import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.Locale;
import java.util.NoSuchElementException;

public class Main {

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		new Main();
	}

	public Main() {
		FastIO io = new FastIO();
		/*
		 * author: 31536000
		 * ABC132 B問題
		 * 考察メモ
		 *
		 */
		int[] p = io.nextInt(io.nextInt());
		int ans = 0;
		for (int i : IntRange.open(0, p.length - 1)) if (p[i - 1] < p[i] && p[i] < p[i + 1] || p[i - 1] > p[i] && p[i] > p[i + 1]) ++ ans;
		io.println(ans);

		io.flush();
	}

	public class FastIO {
		private final InputStream in = System.in;
		private final byte[] buffer = new byte[1024];
		private int read = 0;
		private int length = 0;
		public final PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(System.out, false);
		public final PrintWriter err = new PrintWriter(System.err, false);

		private boolean hasNextByte() {
			if (read < length) return true;
			read = 0;
			try {
				length = in.read(buffer);
			} catch (IOException e) {
				e.printStackTrace();
			}
			return length > 0;
		}

		private int readByte() {
			return hasNextByte() ? buffer[read++] : -1;
		}

		private boolean isPrintableChar(int c) {
			return 33 <= c && c <= 126;
		}

		private boolean isNumber(int c) {
			return '0' <= c && c <= '9';
		}

		public boolean hasNext() {
			while (hasNextByte() && !isPrintableChar(buffer[read])) read++;
			return hasNextByte();
		}

		public char nextChar() {
			if (!hasNextByte())  throw new NoSuchElementException();
			return (char)readByte();
		}

		public char[][] nextChar(int height) {
			char[][] ret = new char[height][];
			for (int i = 0;i < ret.length;++ i) ret[i] = next().toCharArray();
			return ret;
		}

		public String next() {
			if (!hasNext()) throw new NoSuchElementException();
			StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
			int b;
			while (isPrintableChar(b = readByte())) sb.appendCodePoint(b);
			return sb.toString();
		}

		public long nextLong() {
			if (!hasNext()) throw new NoSuchElementException();
			long n = 0;
			boolean minus = false;
			int b = readByte();
			if (b == '-') {
				minus = true;
				b = readByte();
			}
			if (!isNumber(b)) throw new NumberFormatException();
			while (true) {
				if (isNumber(b)) {
					n *= 10;
					n += b - '0';
				} else if (b == -1 || !isPrintableChar(b)) return minus ? -n : n;
				else throw new NumberFormatException();
				b = readByte();
			}
		}

		public int nextInt() {
			long nl = nextLong();
			if (nl < Integer.MIN_VALUE || nl > Integer.MAX_VALUE) throw new NumberFormatException();
			return (int) nl;
		}

		public double nextDouble() {
			return Double.parseDouble(next());
		}

		public int[] nextInt(int width) {
			int[] ret = new int[width];
			for (int i = 0;i < width;++ i) ret[i] = nextInt();
			return ret;
		}

		public long[] nextLong(int width) {
			long[] ret = new long[width];
			for (int i = 0;i < width;++ i) ret[i] = nextLong();
			return ret;
		}

		public int[][] nextInt(int width, int height) {
			int[][] ret = new int[height][width];
			for (int i = 0, j;i < height;++ i) for (j = 0;j < width;++ j) ret[i][j] = nextInt();
			return ret;
		}

		public long[][] nextLong(int width, int height) {
			long[][] ret = new long[height][width];
			for (int i = 0, j;i < height;++ i) for (j = 0;j < width;++ j) ret[j][i] = nextLong();
			return ret;
		}

		public boolean[] nextBoolean(char T) {
			char[] s = next().toCharArray();
			boolean[] ret = new boolean[s.length];
			for (int i = 0;i < ret.length;++ i) ret[i] = s[i] == T;
			return ret;
		}

		public boolean[][] nextBoolean(char T, int height) {
			boolean[][] ret = new boolean[height][];
			for (int i = 0;i < ret.length;++ i) {
				char[] s = next().toCharArray();
				ret[i] = new boolean[s.length];
				for (int j = 0;j < ret[i].length;++ j) ret[i][j] = s[j] == T;
			}
			return ret;
		}

