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Check a board memo's numbers against the Q3 P&L

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

About this exercise

The CEO's draft board memo quotes Q3 results, and you're the finance check before it goes out. You want only the numbers the Q3 P&L contradicts, as numbered lines in the form "Memo says X; P&L says Y", under 60 words total, plain text. Skip numbers that match and claims the P&L doesn't cover, and don't rewrite the memo.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Not checking the math. "Up 10%" needs the prior-year number, and the AI may skip the check or flag it wrongly. Try: Say: "Check percentages against the raw numbers."
  • Missing unit changes. The P&L is in thousands and the memo uses millions, so mismatches hide in the conversion. Try: Add: "Convert units before comparing."
  • Getting edits. The AI polishes the CEO's wording instead of checking numbers. Try: Say: "List only contradicted numbers. Don't rewrite."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands 10-20% over. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 12 words."
  • Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which show up as stray symbols in an email to the CEO. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the source of truth
  • Asks for contradictions only
  • Handles units and math
  • Sets a length limit
  • Asks for plain text

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