To find the percentage difference from the average, divide the absolute value of the difference between a specific value and the average by the average, and then multiply by 100.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
1. Calculate the Average:
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Sum all the values in the dataset.
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Divide the sum by the total number of values.
Average = (Sum of Values) / (Number of Values)
2. Find the Difference:
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Subtract the average from the specific value you're interested in. Use the absolute value to ensure a positive difference.
Difference = |Specific Value - Average|
3. Calculate the Percentage Difference:
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Divide the difference (from step 2) by the average (from step 1).
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Multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percentage.
Percentage Difference = (Difference / Average) * 100
Formula:
Percentage Difference = (|Specific Value - Average| / Average) * 100
Example:
Let's say you have the following values: 10, 12, and 14.
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Calculate the Average: (10 + 12 + 14) / 3 = 12
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Find the Difference (for the value 10): |10 - 12| = 2
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Calculate the Percentage Difference (for the value 10): (2 / 12) * 100 = 16.67%
Therefore, the value 10 is 16.67% different from the average of 12.
Why Use Percentage Difference from Average?
- Standardization: It allows you to compare values relative to a central point (the average), regardless of the scale of the data.
- Context: It provides context by showing how far a value deviates from the norm.
- Analysis: Useful in statistics and data analysis to identify outliers or significant deviations from the average.
