<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant. You first think about the reasoning process in the mind and then provide the user with the answer. You should try to truely solve the question by yourself without cheating.  <|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
 Find the smallest positive integer $N$ such that any "hydra" with 100 necks, where each neck connects two heads, can be defeated by cutting at most $N$ strikes. Here, one strike can sever all the necks connected to a particular head $A$, and immediately after, $A$ grows new necks to connect with all previously unconnected heads (each head connects to one neck). The hydra is considered defeated when it is divided into two disconnected parts. Show your work in <think> </think> tags. And return the final answer in <answer> </answer> tags.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Let me solve this step by step.
<think>
user
10
Find the smallest positive integer $N$ such that any "hydra" with 100 necks, where each neck connects two heads, can be defeated by cutting at most $N$ strikes. Here, one strike can sever all the necks connected to a particular head $A$, and immediately after, $A$ grows new necks to connect with all previously unconnected heads (each head connects to one neck). The hydra is considered defeated when it is divided into two disconnected parts.
test