		@Override
		protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
			try {
				super.finalize();
			} finally {
				in.close();
				out.close();
				err.close();
			}
		}

		public void print(boolean b) {
			out.print(b);
		}

		public void print(char c) {
			out.print(c);
		}

		public void print(char[] s) {
			out.print(s);
		}

		public void print(double d) {
			out.print(d);
		}

		public void print(float f) {
			out.print(f);
		}

		public void print(int i) {
			out.print(i);
		}

		public void print(long l) {
			out.print(l);
		}

		public void print(Object obj) {
			out.print(obj);
		}

		public void print(String s) {
			out.print(s);
		}

		public void printf(String format, Object... args) {
			out.printf(format, args);
		}

		public void printf(Locale l, String format, Object... args) {
			out.printf(l, format, args);
		}

		public void println() {
			out.println();
		}

		public void println(boolean b) {
			out.println(b);
		}

		public void println(char c) {
			out.println(c);
		}

		public void println(char[] s) {
			out.println(s);
		}

		public void println(double d) {
			out.println(d);
		}

		public void println(float f) {
			out.println(f);
		}

		public void println(int i) {
			out.println(i);
		}

		public void println(long l) {
			out.println(l);
		}

		public void println(Object obj) {
			out.println(obj);
		}

		public void println(String s) {
			out.println(s);
		}

		public void flush() {
			out.flush();
			err.flush();
		}
	}

	public enum BoundType {
		CLOSED, OPEN;
	}

	public static class Range<C extends Comparable<? super C>> implements Serializable{

		private static final long serialVersionUID = 6582232757238309626L;
		protected C lower;
		protected C upper;
		protected BoundType lowerType;
		protected BoundType upperType;

		protected Range(C lower, BoundType lowerType, C upper, BoundType upperType) {
			this.lower = lower;
			this.upper = upper;
			this.lowerType = lowerType;
			this.upperType = upperType;
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> range(C lower, BoundType lowerType, C upper, BoundType upperType) {
			if (lower != null && upper != null) {
				int comp = lower.compareTo(upper);
				if (comp > 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
				else if (comp == 0) {
					if (lowerType == BoundType.OPEN && upperType == BoundType.OPEN) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
					else if (lowerType == BoundType.OPEN || upperType == BoundType.OPEN)return new Range<C>(null, BoundType.CLOSED, null, BoundType.CLOSED);
				}
			}
			return new Range<C>(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> all() {
			return range(null, BoundType.OPEN, null, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> atMost(C upper) {
			return range(null, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> lessThan(C upper) {
			return range(null, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> downTo(C upper, BoundType boundType) {
			return range(null, BoundType.OPEN, upper, boundType);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> atLeast(C lower) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, null, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> greaterThan(C lower) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.OPEN, null, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> upTo(C lower, BoundType boundType) {
			return range(lower, boundType, null, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> open(C lower, C upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> openClosed(C lower, C upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> closedOpen(C lower, C upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> closed(C lower, C upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> singleton(C value) {
			return range(value, BoundType.CLOSED, value, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> empty() {
			return range(null, BoundType.CLOSED, null, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> Range<C> encloseAll(Iterable<C> values) {
			C lower = values.iterator().next();
			C upper = lower;
			for (C i : values) {
				if (lower.compareTo(i) > 0) lower = i;
				if (upper.compareTo(i) < 0) upper = i;
			}
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public boolean hasLowerBound() {
			return lower != null;
		}

		public C lowerEndpoint() {
			if (hasLowerBound()) return lower;
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		}

		public BoundType lowerBoundType() {
			if (hasLowerBound()) return lowerType;
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		}

		public boolean hasUpperBound() {
			return upper != null;
		}

		public C upperEndpoint() {
			if (hasUpperBound()) return upper;
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		}

		public BoundType upperBoundType() {
			if (hasUpperBound()) return upperType;
			throw new IllegalStateException();
		}

