# -*- coding:utf-8 -*-
class Solution:
    def cutRope(self, number):
        if number<=3:
            return number-1
        else:
            a,b=number//3,number%3
            if b==0:
                return 3**a
            elif b==1:
                return 4*3**(a-1)
            else:
                return 2*3**a