
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
Crestview’s school celebration is coming up, and new colors have been added while designing a flag using three solid-colored horizontal stripes. The school's primary colors have been updated to purple, gold, and silver. When designing the flag, the middle stripe must be a different color from the ones directly above and below it. How many different flag designs are possible under these conditions?

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