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Percent Decrease Calculator

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What is Percent Decrease?

Percent decrease measures how much a value has fallen relative to its original amount. It's commonly used to calculate price reductions, budget cuts, population decline, and other value drops. The result is expressed as a percentage of the original value.

Percent Decrease Formula

Percent Decrease = ((Original Value - New Value) ÷ Original Value) × 100

How to Calculate Percent Decrease

Step 1: Identify Values: Record your starting number and ending number.

Step 2: Find the Decrease Amount: Subtract the ending number from the starting number.

Step 3: Divide by Original Value: Divide the difference by the starting number.

Step 4: Convert to Percent: Multiply the result by 100 and add a % symbol.

Examples of Percent Decrease Calculations

Example 1: Price Reduction

A TV's price drops from $800 to $600

  1. Original Value = $800, New Value = $600
  2. Decrease Amount = $800 - $600 = $200
  3. $200 ÷ $800 = 0.25
  4. 0.25 × 100 = 25%

The TV price decreased by 25%

Example 2: Population Change

Town population falls from 5,000 to 4,250

  1. Original Value = 5,000, New Value = 4,250
  2. Decrease Amount = 5,000 - 4,250 = 750
  3. 750 ÷ 5,000 = 0.15
  4. 0.15 × 100 = 15%

The population decreased by 15%

Example 3: Weight Loss

Weight changes from 180 lbs to 153 lbs

  1. Original Value = 180, New Value = 153
  2. Decrease Amount = 180 - 153 = 27
  3. 27 ÷ 180 = 0.15
  4. 0.15 × 100 = 15%

The weight decreased by 15%

FAQ About Percent Decrease

What's the difference between a 50% decrease and a 50% discount?

There is no difference - both mean the value has been reduced by half of its original amount. A 50% decrease or discount on a $100 item results in a $50 final price.

Can a percent decrease be more than 100%?

No, a percent decrease cannot exceed 100%, as that would mean the value has dropped below zero. The maximum possible decrease is 100%, which means the value has reached zero.

How do I calculate the new amount after a percent decrease?

Multiply the original amount by (1 - decrease percent as decimal). For a 20% decrease, multiply by 0.8. Example: $100 × 0.8 = $80.

What's the difference between absolute and relative decrease?

Absolute decrease is the actual amount decreased ($10 drop from $50 to $40). Relative decrease is the percent (20% drop in this case).

Helpful Tips for Percent Decrease

Always use the original value as your base for calculations

Double-check your decimal point placement

Remember that percent decrease can never exceed 100%

For quick estimates, use convenient benchmarks:

  • A 50% decrease means the value is cut in half
  • A 25% decrease means removing one-quarter
  • A 10% decrease means removing one-tenth

See Also