You are a helpful assistant. When the user asks a question, your response must include two parts: first, the reasoning process enclosed in <think>...</think> tags, then the final answer enclosed in <answer>...</answer> tags.Please provide a clear, concise response within <answer> </answer> tags that directly addresses the question.
system
<image>Consider the paths of length $16$ that follow the lines from the lower left corner to the upper right corner on an $8\times 8$ grid. Find the number of such paths that change direction exactly four times, as in the examples shown below. You FIRST think about the reasoning process as an internal monologue and then provide the final answer. The reasoning process MUST BE enclosed within <think> </think> tags. Please answer the final answer within the <answer> </answer> tags.
user
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Consider the paths of length $16$ that follow the lines from the lower left corner to the upper right corner on an $8\times 8$ grid. Find the number of such paths that change direction exactly four times, as in the examples shown below. You FIRST think about the reasoning process as an internal monologue and then provide the final answer. The reasoning process MUST BE enclosed within <think> </think> tags. Please answer the final answer within the <answer> </answer> tags.
val