Make figures fairly comparable

Prompt that makes units of different sizes fairly comparable with suitable reference values. Paste it into an AI tool of your choice, which then makes the figures comparable.

Topic: Spreadsheets & data
Type: Prompt
Level: Intermediate
Time: about 8 min

Results depend on the tool, the model and what you enter.

Result preview

Example: written by our editors, not real AI output.

| Branch | Revenue | Floor space | Revenue per m² | Opening days | | Centre | €412,000 | 320 m² | €1,288 | 300 | | North | €236,000 | 140 m² | €1,686 | 300 | | Station | €298,000 | 180 m² | €1,656 | 360 | Ranking by floor space: North ahead of Station ahead of Centre Second reference (per opening day and m²): North stays first Note: Station is open 60 days more Not shown: profit, rent

Fill in

What you type stays in this browser window. We store and send nothing.

ComparisonWhat is compared?

FiguresWhich figures do you have?

QuestionWhat do you want to know?

Your prompt

Make the following figures comparable.
What is compared: [Comparison]
Figures: [Figures]
Question: [Question]
Approach: 1. Name how the units differ: size, number of days, staff, reach or prices. 2. Propose two or three suitable reference values and explain which one fits the question. 3. Convert the values and show raw value and comparable value side by side. 4. Mark units with very small base numbers, where rates come out high or low by chance. 5. Check whether a special effect such as holidays, refurbishment or a price change distorts the comparison. 6. Answer the question and say what the figures do not show.
Output: a table with raw and comparable values, a ranking, the answer and notes. Do not invent missing values.

Take particular care to choose the reference value to fit the question and show raw and comparable values openly side by side.

Before you answer, check: Are all instructions met? If key information is missing or a placeholder in square brackets is still in the text, ask instead of guessing. Mark assumptions as assumptions.

Make the following figures comparable.
What is compared: [Comparison]
Figures: [Figures]
Question: [Question]
Approach: 1. Name how the units differ: size, number of days, staff, reach or prices. 2. Propose two or three suitable reference values and explain which one fits the question. 3. Convert the values and show raw value and comparable value side by side. 4. Mark units with very small base numbers, where rates come out high or low by chance. 5. Check whether a special effect such as holidays, refurbishment or a price change distorts the comparison. 6. Answer the question and say what the figures do not show.
Output: a table with raw and comparable values, a ranking, the answer and notes. Do not invent missing values.

Take particular care to choose the reference value to fit the question and show raw and comparable values openly side by side.

Before you answer, check: Are all instructions met? If key information is missing or a placeholder in square brackets is still in the text, ask instead of guessing. Mark assumptions as assumptions.

This is an instruction for an AI, not the result itself.

Where this prompt works

These AI tools are a good fit for this prompt:

How to use it

Fill in the fields or tap a suggestion. Leave out names, addresses and other personal data.
Copy the finished prompt into an AI tool of your choice.
Check the ranking with a second reference value. If it stays the same, the result is more robust.

Why does this work?

With raw numbers, large units almost always come first. Only the right reference value shows where work is really better or worse.

Tips

Choose the reference value in advance, not after you have seen the result you hoped for.

You may use our prompts freely, including at work. Please do not republish them as your own collection. We give no warranty for AI results; check them yourself. Terms of use

Make figures fairly comparable

Result preview

Fill in

Your prompt

Where this prompt works

How to use it

Why does this work?

Tips

Also a good fit

Find cardinality explosions in metrics New

Estimate customer lifetime value simply New

Read a retention cohort table New