To solve this riddle, we need to subtract the numbers in each box and match the answer to the letter on the price tag.
Let’s go one by one:
---
First row:
1.
m: 486 - 344
486 minus 344 =
142 → So m = 142
2.
$: 789 - 175
789 minus 175 =
614 → So $ = 614 (but we’ll use it later if needed)
3.
p: 889 - 468
889 minus 468 =
421 → So p = 421
4.
u: 497 - 182
497 minus 182 =
315 → So u = 315
---
Second row:
5.
$: 857 - 547
857 minus 547 =
310 → Another $ = 310
6.
o: 744 - 344
744 minus 344 =
400 → So o = 400
7.
$: 975 - 565
975 minus 565 =
410 → Another $ = 410
8.
l: 896 - 344
896 minus 344 =
552 → So l = 552
---
Third row:
9.
t: 736 - 425
736 minus 425 =
311 → So t = 311
10.
$: 983 - 152
983 minus 152 =
831 → Another $ = 831
11.
y: 839 - 223
839 minus 223 =
616 → So y = 616
12.
n: 689 - 326
689 minus 326 =
363 → So n = 363
---
Fourth row:
13.
$: 755 - 240
755 minus 240 =
515 → Another $ = 515
14.
i: 489 - 388
489 minus 388 =
101 → So i = 101
15.
$: 486 - 133
486 minus 133 =
353 → Another $ = 353
16.
b: 677 - 141
677 minus 141 =
536 → So b = 536
---
Now, look at the bottom of the page:
> What did the duck say after he went shopping?
> ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
> 421 315 311 101 311 400 363 142 616 536 101 552 552
Wait — let’s list the numbers under the blanks:
The sequence is:
421, 315, 311, 101, 311, 400, 363, 142, 616, 536, 101, 552, 552
But there are only 11 blanks shown visually? Let me count again from the image description:
Actually, looking back at the user’s text:
> 421 315 311 101 311 400 363 142 616 536 101 552 552
That’s 13 numbers. But the riddle says “What did the duck say...” and typically these riddles have short punchlines.
Let’s map each number to its letter using our calculations:
- 421 → p
- 315 → u
- 311 → t
- 101 → i
- 311 → t
- 400 → o
- 363 → n
- 142 → m
- 616 → y
- 536 → b
- 101 → i
- 552 → l
- 552 → l
So putting them together:
p u t i t o n m y b i l l
Wait — that doesn’t make sense. Let’s rearrange or check order.
Actually, the blanks are probably meant to be filled in order as listed:
Blank 1: 421 → p
Blank 2: 315 → u
Blank 3: 311 → t
Blank 4: 101 → i
Blank 5: 311 → t
Blank 6: 400 → o
Blank 7: 363 → n
Blank 8: 142 → m
Blank 9: 616 → y
Blank 10: 536 → b
Blank 11: 101 → i
Blank 12: 552 → l
Blank 13: 552 → l
So the phrase is:
p u t i t o n m y b i l l
That spells:
“Put it on my bill”
Yes! That makes sense — a duck saying “Put it on my bill” is a pun because ducks have bills (beaks), and also “bill” means invoice.
So the answer is:
Put it on my bill
Final Answer:
Put it on my bill
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 3 digit subtraction without regrouping worksheet 2nd grade.
