
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
16 programmers are playing in a single-elimination tournament. Each player has a different skill level, and when two play against each other, the one with the higher skill level will always win. Each round, each programmer plays a match against another, and the loser is eliminated. This continues until only one remains. How many different programmers can reach the round that has 2 players remaining?

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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