Percent Difference - HP 12C Platinum User Manual

34 Section 2: Percentage and Calendar Functions
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
8b
=
6b
}

Percent Difference

In RPN or ALG mode, to find the percent difference between two numbers:
1. Key in the base number.
2. Press \ to separate the other number from the base number.
3. Key in the other number.
4. Press à.
If the other number is greater than the base number, the percent difference will be
positive. If the other number is less than the base number, the percent difference
will be negative. Therefore, a positive answer indicates an increase, while a
negative answer indicates a decrease.
If you are calculating a percent difference over time, the base number is typically
the amount occurring first.
Example: Yesterday your stock fell from $58.50 to $53.25 per share. What is
the percent change ? (Note that the \ key is the same as the } key in ALG
mode.)
Keystrokes
58.5\
53.25
à
The à key can be used for calculations of the percent difference between a
wholesale cost and a retail cost. If the base number entered is the wholesale cost,
the percent difference is called the markup; if the base number entered is the retail
cost, the percent difference is called the margin. Examples of markup and margin
calculations are included in the hp 12c platinum Solutions Handbook.
Display
Amount of discount.
1,860.00
Base amount less discount.
21,390.00
Amount of tax (on $21,390).
1,283.40
Total cost: base amount less discount
22,673.40
plus tax.
Display
Keys in the base number and
58.50
separates it from the other number.
Keys in the other number.
53.25
Nearly a 9% decrease.
–8.97