Percentages
Percent increase from two values
The increase divided by the starting value, scaled to a percentage. The original is always the divisor, whatever else the problem offers you.
The Formula
% Increase = (New - Original) / Original x 100
The increase divided by the starting value, scaled to a percentage. The original is always the divisor, whatever else the problem offers you.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vn | New value | number | The value after the increase. Larger than the original whenever the result is positive. |
| V0 | Original value | number | The reference point and the divisor. Cannot be zero, and reads inverted if negative. |
| % increase | Percent increase | percent | Zero when nothing changed, 100.00% for a doubling, 200.00% for a tripling. |
What Each Symbol Means
Vnnumber
New value
The value after the increase. Larger than the original whenever the result is positive.
V0number
Original value
The reference point and the divisor. Cannot be zero, and reads inverted if negative.
% increasepercent
Percent increase
Zero when nothing changed, 100.00% for a doubling, 200.00% for a tripling.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate percent increase page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Percent Increase, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.