Ask AI this math problem: "A farmer has 15 sheep. All but 8 die. How many sheep are left?" Many AI models will answer "7." But the correct answer is 8. The question says "all but 8" survive.

Now try adding four words to the beginning of your prompt: "Think step by step." Suddenly the AI catches the trick. It breaks the problem down, notices the "all but 8" phrasing, and gets it right.

Those four words activated a technique called chain-of-thought prompting, one of several powerful prompt patterns that can dramatically improve AI performance. Each pattern is like a key that unlocks a different AI capability. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a full keychain.