Solve-the-Riddle: Subtract Fractions With Unlike Denominators (Gr ... - Free Printable

Let’s solve each subtraction problem step by step. We’ll find the answer and match it to the letter given.

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Problem 1:
2/3 – 1/6
→ Find common denominator: 6
→ 2/3 = 4/6
→ 4/6 – 1/6 = 3/6 = 1/2 → Letter: D

Problem 2:
3/4 – 1/12
→ Common denominator: 12
→ 3/4 = 9/12
→ 9/12 – 1/12 = 8/12 = 2/3 → Letter: I

Problem 3:
1/2 – 1/4
→ Common denominator: 4
→ 1/2 = 2/4
→ 2/4 – 1/4 = 1/4 → Letter: H

Problem 4:
9/10 – 1/2
→ Common denominator: 10
→ 1/2 = 5/10
→ 9/10 – 5/10 = 4/10 = 2/5 → Letter: K

Problem 5:
6/12 – 1/3
→ Simplify 6/12 = 1/2
→ Common denominator: 6
→ 1/2 = 3/6, 1/3 = 2/6
→ 3/6 – 2/6 = 1/6 → Letter: C

Problem 6:
5/8 – 1/2
→ Common denominator: 8
→ 1/2 = 4/8
→ 5/8 – 4/8 = 1/8 → Letter: A

Problem 7:
4/5 – 3/15
→ Simplify 3/15 = 1/5
→ 4/5 – 1/5 = 3/5 → Letter: E

Problem 8:
2/3 – 1/12
→ Common denominator: 12
→ 2/3 = 8/12
→ 8/12 – 1/12 = 7/12 → Letter: P

Problem 9:
2/5 – 2/10
→ Simplify 2/10 = 1/5
→ 2/5 – 1/5 = 1/5 → Letter: T

Problem 10:
2/3 – 2/9
→ Common denominator: 9
→ 2/3 = 6/9
→ 6/9 – 2/9 = 4/9 → Letter: S

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Now, let’s write the letters in order of the problems:

1. D
2. I
3. H
4. K
5. C
6. A
7. E
8. P
9. T
10. S

So the riddle answer is: D I H K C A E P T S

But we need to read it as a phrase — maybe rearrange? Wait, the riddle says:
> Why did the clock go to the vet?

And we’re supposed to write the letter that goes with each answer — so the letters are already assigned per problem. Let’s list them in order from top-left to bottom-right (as they appear on the page):

Row 1: D, I
Row 2: H, K
Row 3: C, A
Row 4: E, P
Row 5: T, S

So the full sequence is: D I H K C A E P T S

That doesn’t look like a word. Maybe we need to read it differently? Or perhaps the letters spell something when put together?

Wait — maybe the riddle answer is “It had a second hand!” — but that’s not matching.

Actually, let’s double-check if we matched the letters correctly.

Looking back at the worksheet:

Each problem has a letter next to it — we solved and matched.

But maybe the final answer is just the string of letters? Or perhaps we need to arrange them to form the punchline.

Wait — the instruction says:
> Solve the Riddle! Write the letter that goes with each answer.

Then there’s a box with blanks:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ten blanks — and we have ten answers. So we just write the letters in order.

So:
Problem 1 → D
Problem 2 → I
Problem 3 → H
Problem 4 → K
Problem 5 → C
Problem 6 → A
Problem 7 → E
Problem 8 → P
Problem 9 → T
Problem 10 → S

So the answer is: DIHKCAEPTS

But that doesn’t make sense. Maybe I misread the letters?

Let me check the original image description again — since I can’t see the image, I’m relying on your text.

In your text, you wrote:

For example:
“2/3 – 1/6 = D” — so D is the letter for that answer.

Similarly, “3/4 – 1/12 = I”, etc.

So the letters are pre-assigned to each problem.

Therefore, the riddle answer is formed by writing the letters corresponding to each correct answer, in order.

So the final answer should be: D I H K C A E P T S

But perhaps it’s meant to be read as “DIH KCAE PTS” — still nonsense.

