
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
Let the length of the shorter side of the index card be x, and the length of the longer side be 8. If Isolde shortens the length of one side by 2 inches, then the area of the card is given by (5)(x - 2). It is given that this area is equal to 24. Find the length of the shorter side of the index card.

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