Analyse figures
Situation
The situation
Have the calculations shown so you can check them.
You run a bike shop in Annecy. You have total sales for the last six months and want to understand the trend before ordering for spring.
Idea 1 of 3
AI reads well, but sometimes miscalculates
A language model predicts text: it does not calculate like a spreadsheet. It can get a percentage or a total wrong, especially in a long table, and state it with confidence.
Idea 2 of 3
Have every calculation shown
Ask for the trend, then each calculation written out: “July 24,300, October 12,600, difference 11,700”. A visible calculation can be checked in seconds.
Idea 3 of 3
Check, and look for other causes
Redo two or three calculations in a spreadsheet, or ask for the equivalent Excel formulas. Then look for other explanations: an autumn drop can be seasonal. Compare with last year.
Question 1 of 2
An AI says sales fell by 60% between July (€24,300) and October (€12,600). What do you do?
See the answer
You redo the calculation: the drop is about 48% 11,700 divided by 24,300 is about 0.48: the drop is about 48%, not 60%. Redoing one calculation is enough to see it.
Question 2 of 2
Why ask for the Excel formulas?
See the answer
To redo the calculation yourself in a spreadsheet With the formula, you redo the calculation in one click, on your own data.
Exercise
Your turn
Complete the request: the trend, the calculations shown, and a way to check them.
Ctrl + Enter to check your request.
Checklist
- Ask for the trend, to do
- Ask to see the calculations, to do
- Plan the check: formulas or a spreadsheet, to do
- Keep the figures in the request, to do
A suggestion
Shop sales (in euros): May: 18,400 June: 21,900 July: 24,300 August: 19,800 September: 15,200 October: 12,600 Describe the trend in these sales month by month. Show every calculation (differences and percentages) and give the equivalent Excel formulas so I can check them. Also suggest other possible explanations, such as the season.
Each try and each coach feedback counts as 1 message from your daily quota (10 without an account, 100 with an account).
AI answer
You are chatting with an AI. It can make mistakes: check important information.
Coach feedback
End of the lesson
Lesson complete
Have every calculation shown, then redo a few in a spreadsheet.