So a-b

b-c & lt； =0;

c-d & lt； =0;

d-e & lt； =0;

So the original formula =-(a-b)-(b-c)-(c-d)-(d-e)

=b-a-b+c-c+d-d+e

=e-a

And because the maximum value of the original formula is needed;

So e should take the maximum value and a should take the minimum value;

Therefore, that maximum value of e = 9 and the minimum value of a = 1.

So the maximum value of E-A is 8, that is, the maximum value of the original formula is 8.