
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
A given rectangle  $ R$  is divided into  $mn$  small rectangles by straight lines parallel to its sides. (The distances between the parallel lines may not be equal.) What is the minimum number of appropriately selected rectangles’ areas that should be known in order to determine the area of  $ R$ ?

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