
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
Two athletes run on the same closed track at a stadium. The speed of each is constant, but the first takes $a$ seconds less to complete the track than the second. If they start running from the same point and in the same direction, they meet every $b$ seconds. How much time will it take for them to meet if they run in opposite directions on the same track at their previous speeds?

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