One of the most powerful features of Microsoft Excel is its ability to perform various calculations and analyze data. When it comes to determining the percentage increase of a value, Excel offers a specific function that simplifies the process. This function is known as the “PERCENTAGE.INCREASE” function and can be applied easily within your spreadsheets. By using this function, you can effortlessly calculate the percentage increase between two values.
The PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function
To find the percentage increase of a value in Excel, you can utilize the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function. This function compares the old value with the new value and expresses the difference as a percentage. The syntax of the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function is as follows:
=PERCENTAGE.INCREASE(NewValue, OldValue)
To obtain the percentage increase, simply input the new value as the first argument, and the old value as the second argument within the function. Excel will then provide the percentage increase as the output.
Let’s look at an example to better understand how to use the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function in Excel.
Consider a scenario where the old value is 500 and the new value is 750. To calculate the percentage increase between these two values, enter the following formula:
=PERCENTAGE.INCREASE(750,500)
Upon pressing Enter, Excel will display the result as 50%, indicating a 50% increase from the old value to the new value.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I calculate the percentage increase of values in Excel without using a formula?
No, the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function is specifically designed to simplify the calculation process.
2. What if the new value is smaller than the old value?
In such cases, Excel will display a negative percentage, indicating a decrease instead of an increase.
3. Is it possible to use cell references as arguments in the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function?
Yes, you can replace the numeric values with cell references containing the respective values you want to compare.
4. Can I format the output of the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function?
Certainly! You can use Excel’s formatting options to customize the appearance of the percentage increase result.
5. How accurate are the results obtained through the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function?
The results are as accurate as the input values provided and the precision of your chosen formatting for displaying the results.
6. Can I use the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function within a larger formula?
Yes, just like any other Excel function, you can incorporate the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function into more complex formulas.
7. What is the maximum number of arguments the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function can accept?
The function accepts only two arguments, the new value and the old value.
8. Are there alternative methods to calculate percentage increase in Excel?
Yes, you can manually calculate the percentage increase by subtracting the old value from the new value, dividing it by the old value, and then multiplying by 100.
9. Does the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function work in older versions of Excel?
No, the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function is a newer feature introduced in more recent versions of Excel.
10. Can I apply the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function to a range of values?
No, the function is designed to evaluate the percentage increase between two specific values, not ranges.
11. Can I use the PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function for non-numeric values?
No, the function only operates on numeric values.
12. What is the difference between percentage increase and percentage change?
Percentage increase refers to an increase in value, while percentage change can include both increases and decreases in value. The PERCENTAGE.INCREASE function specifically calculates percentage increases.