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Compute each opex category as a share of the total

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

About this exercise

You're giving the CFO the opex mix. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Salaries:", "Software:", "Travel:", "Other:" and "Check:", where each category line shows amount / total = percent to one decimal and the Check line adds the four percents. Facts only. Don't mention cuts or targets. Under 70 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Suggesting travel cuts. The AI comments that travel is small and cuts won't help. Try: Add: "Facts only. Do not mention cuts, the CEO or targets."
  • Wrong base. The AI divides by salaries or by revenue. Try: Say: "amount / $8.0M total opex."
  • No check line. The AI never adds the percents. Try: Add: "Check: the four percents added to 100.0%."
  • 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 five lines
  • Gives the base
  • Asks for the check
  • Bans cut talk
  • Caps length

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