How do you calculate a negative percentage

[Guest]

Sorry if this is a dumb question...

All I am trying to do is calculate the difference between two numbers, as a
percentage. I tried what the "help" suggests of "=(D4-C4)/ABS(D4)" yet the
percentage is off by a few points (not just rounding errors) each time. I
have to be able to calculate either a negative or positive percentage.
Example
D4 = 1.08 and C4 = 1.57
OR it could be that
D4 = 1.55 and C4 = 1.44

Thanks in advance

Brian

 

[bob.golightly]

Sorry if this is a dumb question...

All I am trying to do is calculate the difference between two numbers, as a
percentage. I tried what the "help" suggests of "=(D4-C4)/ABS(D4)" yet the
percentage is off by a few points (not just rounding errors) each time. I
have to be able to calculate either a negative or positive percentage.
Example
D4 = 1.08 and C4 = 1.57
OR it could be that
D4 = 1.55 and C4 = 1.44

Thanks in advance

Brian

Not sure if this is what you want

=(ABS(C4-D4))/C4

Bob

 

[Harlan Grove]

. . . I tried what the "help" suggests of "=(D4-C4)/ABS(D4)" yet the
percentage is off by a few points (not just rounding errors) each time. ....
Example
D4 = 1.08 and C4 = 1.57
OR it could be that
D4 = 1.55 and C4 = 1.44

....

What result do you expect for each?

Usually when calculating relative differences, you divide by the number
you're subtracting, e.g., (D4-C4)/C4. If C4 and D4 were beginning and ending
values, respectively, (D4-C4)/C4 would be the percentage change from the
beginning value. You could simplify this to =D4/C4-1.

If you do mean you want relative difference with respect to the D4 value,
use =1-C4/D4.

As long as C4 and D4 aren't negative, the former can't be less than 0, but
it could be an arbitrarily large positive value. The latter can't be greater
than 1, but it could produce an arbitrarily large negative value.