
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 $9 \times 9$ grid has a total of 81 squares, and the first square is dark. What is the difference in the number of dark squares and light squares on this grid?

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