HOW TO WORK OUT PERCENTAGE CHANGE - Follow these 3 simple steps to find the percentage change between 2 numbers

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher

Percentage change measures how much one value changes compared with another, using a clear three-step method. Subtract the original number from the new number, divide the result by the original number, and multiply by 100 to convert it into a percentage. Positive outcomes indicate an increase, while negative outcomes indicate a decrease. Worked examples cover price reductions, gas usage loss, profit on resale, and temperature rise, producing final percentage answers such as -20%, -37.5%, 18.75%, and 108.3%.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

HOW TO WORK OUT PERCENTAGE CHANGE

Step 1: Subtract the original from the new

Step 2: Divide by the original

Step 3: Multiply by 100

Interpreting positive and negative results

Examples

HOW TO WORK OUT PERCENTAGE CHANGE Follow these 3 simple steps to find the percentage change between 2 numbers. ➢ Step 1) Subtract the original number from the new number. ➢ Step 2) Divide this number by the original number. ➢ Step 3) Multiply this answer by 100 to convert to a percentage. • This gives you the percentage change. • If this final answer is positive, you have a percentage increase, where the new number is larger than the original number. • If this final answer is negative, then you have a percentage decrease, where the new number is lower than the original number. Example 1 A toy normally costs $450. It is sold for $360 in a sale. Find the percentage change. Step 1) New number – original number 360 – 450 = -90 Step 2) Divide by original number -90 ÷ 450 = -0.2 Step 3) Multiply by 100 -0.2 x 100 = -20% Answer: The percentage change is-20% . Example 3 Sally fills her car with 12 gallons of gas. She goes on a journey and ends up with just 7.5 gallons left in the tank. What is the percentage change? Step 1) New number – original number 7.5 – 12 = -4.5 Step 2) Divide by original number -4.5 ÷ 12 = -0.375 Step 3) Multiply by 100 -0.375 x 100 = -37.5% Answer: The percentage change is-37.5% . She finished the journey with 37.5% less gas than when she started. Example 2 Tyger buys a car for $3200. He renovates it and eventually sell it for $3800. Work out the percentage increase he sold the car for. Step 1) New number – original number 3800 – 3200 = 600 Step 2) Divide by original number 600 ÷ 3200 = 0.1875 Step 3) Multiply by 100 0.1875 x 100 = 18.75% Answer: He sold the car for 18.75% more than he paid for it. Example 4 On a winter’s day the temperature starts off at 24°F. By 2:00pm, it has risen to 50°F. What is the percentage change? Step 1) New number – original number 50 – 24 = 26 Step 2) Divide by original number 26 ÷ 24 = 1.08333 Step 3) Multiply by 100 1.083333 x 100 = 108.3%(to 1dp) Answer: The percentage change is 108.3% . The temperature has risen (or increased) by 108.3% .

FAQs

How do you calculate percentage change between two numbers?

Subtract the original from the new, divide by the original, then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.

What does a positive percentage change mean?

A positive result means the percentage increase, where the new number is larger than the original.

What does a negative percentage change mean?

A negative result means the percentage decrease, where the new number is lower than the original.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher