
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 structure is formed using unit cubes, making sure each cube shares at least one face with another cube. What is the smallest number of cubes required to form a structure if the front and side views of the structure are as below?

[asy]
/* Modified Views: Front view modified to a "L" shape and Side view to a "Z" shape */
// Front view - L-shape
draw((0,0)--(3,0)--(3,1)--(1,1)--(1,2)--(0,2)--cycle);
draw((1,0)--(1,1));
draw((2,0)--(2,1));
label(scale(0.8)*"FRONT", (1.5, 0), S);

// Side view - Z-shape
draw((5,0)--(8,0)--(8,1)--(7,1)--(7,2)--(6,2)--(6,3)--(5,3)--cycle);
draw((7,0)--(7,1));
draw((6,2)--(6,3));
label(scale(0.8)*"SIDE", (6.5, 0), S);
[/asy]

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