Answer:
After a 75% increase, it would become
x + 75%x = x + 0.75x = x(1 + 0.75) = 1.75x
After a 50% decrease, it would become
1.75x - 50%(1.75x) = 1.75x - 0.5(1.75x) = 1.75x - 0.875x = 0.875x = [tex]\frac{7}{8} x[/tex]
Because [tex]\frac{7}{8} x[/tex] is less than x, the new amount would be less than the original.