<s>[INST] Why is it that $2^{10} + 2^{9} + 2^{8} + \cdots + 2^{3} + 2^2 + 2^1 = 2^{11} - 2$? Why is it that $$2^{10} + 2^{9} + 2^{8} + \cdots + 2^{3} + 2^2 + 2^1 = 2^{11} - 2?$$
 [/INST] Try using the fact that $x^n + x^{n - 1} + \cdots + x + 1 = \frac{x^{n + 1} - 1}{x - 1}$.
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