f(x+1) means to start with f(x)=4^x
Put parentheses around the x f(x)=4^(x)
Take out the x f( )=4^( )
Spread the parentheses wide f( )=4^( )
put in (x+1) f(x+1)=4^(x+1)
Now take f(x+1)-f(x) and put 4^(x+1) in place of f(x+1)
and put 4^x in place of f(x) and you get
f(x+1)-f(x)=4^(x+1)-4^x
Then you write 4^(x+1) as 4^x*4^1 then as 4^x*4 then as 4*4^x
f(x+1)-f(x)=4*4^x-4^x
Then factor out 4^x
f(x+1)-f(x)=4^x(4-1)
f(x+1)-f(x)=4^x(3)
f(x+1)-f(x)=3*4^x
Edwin