# @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference

> Compute the relative difference of two real numbers.

Latest version **0.2.3** (published 2026-02-07) · Apache-2.0 license · 0 weekly downloads

## Install

```sh
npm install @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
pnpm add @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
yarn add @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
bun add @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
```

## Health

**Score 55/100 (C)** — status: stable.

Positive: has types; no vulnerabilities; high maintenance score.

Warnings: low downloads; no esm support; pre 1.0.

## Facts

| | |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.2.3 |
| Published | 2026-02-07 |
| First published | 2021-06-15 |
| Weekly downloads | 0 |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| TypeScript types | bundled |
| Module format | CommonJS |
| Node | >=0.10.0 |
| Dependencies | 7 |
| Unpacked size | 82.9 KB |
| Known vulnerabilities | 0 |
| Install scripts | no |
| GitHub stars | 2 |
| Author | The Stdlib Authors |
| Maintainers | stdlib-bot, kgryte, planeshifter, rreusser |
| Keywords | stdlib, stdmath, mathematics, math, relative, difference, abs, diff, error, distance, dist, numbers |

## Links

- npm: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
- Repository: https://github.com/stdlib-js/math-base-utils-relative-difference
- Homepage: https://stdlib.io
- Issues: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/issues
- Funding: https://opencollective.com/stdlib
- npm.io page: https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference

## Dependencies (7)

- [@stdlib/string-format](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/string-format.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/assert-is-function](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/assert-is-function.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/math-base-special-abs](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/math-base-special-abs.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/constants-float64-ninf](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/constants-float64-ninf.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/constants-float64-pinf](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/constants-float64-pinf.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/error-tools-fmtprodmsg](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/error-tools-fmtprodmsg.md) ^0.2.3
- [@stdlib/math-base-assert-is-nan](https://npm.io/package/@stdlib/math-base-assert-is-nan.md) ^0.2.3

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## Recent versions

- 0.2.3 (latest) — 2026-02-07
- 0.2.2 — 2024-07-28
- 0.2.1 — 2024-02-24
- 0.2.0 — 2024-02-14
- 0.1.0 — 2023-09-23
- 0.0.6 — 2022-02-16
- 0.0.5 — 2021-08-22
- 0.0.4 — 2021-07-07
- 0.0.3 — 2021-06-27
- 0.0.2 — 2021-06-16
- 0.0.1 — 2021-06-15

## README

<!--

@license Apache-2.0

Copyright (c) 2018 The Stdlib Authors.

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at

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distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.

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<details>
  <summary>
    About stdlib...
  </summary>
  <p>We believe in a future in which the web is a preferred environment for numerical computation. To help realize this future, we've built stdlib. stdlib is a standard library, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computation, written in JavaScript (and C) for execution in browsers and in Node.js.</p>
  <p>The library is fully decomposable, being architected in such a way that you can swap out and mix and match APIs and functionality to cater to your exact preferences and use cases.</p>
  <p>When you use stdlib, you can be absolutely certain that you are using the most thorough, rigorous, well-written, studied, documented, tested, measured, and high-quality code out there.</p>
  <p>To join us in bringing numerical computing to the web, get started by checking us out on <a href="https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib">GitHub</a>, and please consider <a href="https://opencollective.com/stdlib">financially supporting stdlib</a>. We greatly appreciate your continued support!</p>
</details>

# Relative Difference

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Compute the [relative difference][relative-difference] of two real numbers.

<section class="intro">

The [relative difference][relative-difference] of two real `numbers` is defined as

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:relative_difference" align="center" raw="\Delta(x,y) = \frac{|x - y|}{|f(x,y)|} = \left|\frac{x - y}{f(x,y)}\right|" alt="Relative difference"> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="\Delta(x,y) = \frac{|x - y|}{|f(x,y)|} = \left|\frac{x - y}{f(x,y)}\right|" data-equation="eq:relative_difference">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@bb29798906e119fcb2af99e94b60407a270c9b32/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/utils/relative-difference/docs/img/equation_relative_difference.svg" alt="Relative difference">
    <br>
</div> -->

<!-- </equation> -->

where `|x-y|` is the [absolute difference][@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference] and `f(x,y)` is a scale function. Common scale functions include

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:scale_functions" align="center" raw="\begin{align*}f(x,y) &= \max(|x|, |y|)\\f(x,y) &= \max(x,y)\\ f(x,y) &= \min(|x|,|y|)\\f(x,y) &= \min(x,y) \\f(x,y) &= \frac{|x|+|y|}{2} \\f(x,y) &= \frac{x + y}{2}\end{align*}" alt="Scale functions"> -->

<!-- <div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="\begin{align*}f(x,y) &amp;= \max(|x|, |y|)\\f(x,y) &amp;= \max(x,y)\\ f(x,y) &amp;= \min(|x|,|y|)\\f(x,y) &amp;= \min(x,y) \\f(x,y) &amp;= \frac{|x|+|y|}{2} \\f(x,y) &amp;= \frac{x + y}{2}\end{align*}" data-equation="eq:scale_functions">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@bb29798906e119fcb2af99e94b60407a270c9b32/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/utils/relative-difference/docs/img/equation_scale_functions.svg" alt="Scale functions">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

The choice of scale function depends on application context.

