
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
Let $\triangle ABC$ have sides $a$, $b$, and $c$ opposite to angles $A$, $B$, and $C$ respectively. Given that $\frac{{a^2 + c^2 - b^2}}{{\cos B}} = 4$. Find:<br/>
$(1)$ $ac$;<br/>
$(2)$ If $\frac{{2b\cos C - 2c\cos B}}{{b\cos C + c\cos B}} - \frac{c}{a} = 2$, find the area of $\triangle ABC$.

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