		/**
		 * この区間が空集合か判定します。
		 * @return 空集合ならばtrue
		 */
		public boolean isEmpty() {
			return lower == null && upper == null && lowerType == BoundType.CLOSED;
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた引数が区間の左側に位置するか判定します。<br>
		 * 接する場合は区間の左側ではないと判定します。
		 * @param value 調べる引数
		 * @return 区間の左側に位置するならtrue
		 */
		public boolean isLess(C value) {
			return isLess(value, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		private boolean isLess(C value, BoundType boundType) {
			if (lower == null || value == null) return false;
			if (lowerType == BoundType.CLOSED && boundType == BoundType.CLOSED) return lower.compareTo(value) > 0;
			return lower.compareTo(value) >= 0;
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた引数が区間の右側に位置するか判定します。<br>
		 * 接する場合は区間の右側ではないと判定します。
		 * @param value 調べる引数
		 * @return 区間の右側に位置するならtrue
		 */
		public boolean isGreater(C value) {
			return isGreater(value, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		private boolean isGreater(C value, BoundType boundType) {
			if (upper == null || value == null) return false;
			if (upperType == BoundType.CLOSED && boundType == BoundType.CLOSED)return upper.compareTo(value) < 0;
			return upper.compareTo(value) <= 0;
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた引数が区間内に位置するか判定します。<br>
		 * 接する場合も区間内に位置すると判定します。
		 * @param value 調べる引数
		 * @return 区間内に位置するならtrue
		 */
		public boolean contains(C value) {
			return !isLess(value) && !isGreater(value) && !isEmpty();
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた引数すべてが区間内に位置するか判定します。<br>
		 * 接する場合も区間内に位置すると判定します。
		 * @param value 調べる要素
		 * @return 全ての要素が区間内に位置するならtrue
		 */
		public boolean containsAll(Iterable<? extends C> values) {
			for (C i : values) if (!contains(i)) return false;
			return true;
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた区間がこの区間に内包されるか判定します。<br>
		 *
		 * @param other
		 * @return 与えられた区間がこの区間に内包されるならtrue
		 */
		public boolean encloses(Range<C> other) {
			return !isLess(other.lower, other.lowerType) && !isGreater(other.upper, other.upperType);
		}

		/**
		 * 与えられた区間がこの区間と公差するか判定します。<br>
		 * 接する場合は公差するものとします。
		 * @param value 調べる引数
		 * @return 区間が交差するならtrue
		 */
		public boolean isConnected(Range<C> other) {
			C lower, upper;
			BoundType lowerType, upperType;
			if (isLess(other.lower, other.lowerType)) {
				lower = other.lower;
				lowerType = other.lowerType;
			} else {
				lower = this.lower;
				lowerType = this.lowerType;
			}
			if (isGreater(other.upper, other.upperType)) {
				upper = other.upper;
				upperType = other.upperType;
			} else {
				upper = this.upper;
				upperType = this.upperType;
			}
			if (lower == null || upper == null) return true;
			int comp = lower.compareTo(upper);
			if (comp < 0) return true;
			else if (comp > 0) return false;
			return lowerType == BoundType.CLOSED || upperType == BoundType.CLOSED;
		}

		/**
		 * この区間との積集合を返します。
		 * @param connectedRange 積集合を求める区間
		 * @return 積集合
		 */
		public Range<C> intersection(Range<C> connectedRange) {
			if (!isConnected(connectedRange)) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			C lower, upper;
			BoundType lowerType, upperType;
			if (isLess(connectedRange.lower, connectedRange.lowerType)) {
				lower = connectedRange.lower;
				lowerType = connectedRange.lowerType;
			} else {
				lower = this.lower;
				lowerType = this.lowerType;
			}
			if (isGreater(connectedRange.upper, connectedRange.upperType)) {
				upper = connectedRange.upper;
				upperType = connectedRange.upperType;
			} else {
				upper = this.upper;
				upperType = this.upperType;
			}
			return range(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType);
		}

		/**
		 * この区間との和集合を返します。
		 * @param other 和集合を求める区間
		 * @return 和集合
		 */
		public Range<C> span(Range<C> other) {
			if (other.isEmpty()) return range(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType);
			C lower, upper;
			BoundType lowerType, upperType;
			if (isLess(other.lower, other.lowerType)) {
				lower = this.lower;
				lowerType = this.lowerType;
			} else {
				lower = other.lower;
				lowerType = other.lowerType;
			}
			if (isGreater(other.upper, other.upperType)) {
				upper = this.upper;
				upperType = this.upperType;
			} else {
				upper = other.upper;
				upperType = other.upperType;
			}
			return range(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType);
		}

