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Compare two vendors' yearly cost with the math shown

Practice: Catching mistakes and made-up facts. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're choosing an in-app chat vendor and need to compare yearly costs. Write exactly 2 numbered lines, one per vendor, each showing the math for year-one cost (monthly price x 12 + one-time fees = total), then one final line starting 'Pick:' naming the cheaper vendor, plain text, under 80 words. Use the corrected quote and the expected seat count.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking 'which is cheaper'. The AI gives an answer and a paragraph without the math you can check. Try: Show it: "1. Chatwell: $45 x 12 seats x 12 months + $1,500 = $7,980".
  • 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 instead: "each line under 20 words."
  • Using the old quote or seats. The $40 price and 10 seats both appear first, with corrections below. Try: Add: "Use 12 seats and Talkbox's corrected $50 price."
  • Verdict before numbers. The AI opens with its pick and adds feature opinions. Try: Add: "Pick line last, after both totals. Cost only. Plain text."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks to show the math
  • Uses the corrections
  • Puts the pick last
  • Decides on cost only
  • Sets a word limit

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