
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
The first step divides the square in the bottom left corner of diagram $a$ into four smaller squares, as shown in diagram $b$; the second step further divides the bottom left small square of diagram $b$ into four even smaller squares, as shown in diagram $c$; continuing this pattern, how many squares are there in the diagram after the fifth step?

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