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Calculate shrink by location and separate overages from losses
- For Operations and supply chain
- You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
- Time about 5 minutes
- Level Intermediate
About this exercise
Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Location, Math and Status, one row per location in the order listed. Shrink is (system - counted) / system as a percent with one decimal. Status is FLAG if shrink is 1.0% or more, OVER if the count is higher than the system (negative shrink), otherwise OK. Show the math in the Math column. Under 110 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Treating the overage as fine. The AI marks E5 OK or ignores the negative sign. Try: Say: "OVER if the count is higher than the system."
- Wrong formula direction. The AI divides by counted or flips the sign. Try: Say: "Shrink = (system - counted) / system."
- No table. The AI lists bullets. Try: Name the three columns.
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and usually runs long, so a vague "keep it short" lands over the limit. Try: Cap each part instead of the total, for example "each line under 15 words".
What a strong prompt includes
- Names the columns
- Gives the formula
- Defines the statuses
- Sets the decimals
- Sets a length limit
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