		@Override
		public boolean equals(Object object) {
			if (this == object) return true;
			if (object instanceof Range) {
				@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
				Range<C> comp = (Range<C>) object;
				return lower.compareTo(comp.lower) == 0 && upper.compareTo(comp.upper) == 0 && lowerType == comp.lowerType && upperType == comp.upperType;
			}
			return false;
		}

		@Override
		public int hashCode() {
			if (lower == null && upper == null) return 0;
			else if (lower == null) return upper.hashCode();
			else if (upper == null) return lower.hashCode();
			return lower.hashCode() ^ upper.hashCode();
		}

		@Override
		public String toString() {
			if (isEmpty()) return "()";
			return (lowerType == BoundType.OPEN ? "(" : "[") + (lower == null ? "" : lower.toString()) + ".." + (upper == null ? "" : upper.toString()) + (upperType == BoundType.OPEN ? ")" : "]");
		}
	}

	public interface IterableFunction<T> {
		public T next(T value);
	}

	public static class IterableRange<C extends Comparable<? super C>> extends Range<C> implements Iterable<C>{

		private static final long serialVersionUID = -8258795284144976352L;
		protected IterableFunction<C> func;

		protected IterableRange(C lower, BoundType lowerType, C upper, BoundType upperType, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			super(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType);
			this.func = func;
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> range(C lower, BoundType lowerType, C upper, BoundType upperType, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			if (lower == null || upper == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			int comp = lower.compareTo(upper);
			if (comp > 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			else if (comp == 0 && (lowerType == BoundType.OPEN || upperType == BoundType.OPEN)) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			return new IterableRange<C>(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType, func);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> open(C lower, C upper, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			if (lower == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			return range(func.next(lower), BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.OPEN, func);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> openClosed(C lower, C upper, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			if (lower == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
			return range(func.next(lower), BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED, func);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> closedOpen(C lower, C upper, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.OPEN, func);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> closed(C lower, C upper, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED, func);
		}

		public static <C extends Comparable<? super C>> IterableRange<C> singleton(C value, IterableFunction<C> func) {
			return range(value, BoundType.CLOSED, value, BoundType.CLOSED, func);
		}

		private class Iter implements Iterator<C> {
			C now;
			Iter() {
				now = lower;
			}
			@Override
			public boolean hasNext() {
				return !isGreater(now);
			}

			@Override
			public C next() {
				C ret = now;
				now = func.next(now);
				return ret;
			}
		}

		@Override
		public Iterator<C> iterator() {
			return new Iter();
		}
	}

	public static class IntRange extends IterableRange<Integer>{

		private static final long serialVersionUID = 1384105098345065693L;

		protected IntRange(int lower, BoundType lowerType, int upper, BoundType upperType) {
			super(lower, lowerType, upper, upperType, i -> i + 1);
		}

		public static IntRange range(int lower, BoundType lowerType, int upper, BoundType upperType) {
			if (lower > upper) return new IntRange(0, BoundType.CLOSED, -1, BoundType.CLOSED);
			if (lowerType == BoundType.OPEN) ++ lower;
			if (upperType == BoundType.OPEN) -- upper;
			return new IntRange(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static IntRange open(int lower, int upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static IntRange open(int upper) {
			return range(0, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static IntRange openClosed(int lower, int upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.OPEN, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static IntRange closedOpen(int lower, int upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.OPEN);
		}

		public static IntRange closed(int lower, int upper) {
			return range(lower, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static IntRange closed(int upper) {
			return range(0, BoundType.CLOSED, upper, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		public static IntRange singleton(int value) {
			return range(value, BoundType.CLOSED, value, BoundType.CLOSED);
		}

		private class Iter implements Iterator<Integer> {
			int now;
			Iter() {
				now = lower;
			}
			@Override
			public boolean hasNext() {
				return now <= upper;
			}

			@Override
			public Integer next() {
				return now++;
			}
		}

		@Override
		public Iterator<Integer> iterator() {
			return new Iter();
		}
	}
}


Measured memory_bytes: 26324