Understanding Percentage Decrease
Percentage decrease measures how much a value has fallen relative to its original amount. It's essential for analyzing losses, reductions, and declines in various contexts.
Formula
Percentage Decrease = ((Original Value - New Value) / Original Value) x 100
Calculation Steps
- Subtract the new value from the original value
- Divide by the original value
- Multiply by 100
- The result is always positive for a decrease
Examples
Example 1: Price dropped from $80 to $60
Decrease = ((80 - 60) / 80) x 100 = 25%
Example 2: Weight loss from 180 lbs to 162 lbs
Decrease = ((180 - 162) / 180) x 100 = 10%
Practical Uses
- Sales discounts
- Weight loss tracking
- Cost reductions
- Performance declines
- Market downturns
Maximum Decrease
The maximum percentage decrease is 100%, which occurs when the new value reaches zero.
Quick Tips
- Double-check your inputs for accurate results
- Use parentheses to clarify order of operations
- Results are rounded — consider significant figures
Frequently Asked Questions
Subtract new from original value, divide by original, multiply by 100.
No, the maximum is 100% when the value reaches zero.
Decrease measures reduction from original; increase measures growth.
Divide the decreased value by (1 - percentage/100).
Yes, a 50% decrease means the value is cut in half.
Then you have an increase, not a decrease.