Need help with formula

[leopardhawk]

Hello forum friends,

Can someone please suggest an Excel formula to handle this simple task? I'm trying to show a Percent Difference between two variables. The result should always be a positive number.

When I enter it into Excel the way I see it on paper, using two variables (21940 and 21866) I get a return of 5000 when in actual fact, the answer is .337853

21940-21866 divided by 21940+21866 divided by 2 multiplied by 100

Also, the two variables should be able to be transposed with the results being the same.

Thanks!

 

[Lexcon07]

Try this.

=(21940-21866)/((21940+21866)/2)*100

 

[Fluff]

How about

=ABS(A2-B2)/(A2+B2)*200

 

[leopardhawk]

Disregard the 5000 result, that was my fault. I still need a way for this formula to be a positive percentage every time (if that's possible). Thanks!

 

[Fluff]

Did you try my suggestion?

 

[leopardhawk]

@Fluff Your formula gives me 33.8. I multiplied by 2 instead of 200 and get the .338 I am looking for. It also works if I transpose the two variables. Thanks!

 

[Fluff]

Your formula gives me 33.8

That would suggest you have the cell format as percentage.

 

[leopardhawk]

@Fluff Yes, it is formatted as a percentage. My goal is to show the percent difference between the two variables. Your formula works even if I switch the two variables and still shows a positive result. Thanks!

 

[leopardhawk]

@Lexcon07 that was one of the formulas that I had already tried. It gives a negative result if the variables are transposed. Thanks anyway.

 

[Fluff]

Glad we could help & thanks for the feedback.