Subtracting the baryon equation from the cold-dark-matter equation cancels their common gravitational source and gives the baryon--cold-dark-matter relative density mode
Because the background fractions and are constant after recombination, their weighted sum gives
During matter domination, . The first equation gives and hence
The cosmic-time matter density modes give
Solving the definitions for the individual contrasts,
so
Thus . Both species feel the same gravitational potential after baryon pressure becomes negligible; the growing total mode overtakes the constant relative mode, so baryons catch up with cold dark matter.