Solution - Simplification or other simple results

Step  1  :

 1.1     4 = 22

(4)²⁸ = (2²)²⁸ = 2⁵⁶

Equation at the end of step  1  :

  256 -  2

Step  2  :

Step  3  :

Pulling out like terms :

 3.1     Pull out like factors :

   2⁵⁶ - 2  =   2 • (2 - 1) 

Final result :

  2 • (2 - 1)