解:
(1) 设$s=1+2+2^2+2^3+\dots+2^{2024},$①
将等式两边同时乘2得:
$2s=2+2^2+2^3+\dots+2^{2024}+2^{2025},$②
将②式减去①式,得$2s-s=2^{2025}-1,$
所以$s=2^{2025}-1,$即$1+2+2^2+2^3+\dots+2^{2024}=2^{2025}-1。$
(2) 设$s=1+3+3^2+3^3+\dots+3^{20},$①
将等式两边同时乘3得:
$3s=3+3^2+3^3+\dots+3^{20}+3^{21},$②
将②式减去①式,得$3s-s=3^{21}-1,$
即$2s=3^{21}-1,$
所以$s=\dfrac{3^{21}-1}{2},$即$1+3+3^2+3^3+\dots+3^{20}=\dfrac{3^{21}-1}{2}。$