How the percentage Calculator works
Every percentage problem is one of three shapes: taking a percent of a number, expressing one number as a percent of another, or measuring the change between two numbers. Pick the question and the calculator applies the matching formula.
Percent of: A/100 × B | Percent: A/B × 100 | Change: (B − A)/A × 100
Example: 15% of 240 is 36. Meanwhile 36 is 15% of 240, and going from 240 to 276 is a +15% change. Same numbers, three different questions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a percentage increase?
Subtract the original from the new value, divide by the original, and multiply by 100. Going from 80 to 92 is (92 minus 80) divided by 80, a 15% increase.
Why is a 50% drop not undone by a 50% gain?
Because the base changes. 100 falling 50% is 50, and 50 rising 50% is only 75. Recovering a loss always takes a larger percentage than the loss itself.
What is a percentage point?
The absolute difference between two percentages. Moving from 40% to 45% is a 5 percentage point rise, but a 12.5% relative increase.