1. What is Percentage Difference?

Percentage difference measures the relative difference between two values as a percentage of their average. Unlike percentage change (which compares to an original value), percentage difference compares two values neither of which is necessarily a reference value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percentage difference formula:

Where:

• \( V_1 \) — First value
• \( V_2 \) — Second value
• \( |V_1 - V_2| \) — Absolute difference between the values
• \( \frac{V_1 + V_2}{2} \) — Average of the two values

Explanation: The formula calculates how much two numbers differ relative to their average size.

3. When to Use Percentage Difference

Details: Percentage difference is useful when comparing:

• Two experimental measurements
• Two versions of a product
• Results from different methods
• Any two values where neither is a clear reference

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter any two numerical values (positive or negative)
• The order of values doesn't matter
• Result will always be positive (absolute difference)
• Works with any units as long as both values use the same units

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between percentage difference and percentage change?
A: Percentage change compares to an original/reference value, while percentage difference compares two equal-status values.

Q2: Can percentage difference be more than 100%?
A: Yes, when one value is positive and the other is negative, the percentage difference can exceed 100%.

Q3: What does 0% difference mean?
A: A 0% difference means the two values are identical.

Q4: How is this different from percentage error?
A: Percentage error compares a measured value to a known/true value, while percentage difference compares any two values.

Q5: When shouldn't I use percentage difference?
A: Don't use when you have a clear reference value (use percentage change) or when comparing to zero (undefined).