1. What is Percent Difference?

The percent difference is a measure of how much two values differ relative to their average. It's commonly used to compare two experimental values or to compare an experimental value with a theoretical value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent difference formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Value}_1 \) — First numerical value
• \( \text{Value}_2 \) — Second numerical value
• The vertical bars | | indicate absolute value

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

3. When to Use Percent Difference

Details: Percent difference is useful when comparing two values where neither can be considered a "standard" or "correct" value. It's commonly used in physics, chemistry, and engineering experiments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative). The calculator will determine their percent difference. Both values must be valid numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is percent difference different from percent change?
A: Percent change compares a new value to an old value (with direction), while percent difference compares two values without considering which is reference.

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

Q3: Can percent difference be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, when one value is more than three times the other, the percent difference exceeds 100%.

Q4: What if both values are zero?
A: The calculation is undefined (division by zero). The calculator will show no result in this case.

Q5: When should I not use percent difference?
A: When you have a clear reference value (use percent error) or when dealing with very small numbers near zero.