
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
(1) Calculate: $(2 \frac {1}{4})^{ \frac {1}{2}} - (-9.6)^0 - (3 \frac {3}{8})^{- \frac {2}{3}} + (1.5)^{-2}$  
(2) Given $f(x) = \log_{ \frac {1}{4}}^2x - \log_{ \frac {1}{4}}x + 5$, where $x \in [2, 4]$, find the maximum and minimum values of $f(x)$.

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