How this calculator works
Subtract the starting amount from the ending amount. Absolute change is expressed in the original units and keeps its sign. Rearranging the same equation recovers a missing starting or ending amount. There is no division by the starting value, so zero is a valid endpoint.
Formula
change = final - initial; initial = final - change; final = initial + change.
Worked example
An inventory falls from 120 items to 95 items. Its change is 95 - 120 = -25 items. An initial amount of 80 and a change of 20 give a final amount of 100.
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Frequently asked questions
Does absolute change always mean a positive number?
In change reporting it usually means the signed difference in the original units. For the unsigned distance, take the absolute value of that difference.
Can I start at zero?
Yes. A move from 0 to 12 has a change of 12; percentage change from zero is undefined.
Can I mix units?
Convert both values to the same unit first. Subtracting metres from centimetres without conversion gives a misleading answer.