04 Try it yourself Interactive

Two changes, one net result

Choose the two percentage changes and a starting value. The console applies them in order, shows the net equivalent, and compares against what adding the percentages would have predicted. Set them equal and opposite to see the x²/100 loss appear.

Down 20%, then up 20%
96 · a 4% LOSS, not zero
Negative values are falls. Try −20 then +20 and watch the result land at 96 rather than 100.
Press Next to work through it one step at a time.
Multiplier 1–
Multiplier 2–
Net %–
Final value–
step 0 / 0