^{(280 - 264)} / _|280| × 100% = ? Calculate the relative percent (decrease) change from the initial (original, reference) value 280 to the new one, 264 (the end value), and the actual change (the absolute difference)

The relative decrease (change) is the difference in an indicator over two periods in time, v1 - v2, relative to the value of the indicator in the earlier period, v1.

Namely:

v1 - is called the reference value (original, initial number);

v2 - is called the new value (the end value).

In our case: v1 = 280, v2 = 264.

Legend:

v1 - the original number

|v1| - the positive value of v1, |v1| >= 0

v2 - the new value

The actual change = v1 - v2

/ - the fraction bar (division)

^{The actual change} / _|v1| = The actual change ÷ |v1|

Let's see what happens if we use v1 instead of |v1|:

Choose a random negative number as the initial value: - 68.

Choose a random positive number for the end value: 56.

Although the absolute change is negative: -124,

... the relative change is positive: 1.82.

By using |v1| instead of v1, the error is corrected.

¹⁰⁰/₁₀₀ = 100% = 100 ÷ 100 = 1.

n × ¹⁰⁰/₁₀₀ = ^{(n × 100)}/₁₀₀ = (n × 100)%, any number.

The symbols used: % percent, ÷ division, × multiplication, = the equal sign, / the fraction bar, ≈ approximately the same, |n| - the positive value of n, |n| >= 0. Writing numbers: comma ',' - as a thousands separator, point '.' as a decimal mark.