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Split a tip pool by hours, leaving managers out

Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Write one formula for Tips!E2 (filled down to E9) that gives each person's share of the tip pool in $B$11, in proportion to hours in column C. Managers, marked Mgr in column D, get no share, and their hours must not count in the total either. Round each share to cents with ROUND. One formula in one code block, then under 25 words outside the code.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Not mentioning managers. The AI splits across everyone's hours, so managers take a cut. Try: Add: "Mgr rows get 0 and their hours don't count in the total."
  • Leaving rounding out. Shares come out like 140.540540, which can't be paid out. Try: Add: "Round each share to cents with ROUND(...,2)."
  • Getting a menu of options. The AI likes to offer two or three versions of the formula, so you're left to pick and test them yourself. Try: Add: "Give one formula only, in one code block, no alternatives."
  • Getting a tutorial. By default the AI explains every part of the code at length, which you then have to scroll past. Try: Add: "After the code, one line under 10 words. Nothing else."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Mentions managers
  • Points at the pool cell
  • Asks for rounding
  • Asks for one answer only
  • Limits the explanation

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