Successive Bounces Shrink by Boundary Coefficients
Each traveling wave is multiplied by the boundary it reaches. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.
highlighted = computed this step
The load boundary multiplies by its coefficient
The first incoming wave is 8 volts and the load coefficient is 1 over 2, so the outgoing wave is 4 volts.
8⋅21=4
The source boundary multiplies the returning wave
The returning 4 volt wave sees source coefficient -1 over 2, giving -2 volts forward.