The MathBlog percentage increase calculator was designed to help you quickly and easily calculate the percentage increase from one value to another. Whether you’re analyzing financial growth, tracking changes in data, or simply curious about how much something has increased, our calculator provides an efficient solution.

Percentage increase calculator

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Percent increase formula

\( \frac {(P2 - P1) \times 100}{|P1|} \)

How to Calculate Percentage Increase

Understanding how to calculate percentage increase is essential in various fields, from personal finance to scientific research. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

  1. Identify the Initial and Final Values: Determine the starting value (initial value) and the ending value (final value) you want to compare.
  2. Subtract the Initial Value from the Final Value: This gives you the amount of change.
    \( \text{Change} = \text{Final Value} – \text{Initial Value} \)
  3. Divide the Change by the Absolute Value of the Initial Value: This step normalizes the change relative to the initial value.
    \( \text{Relative Change} = \frac{\text{Change}}{|\text{Initial Value}|}Relative \)
  4. Multiply by 100 to Convert to a Percentage: This final step gives you the percentage increase.
    \( Percentage Increase = \left( \frac{\text{Change}}{|\text{Initial Value}|} \right) \times 100 \)
Percentage Increase Calculator

Example Calculation

Let’s walk through an example. Suppose you bought a stock at $50 per share, and now it has risen to $70 per share. Here’s how you calculate the percentage increase:

  1. Initial Value: $50
  2. Final Value: $70
  3. Calculate the Change:
    \( \text{Change} = 70 – 50 = 20 \)
  4. Divide by the Absolute Value of the Initial Value:
    \( \text{Relative Change} = \frac{20}{50} = 0.4 \)
  5. Multiply by 100 to Get the Percentage Increase:
    \( \text{Percentage Increase} = 0.4 \times 100 = 40% \)

So, the stock price increased by 40%.

Practical Applications

  • Finance: Determine the growth rate of investments, compare annual revenues, or evaluate salary increases.
  • Science and Research: Measure the growth rate of populations, chemical reactions, or experimental results.
  • Everyday Use: Calculate the increase in expenses, prices, or other measurable quantities in day-to-day life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I add a percentage increase to a number?

  • Divide the original number by 100 to find 1% of it.
  • Multiply 1% by the percentage increase.
  • Add this value to the original number.

2. Can I use this calculator for percentage decrease?

  • Yes, simply follow the same steps but note that a negative result indicates a decrease.

3. Where is percentage increase useful?

  • It is widely used in finance, sales, scientific research, and everyday decision-making to compare growth and changes over time.

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