use std::io::*;

fn main() {
    let mut s: String = String::new();
    std::io::stdin().read_to_string(&mut s).ok();
    let mut itr = s.trim().split_whitespace();
    let n: usize = itr.next().unwrap().parse().unwrap();
    let a: Vec<usize> = (0..n)
        .map(|_| itr.next().unwrap().parse().unwrap())
        .collect();

    let mut ans = 0;
    for i in 1..n - 1 {
        if (a[i - 1] < a[i] && a[i] > a[i + 1]) || (a[i - 1] > a[i] && a[i] < a[i + 1]) {
            if a[i - 1] != a[i + 1] {
                ans += 1;
            }
        }
    }
    println!("{}", ans);
}