
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 $s$ be the number that results when both the base and the exponent of $a^b$ are doubled, where $a, b > 0$. If $s$ equals the product of $(a^2)^b$ and $x^b$ where $x > 0$, find the value of $x$.
A) 2  
B) 4  
C) 8  
D) 16

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