value. So, in particular if you purchased a piece of art for $200 and a couple of years later an art dealer tells you the value of you artwork is $215 then the value has increased $15 and the percentage change is
15/200
100 = 7.5%
The value increased so you might say that the value of your piece of art has undergone a 7.5% increase.
If, on the other hand, the art dealer said that the value had decreased to $150 then the change is -$50 so the percentage change is
-50/200
This time, since the value decreased you might say the value of your piece of art has undergone a 25% decrease.
Penny