</section>

<!-- /.intro -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var reldiff = require( '@stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference' );
```

#### reldiff( x, y\[, scale] )

Computes the [relative difference][relative-difference] of two real numbers.

```javascript
var d = reldiff( 2.0, 5.0 ); // => 3/5
// returns 0.6

d = reldiff( -1.0, 3.14 ); // => 4.14/3.14
// returns ~1.318
```

The following `scale` functions are supported:

-   **max-abs**: maximum [absolute value][@stdlib/math/base/special/abs] of `x` and `y` (_default_).
-   **max**: maximum value of `x` and `y`.
-   **min-abs**: minimum [absolute value][@stdlib/math/base/special/abs] of `x` and `y`.
-   **min**: minimum value of `x` and `y`.
-   **mean-abs**: arithmetic mean of the [absolute values][@stdlib/math/base/special/abs] of `x` and `y`.
-   **mean**: arithmetic mean of `x` and `y`.
-   **x**: `x` (_noncommutative_).
-   **y**: `y` (_noncommutative_).

By default, the function scales the [absolute difference][@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference] by dividing the [absolute difference][@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference] by the maximum [absolute value][@stdlib/math/base/special/abs] of `x` and `y`. To scale by a different function, specify a scale function name.

```javascript
var d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0 ); // => |-7/5|
// returns 1.4

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'max-abs' ); // => |-7/5|
// returns 1.4

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'max' ); // => |-7/5|
// returns 1.4

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'min-abs' ); // => |-7/2|
// returns 3.5

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'min' ); // => |-7/-2|
// returns 3.5

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'mean-abs' ); // => |-7/3.5|
// returns 2.0

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'mean' ); // => |-7/1.5|
// returns ~4.67

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'x' ); // => |-7/-2|
// returns 3.5

d = reldiff( 5.0, -2.0, 'x' ); // => |7/5|
// returns 1.4

d = reldiff( -2.0, 5.0, 'y' ); // => |-7/5|
// returns 1.4

d = reldiff( 5.0, -2.0, 'y' ); // => |7/-2|
// returns 3.5
```

To use a custom scale `function`, provide a `function` which accepts two numeric arguments `x` and `y`.

```javascript
var abs = require( '@stdlib/math-base-special-abs' );
var EPS = require( '@stdlib/constants-float64-eps' );

function scale( x, y ) {
    var s;
    x = abs( x );
    y = abs( y );

    // Maximum absolute value:
    s = (x < y ) ? y : x;

    // Scale in units of epsilon:
    return s * EPS;
}

var d = reldiff( 12.15, 12.149999999999999, scale );
// returns ~0.658
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   If the [absolute difference][@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference] of `x` and `y` is `0`, the relative difference is **always** `0`.

    ```javascript
    var d = reldiff( 0.0, 0.0 );
    // returns 0.0

    d = reldiff( 3.14, 3.14 );
    // returns 0.0
    ```

-   If `|x| = |y| = infinity`, the function returns `NaN`.

    ```javascript
    var d = reldiff( Infinity, Infinity );
    // returns NaN

    d = reldiff( -Infinity, -Infinity );
    // returns NaN
    ```

-   If `|x| = |-y| = infinity`, the relative difference is `+infinity`.

    ```javascript
    var d = reldiff( Infinity, -Infinity );
    // returns Infinity

    d = reldiff( -Infinity, Infinity );
    // returns Infinity
    ```

-   If a `scale` function returns `0`, the function returns `NaN`.

    ```javascript
    var d = reldiff( 0.0, 2.0, 'mean' ); // => |2/1|
    // returns 2.0

    d = reldiff( -1.0, 1.0, 'mean' ); // => |2/0|
    // returns NaN
    ```

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var randu = require( '@stdlib/random-base-randu' );
var reldiff = require( '@stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference' );

var scales = [ 'max-abs', 'max', 'min-abs', 'min', 'mean-abs', 'mean', 'x', 'y' ];
var x;
var y;
var d;
var i;
var j;

for ( i = 0; i < 100; i++ ) {
    x = ( randu()*1.0e4 ) - 5.0e3;
    y = ( randu()*1.0e4 ) - 5.0e3;
    for ( j = 0; j < scales.length; j++ ) {
        d = reldiff( x, y, scales[j] );
        console.log( 'x = %d. y = %d. d = %d. scale: %s.', x, y, d, scales[j] );
    }
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/math-base/utils/absolute-difference`][@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">compute the absolute difference of two real numbers.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/math-base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference`][@stdlib/math/base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">compute the relative difference of two real numbers in units of double-precision floating-point epsilon.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

<!-- Section for all links. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->


<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

<!-- /.stdlib -->

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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
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[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/math-base-utils-relative-difference/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/math-base-utils-relative-difference/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/math-base-utils-relative-difference/tree/umd
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[@stdlib/math/base/special/abs]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-special-abs

[relative-difference]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_change_and_difference

<!-- <related-links> -->

[@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference

[@stdlib/math/base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-float64-epsilon-difference

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