Percent Change in Area

The Percent Change in Area calculator computes the change in area between an initial area (A_i) and a final area (A_f).

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (A_i)  Initial Area
• (A_f)  Final Area

% Change in Area (PCA):  The calculator returns the percentage change and the actual change in square centimeters.  However, this can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.

The Math / Science

The formula for percent change in area is:

    PC = (Af - Ai)/Ai

where:

• PC is the percent change in area
• Af is the final area
• Ai is the initial area

Percent reduction in area is often used in other engineering equations for stress and strain.  The equation takes as input the initial area and the changed area to calculate and return the delta change in the area.¹ 

When the change in area is due to deforming strain applied to solids, there is no negative value for this concept.  No strain results in an expansion of the material.

Related Calculators

• Percent Change in Length
• Percent Change in Area
• Percent Change in Volume
• Percent Change in Flow Rate
• Percent Change in Weight
• Change in Length due to Strain
• Stress
• Strain

The calculator automatically handles numerous area units.  With this feature you can compute the reduction in area with different units.  The initial area can be 5.3 square yards, and the final area be 4.2 square meters, and the calculator accurately will provide an answer of 5.22% reduction in area.

1. ^ Fundamentals of Engineering. 8th edition, 2nd Revision.  National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) - 2001. ISBN 978-1-932613-59-9.  pg 33