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Compare three cleaning quotes on the same monthly basis

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

About this exercise

Your office manager asked you to compare the 3 cleaning vendor quotes on monthly cost. You want exactly 3 numbered lines, one per vendor, each showing the math to a monthly total (like "$95 x 13 visits = $1,235/month"), then one final line starting "Lowest:". Use each vendor's latest quote, use only the numbers in the quotes, and output nothing else in plain text.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Comparing per-visit to per-month. The AI lists $95 next to $1,150 as if they were the same kind of price. Try: Say: "Convert every quote to a monthly total, showing the math."
  • Using the old quote. Clearview's first number is lower and comes first, and the AI may not notice the revision. Try: Add: "Use each vendor's latest quote."
  • Adding a recommendation essay. The AI weighs reputation, supplies and service and buries the numbers. Try: Say: "Output only the 3 lines and the Lowest line."
  • Not saying how many. The AI decides the length itself and usually returns more lines, one per vendor than you can use. Try: Be exact: "exactly 3 numbered lines, one per vendor."
  • Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which show up as stray symbols in an email to Carla. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for the same basis
  • Asks to show the math
  • Uses the latest quote
  • Says exactly how many
  • Asks for plain text

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