<s>[INST] Simplify $2^{(n-1)} + 2^{(n-2)} + .... + 2 + 1$ Simplify $2^{(n-1)} + 2^{(n-2)} + .... + 2 + 1$
I know the answer is $2^n - 1$, but how to simplify it?
 [/INST] First way:
$a^n-b^n=(a-b)(a^{n-1}+a^{n-2}b+a^{n-3}b^2+...+a^2b^{n-3}+ab^{n-2}+b^{n-1})$
set a=2, b=1
Edit: Second way.
Set $X=2^{(n-1)} + 2^{(n-2)} + … + 2 + 1$
$2X=2^n+2^{(n-1)} + 2^{(n-2)} + … + 2$
$2X=2^n+2^{(n-1)} + 2^{(n-2)} + … + 2 +1 -1$
$2X=2^n+X-1$
$X=2^n-1$
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