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Group trial balance accounts by number range and prove the equation

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're checking a small trial balance. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Assets:", "Liabilities:", "Equity:", "Revenue:", "Expenses:", "Net income:" and "Check:". Group by account number (1xxx assets, 2xxx liabilities, 3xxx equity, 4xxx revenue, 5xxx to 7xxx expenses), showing each group's addition. The Check line shows assets equal liabilities plus equity plus net income. Under 100 words. No bullets or numbering. Never use the words profit, earnings or bottom line.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Grouping accounts wrongly. The AI puts the equipment loan under assets. Try: Say: "Group by account number: 1xxx assets, 2xxx liabilities, ..."
  • Missing net income in the equation. The AI compares assets to liabilities plus equity and finds a gap of 6,170. Try: Add: "Check: liabilities + equity + net income equals assets."
  • Commenting on profitability. The AI says the shop looks profitable. Try: Add: "Do not comment on profitability."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the seven lines
  • Gives the ranges
  • Gives the equation
  • Bans profitability comments
  • Caps length

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