
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 absolute value $|a|$ of any number $a$ is defined by

$$
|a|=\left\{\begin{array}{cl}
a & \text{if } a > 0 \\
0 & \text{if } a = 0 \\
-a & \text{if } a < 0
\end{array}\right.
$$

For example, $|6| = 6$, $|-4| = 4$, and $|0| = 0$. What is the value of $N = |5| + |3 - 8| - |-4|$?
(a) 4
(b) -4
(c) 14
(d) -14
(e) 6

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