Percent change

Math

Definition

A measure of how much a quantity has increased or decreased relative to its original value, expressed as a percentage. It tells you the relative size of a change.

Examples

  • A shirt price dropping from $40 to $30 is a 25% decrease
  • A stock going from $50 to $65 is a 30% increase
  • Population growing from 10,000 to 12,500 is a 25% increase
Key Fact

Percent change = ((new - original) / original) × 100%

Related Terms

Percent conversions Percent of a number Discounts and tax

Study This Concept

Practice percent change with free review games in these units:

Pre-Algebra Unit 4: Percents