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x1 = 3
x2 = 2(3)-1 = 5
x3 = 2(5)-1 = 9
x4 = 2(9)-1 = 17

we can notice the general pattern in this series:
(x2-x1) = 2 = 2^1
(x3-x2)= 4 = 2^2
(x4-x3) = 8 = 2^3... and so on.

So, (x^20 - x^19) = 2^(19). Ans (A).
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eresh
If the sequence \(x_1\), \(x_2\), \(x_3\), …, \(x_n\), … is such that \(x_1\) = 3 and \(x_{n+1}\) = 2\(x_n\) –1 for n \(\geq\) 1, then \(x_{20}\) – \(x_{19}\)=

A. \(2^{19}\)
B. \(2^{20}\)
C. \(2^{21}\)
D. \(2^{20}\) - 1
E. \(2^{21}\) - 1

\(x_1\) = 3
\(x_2\) = 2\(x_1\) –1 = 5
\(x_3\) = 2\(x_2\) –1 = 9
\(x_4\) = 2\(x_3\) –1 = 17
\(x_5\) = 2\(x_4\) –1 = 33

On trying to find a series, this translates to
\(x_1\) = \(2^1 + 1\)
\(x_2\) = \(2^2 + 1\)
\(x_3\) = \(2^3 + 1\)
\(x_4\) = \(2^4 + 1\)
\(x_5\) = \(2^5 + 1\)

Hence \(x_{20}\) = \(2^{20} + 1\) and \(x_{19}\) =\(2^{19} + 1\)

\(x_{20}\) - \(x_{19}\) = (\(2^{20}\) + 1) - (\(2^{19}\) + 1) = \(2^{20}\) - \(2^{19}\) =\(2^{19}\) (2 - 1) = \(2^{19}\)
Option A
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Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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