
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
What is the maximum value \( f(n) \) of \( |s_1 - s_2| + |s_2 - s_3| + \ldots + |s_{n-1} - s_n| \) over all permutations \( s_1, s_2, \ldots, s_n \) of \( 1, 2, \ldots, n \)?

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