
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
Determine the degree and the number of terms in the polynomial $2a^4 + a^3b^2 - 5a^2b^3 + a - 1$, and then arrange it in ascending powers of $a$.

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