
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
On the occasion of the start of the winter holidays, all the boys from class 8 "B" went to a shooting range. It is known that there are $n$ boys in class 8 "B". At the shooting range, there are $n$ targets. Each boy randomly chooses a target, and some boys may choose the same target. After that, everyone simultaneously shoots at their chosen targets. It is known that each boy hits their target. A target is considered hit if at least one boy hits it.

a) Find the average number of targets hit.

b) Can the average number of targets hit be less than $n / 2$?

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