Wait — maybe the riddle is “Why did the clock go to the vet?” and the answer is “Because it had a second hand!” — but how does that relate?

Perhaps the letters spell “IT HAD A SECOND HAND” — but we only have 10 letters.

Let’s count: I T H A D A S E C O N D H A N D — too long.

Alternatively, maybe the answer is “SECOND HAND” — but we have D,I,H,K,C,A,E,P,T,S — no obvious match.

Wait — perhaps I made a mistake in matching.

Let me re-solve one to verify.

Take Problem 1: 2/3 - 1/6 = 4/6 - 1/6 = 3/6 = 1/2 → and it’s labeled D — ok.

Problem 2: 3/4 - 1/12 = 9/12 - 1/12 = 8/12 = 2/3 → labeled I — ok.

Problem 3: 1/2 - 1/4 = 2/4 - 1/4 = 1/4 → labeled H — ok.

Problem 4: 9/10 - 1/2 = 9/10 - 5/10 = 4/10 = 2/5 → labeled K — ok.

Problem 5: 6/12 - 1/3 = 1/2 - 1/3 = 3/6 - 2/6 = 1/6 → labeled C — ok.

Problem 6: 5/8 - 1/2 = 5/8 - 4/8 = 1/8 → labeled A — ok.

Problem 7: 4/5 - 3/15 = 4/5 - 1/5 = 3/5 → labeled E — ok.

Problem 8: 2/3 - 1/12 = 8/12 - 1/12 = 7/12 → labeled P — ok.

Problem 9: 2/5 - 2/10 = 2/5 - 1/5 = 1/5 → labeled T — ok.

Problem 10: 2/3 - 2/9 = 6/9 - 2/9 = 4/9 → labeled S — ok.

All correct.

Now, the riddle answer is likely “IT HAD A SECOND HAND” — but we don’t have those letters.

Unless... the letters are to be used to fill in the blanks for the riddle answer.

The worksheet says: “Write the letter that goes with each answer.” and then there are 10 blanks.

So probably, the expected answer is the sequence of letters: D, I, H, K, C, A, E, P, T, S

But that doesn't spell anything.

Perhaps it's "DIH KCAE PTS" — still not helpful.

Another idea: maybe the riddle is "Why did the clock go to the vet?" and the answer is "Because it was losing time" — but again, not matching.

Wait — perhaps the letters correspond to words.

Let's list the answers with their letters:

1. 1/2 → D
2. 2/3 → I
3. 1/4 → H
4. 2/5 → K
5. 1/6 → C
6. 1/8 → A
7. 3/5 → E
8. 7/12 → P
9. 1/5 → T
10. 4/9 → S

Now, if we take the first letter of the answer fraction? No, that doesn't help.

Perhaps the riddle answer is "SECOND HAND" and we need to find which problems give those letters, but we have to use all.

I think I need to accept that the final answer is the string of letters in order.

So for the riddle, the answer is: DIHKCAEPTS

But that seems wrong.

Let's look at the very bottom: "Solve the Riddle! Write the letter that goes with each answer." and then 10 blanks.

So likely, the student is to write the 10 letters in order.

Perhaps the punchline is "IT HAD A SECOND HAND" and the letters are codes for that, but we have only 10 letters.

Another thought: maybe the letters are to be read as "D I H K C A E P T S" and it's "DIH KCAE PTS" which is not meaningful.

Perhaps it's "THE CLOCK HAD A SECOND HAND" — but too long.

I recall that a common riddle is "Why did the clock go to the vet? Because it had a second hand!" — and "second hand" has 10 letters: S,E,C,O,N,D,H,A,N,D — but we have D,I,H,K,C,A,E,P,T,S — not matching.

Unless the letters are assigned differently.

Perhaps I misidentified the letters.

Let me assume that the letter next to each problem is the answer key, and we just report them in order.

So the final answer for the riddle is the sequence: D, I, H, K, C, A, E, P, T, S

So I'll go with that.

Final Answer: DIHKCAEPTS