Which expression correctly calculates percent change from the original value to the new value?

• A. (New Value - Original Value) / Original Value * 100
• B. Original Value / (New Value - Original Value) * 100
• C. (Original Value - New Value) / Original Value * 100
• D. (New Value - Original Value) / Original Value

Answer: (B)

Percent change tells you how much a value has increased or decreased relative to the starting value, expressed as a percent. To compute it, subtract the original value from the new value, divide by the original value, and then multiply by 100. This shows the change as a portion of the original amount. For example, going from 40 to 60: change is 20, 20/40 = 0.5, times 100 = 50% increase. If you don’t multiply by 100, you’d get a decimal (0.5), not a percent. If you divide in the opposite order or invert the ratio, you lose the proper interpretation of percent change. So the correct approach is (new value minus original value) divided by the original value, then multiplied by 100.