Problem for week 40

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Hi guys and gals,

I still have a problem not having a computer problem for you, so here's a mathematical one.

There is this major tennis tournament. 500 players are in the games. The rules are simpel, when you lose, you are out. If the number of players is an odd number, one player goes on to the next round without playing.
In the end there is only one winner.

Howmany matches are played in the contest?

The answer is not the most important thing, the way to calculate is, so please tell me how you did it.

 

Answer is correct, but you are calculating to much.

 

You calculate it by the formula x=n-1.

It was always the right answer in calculus at uni so I don't see why not here.

 

How can you over calculate something when the answer is correct?

Im not trying to be rude or funny here, but how is that possible?

 

It's much easier (but in fact, it is the answer)

 

I'll explain in a few days. I don't want to spoil the fun.

 

No other replies, so here is how and why.
Solving this 'problem' was not that difficult. It was meant to train thinking out of the box. Many times you can solve a problem with far less energy if you just let it sink in for some time.
Lets look at the problem again. 500 people playing tennis. Who looses is out. There is just one winner, so 499 people lost. That has to give me 499 games.

Solved without any calculation.