Why does (x-1) toggle all the bits from the rightmost set bit of x?

Question

Why does this property hold true?

say the kth bit from right side is the first set bit in number \'x\'. (x-1) will toggle every bit upto kth bit from r

Answer 1

Let's do a hand subtraction

  xxx100...00
- xxx000...01
─────────────
  xxx011...11

x represents bits that we don't care

Starting from the right, 10 - 1 = 1, borrowing 1 from the next column

Then the next one is 0 - 0, minus the borrow, which also results in 0 - 1 = 1 borrows 1. This sequence continues until the bit in subtrahend is 1, now we have 1 - 0 - borrow = 1 - 1 = 0

As the result, all the bits up to the rightmost set bit will be inverted