% increase / decrease of minus numbers

[crockhamtown]

I would like to know if there is a formula to calculate the % increase or decrease of minus numbers that deals with all of the instances below:

(col A, col B, col C)
(number, number, formula for % increase / decrease)
-4, 5, ?
-4, -5, ?
-4, -3, ?
4, 5, ?
4, -5, ?

I think the function ABS might be relevant.

Would be grateful for any help

[Bob Phillips]

Try this for size

=(A2-B2)/(A2*-SIGN(A2))

[crockhamtown]

Thanks for the tip but shouldn't the forumula be multiplied by 100? Viz.

=100*(A2-B2)/(A2*-SIGN(A2))

to get

-4, 5, 225%
-4, -5, -25%
-4, -3, 25%
4, 5, 25%
4, -5, -225%

[Bob Phillips]

No, percentage is a value relative to 1, the formatting changes say 2.25 to 225%

[crockhamtown]

I don't understand your latest post Bob.

This is how I see it . The absolute differences are:

-4 to 5 = 9 which is a 225 percent increase from -4
-4 to -5 = 1 which is a 25 percent decrease from -4
-4 to -3 = 1 which is a 25 percent increase from -4
4 to 5 = 1 which is a 25 percent increase from 4
4 to -5 = 9 which is a 225 percent decrease from 4

Your formula (which I could never have thought of) does this provided it is multiplied by 100.

[Bob Phillips]

No, non, no, mate

You maybe getting an answer of 2.25 instead of 225%, but if you format the cell as percentage, you will see 225%. When you say 100%, that is saying it is all, and all is 1. You can have part of 1 or all of 1, and that is what percentages relate to.

[crockhamtown]

OK. Got it. Many thanks.

[Cutter]

@ crockhamtown

Based on your last post it seems that you are satisfied with the solution(s) you've received but you haven't marked your thread as SOLVED. I'll do that for you now but please keep in mind for your future threads that Rule #9 requires you to do that yourself. If your problem has not been solved you can use Thread Tools (located above your first post) and choose "Mark this thread as unsolved".
Thanks.