I suppose you just have to simplify this expression.
(2ˣ⁺² - 2ˣ⁺³) / (2ˣ⁺¹ - 2ˣ⁺²)
Divide through every term by the lowest power of 2, which would be <em>x</em> + 1 :
… = (2ˣ⁺²/2ˣ⁺¹ - 2ˣ⁺³/2ˣ⁺¹) / (2ˣ⁺¹/2ˣ⁺¹ - 2ˣ⁺²/2ˣ⁺¹)
Recall that <em>n</em>ª / <em>n</em>ᵇ = <em>n</em>ª⁻ᵇ, so that we have
… = (2⁽ˣ⁺²⁾ ⁻ ⁽ˣ⁺¹⁾ - 2⁽ˣ⁺³⁾ ⁻ ⁽ˣ⁺¹⁾) / (2⁽ˣ⁺¹⁾ ⁻ ⁽ˣ⁺¹⁾ - 2⁽ˣ⁺²⁾ ⁻ ⁽ˣ⁺¹⁾)
… = (2¹ - 2²) / (2⁰ - 2¹)
… = (2 - 4) / (1 - 2)
… = (-2) / (-1)
… = 2
Another way to get the same result: rewrite every term as a multiple of <em>y</em> = 2ˣ :
… = (2²×2ˣ - 2³×2ˣ) / (2×2ˣ - 2²×2ˣ)
… = (4×2ˣ - 8×2ˣ) / (2×2ˣ - 4×2ˣ)
… = (4<em>y</em> - 8<em>y</em>) / (2<em>y</em> - 4<em>y</em>)
… = (-4<em>y</em>) / (-2<em>y</em>)
… = 2
Step-by-step explanation:
1. making the equation:
shoes = x
shirts = y
175 = x + 3y
x = 4y
2. graph it (I'm using desmos)
the green line is for 175 = x + 3y and the purple one is for x = 4y
3. find the price
x = 4y
175 = 4y + 3y
175 = 7y
y = 175/7 = $25
price of the shirt = $25
x = 4y = 4*25 = $100
price of a pair of shoes = $100
7 - 2 = 5
5 / 5 = 1
The answer would be 1.

now, is it true that -2 is lesser than 1? if it's true, is a solution, if is false, is not then
75 : 15 = x : 13
15 x = 75 · 13
15 x = 975
x = 975 : 15
x = 65
Answer:
The bass player is 65 inches tall.