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Bridge a unit cost increase by driver and check it ties

  • 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 explaining why unit cost rose from Q2 to Q3. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Materials:", "Labor:", "Freight:", "Total change:" and "Tie-out:". Show each driver as a signed dollar amount per unit, then the total change in dollars and percent of Q2. The tie-out line checks Q2 cost plus the change against Q3. Don't mention supplier rumors or next quarter. Under 80 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Mentioning the resin rumor. The AI adds that resin prices may rise next quarter. Try: Add: "Do not mention supplier rumors or next quarter."
  • Freight shown as an increase. The AI loses the minus sign on freight. Try: Say: "Driver lines are signed per-unit amounts."
  • No tie-out. The AI never checks the bridge reaches $19.20. Try: Add: "Tie-out: Q2 plus the change equals Q3, with the numbers."
  • 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
  • Asks for signs and per-unit
  • Gives the percent base
  • Bans rumors
  • Caps length

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