
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 table with  $m$  rows and  $n$  columns is given. At any move one chooses some empty cells such that any two of them lie in different rows and columns, puts a white piece in any of those cells and then puts a black piece in the cells whose rows and columns contain white pieces. The game is over if it is not possible to make a move. Find the maximum possible number of white pieces that can be put on the table.

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