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Build a four-week cash table and flag the week below the minimum

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're preparing a short cash view for the treasurer. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Week | Opening | In | Out | Closing | Flag, four rows, with Flag showing "Below minimum" or blank. The minimum balance is $500,000. Closing = opening + in - out, and each week opens with the previous closing. Count each payment once. Under 90 words and no commentary. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Keeping the duplicate payroll. The AI uses 250 for week 4 and closes at 630. Try: Add: "Remove the duplicate payroll of 90 from week 4."
  • Opening balances not rolled. The AI reuses 800 as each week's opening. Try: Say: "Each week opens with the previous week's closing."
  • Flagging the wrong weeks. The AI flags week 4 or none. Try: Add: 'Flag "Below minimum" if closing is under 500.'
  • 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 columns
  • Gives the closing formula
  • Removes the duplicate
  • Defines the flag
  • Limits output

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