Percentage change or percent difference?
Percentage change compares a start value with an end value, so the direction matters. Going from 100 to 120 is a 20% increase, but going from 120 to 100 is a 16.67% decrease, because each change is measured against its own starting point. Percent difference ignores direction. It divides the gap between two values by their average, so 100 and 120 are 18.18% apart no matter which comes first. Use change for a before and after, and difference when neither value is the baseline.
One formula, three questions
The first three questions are the same relationship seen from three sides: the part equals the percent times the whole. Give any two of those numbers and the third follows. 15% of 200 is 30, so 30 out of 200 is 15%, and if 30 is 15% of something, that something is 200.
Discounts, tips and other daily sums
For a 20% tip on a 45 bill, the first question gives the tip itself and the increase result gives the total with the tip included. For 30% off an 80 price, the decrease result is what you pay. To undo a percentage, use the find the whole question: if a sale price of 56 is 70% of the original, the original was 80. The same questions cover VAT, raises, interest and test scores.