
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
Given that $x < a < 0$ and $x, a$ are both integers, if $b$ is defined such that $b = x^2 - a^2$, then determine the relation between $b$ and zero.
A) \( b < 0 \)
B) \( b = 0 \)
C) \( b > 0 \)
D) \( b \leq 0 \)

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