Check your experiment averages after dropping a bad trial

About this exercise

Before you make your science fair poster, you want to check your averages. Your lab notebook says fertilizer trial 3 was knocked over on day 4, so drop it. Write exactly 2 numbered lines, one per group, each as (values added) ÷ count = average to 1 decimal, then one unnumbered sentence giving the difference between the averages. Plain text, under 60 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not mentioning the knocked-over plant. The table doesn't say trial 3 was ruined, so the AI averages it in. Try: Add: "Drop fertilizer trial 3: it was knocked over."
• Not asking to see the work. You need to show judges how you got each average. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. Water only: (12 + 14 + 13 + 15) ÷ 4 = 13.5 cm"
• Getting a write-up instead. The AI drafts your conclusion section, which is your job. Try: Add: "Just the two lines and one sentence with the difference."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 16 words."
• Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in your lab notebook. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."

What a strong prompt includes

• Drops the bad trial
• Asks to show the math
• Asks for the difference
• Sets a word limit
• Asks for plain text

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