<s>[INST] How come $2 \times 3^k + 3^k = 3 \times 3^k$ I get something else
$$\begin{align*}
&2 \times 3^k + 3^k=\\
&2 \times 3^k \times 2=\\
&4 \times 3^k
\end{align*}$$
What does $3^k + 3^k$ give exactly?
 [/INST] It looks like you are confusing $2\cdot 3^k+3^k$ with $2 \cdot (3^k+3^k)$.  The first gives $3 \cdot 3^k=3^{k+1}$, while the second gives $2 \cdot (2 \cdot 3^k)=4\cdot 3^k$.  Parentheses are important.
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