Pre-algebra subtraction worksheet with a puzzle format to solve a riddle.

Let’s solve this step by step.

The problem says:
> Do any exercise below and find your answer in the corresponding answer column. The letter of the exercise goes in the box that contains the number of the answer. Keep working and you will discover the answer to the title question.

So, we need to:
1. Solve each math problem (like “T 3 - 7 =”).
2. Find the result in the big grid on the right.
3. Put the letter from the problem into the box where that number is.
4. After filling all boxes, read the letters across the rows or columns to get the punchline.

But since we’re not asked to explain or teach — just give the final answer — let’s do the work carefully first.

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We’ll go row by row, left to right, solving each subtraction problem, then matching the answer to the grid.

Left Column:

- T 3 - 7 = -4 → Look for -4 in grid → Box 5 has -4? Wait, let’s check the grid numbering.

Actually, looking at the grid on the right, it’s numbered 1 to 42 horizontally? No — actually, the grid is arranged with numbers inside circles, and they are placed in a pattern. Let me list the answers and match them.

Wait — better approach: Each problem gives an answer, and that answer appears somewhere in the grid. We put the letter in the box that has that number.

Example:
Problem: T 3 - 7 = ? → 3 - 7 = -4
Now look in the grid for the circle containing “-4”. Where is it?

Looking at the grid:

Row 1 (top): 18, 10, 17, ... wait no — the grid is printed as a table with numbers inside stars/circles.

Actually, let’s list all problems and their answers:

First block (left side):

1. T 3 - 7 = -4
2. R -2 - 5 = -7
3. E 7 - 1 = 6
4. U 9 - 3 = 6 ← same as above? But different letter.
Wait — maybe duplicate answers are okay; different letters go in same box? Probably not — probably each answer maps to one box.

Wait — perhaps I should solve ALL problems and see which answers appear.

Let me make a list:

Left side top to bottom:

- T 3 - 7 = -4
- R -2 - 5 = -7
- E 7 - 1 = 6
- U 9 - 3 = 6 → again 6? Maybe typo? Or maybe it's correct — but let’s continue.
- O -5 - (-10) = -5 + 10 = 5
- F 1 - 11 = -10
- H -8 - 2 = -10 → again -10? Hmm.

Middle section (below the star line):

- C 4 - 4 = 0
- O -3 - 7 = -10
- A 1 - 12 = -11
- E 2 - 9 = -7
- F 17 - 4 = 13
- O -11 - (-2) = -11 + 2 = -9
- T 6 - (-3) = 6 + 3 = 9

Right side top part (above middle star line):

- E -3 - 1 = -4
- C -7 - 8 = -15
- S 2 - 5 = -3
- M 13 - 4 = 9
- O -2 - (-20) = -2 + 20 = 18
- F -9 - 9 = -18
- B 6 - 16 = -10

Bottom right part:

- Q 5 - 5 = 0
- E -4 - 10 = -14
- T -9 - (-5) = -9 + 5 = -4
- N 6 - 7 = -1
- S 15 - (-2) = 15 + 2 = 17
- O -8 - (-12) = -8 + 12 = 4
- H -11 - 6 = -17

And also some more in the very right column? Wait, there’s another set:

On the far right, there’s a vertical list:

- 38 18
- 25 -10
- 26 -2
- 42 0
- 33 -15
- 1 9
- 8 7

Then below that:

- 3 14
- 16 -3
- 36 -14
- 6 3
- 40 -11
- 18 0
- 39 11

These might be the answer keys — like, for example, if you get 18, you go to box 38? No — wait, the instruction says: “the letter of the exercise goes in the box that contains the number of the answer.”

So, for example, if a problem equals 18, you find the box that has “18” written in it, and put the letter there.

Looking at the grid, the numbers inside the stars are the positions. For instance, in the top row of the grid, we have:

Position 1: 18
Position 2: 10
Position 3: 17
... up to position 21: 21? Not sure.

Actually, the grid is labeled with numbers 1 through 42 along the bottom and right? Let me try to map.

Perhaps it’s easier to collect all unique answers and see where they land.

List of all answers from problems:

From left column:

- T: -4
- R: -7
- E: 6
- U: 6 → duplicate? Maybe mistake? Or perhaps it’s intentional — but let’s assume both go to same box? Unlikely. Perhaps I miscalculated.

U 9 - 3 = 6 — yes.
E 7 - 1 = 6 — also 6. So two problems give 6. That means two letters will go in the box that has 6.

Similarly, F 1 - 11 = -10
H -8 - 2 = -10 → another -10
O -3 - 7 = -10 → third -10!
B 6 - 16 = -10 → fourth -10!

That can’t be right — probably I’m misreading.

Wait — let’s double-check the problems.

Looking back at image text:

Left side:

T 3 - 7 =
R -2 - 5 =
E 7 - 1 =
U 9 - 3 =
O -5 - -10 = → that’s -5 - (-10) = 5
F 1 - 11 =
H -8 - 2 =

Then after star line:

C 4 - 4 =
O -3 - 7 =
A 1 - 12 =
E 2 - 9 =
F 17 - 4 =
O -11 - -2 = → -11 - (-2) = -9
T 6 - -3 = → 6 - (-3) = 9

Right side top:

E -3 - 1 =
C -7 - 8 =
S 2 - 5 =
M 13 - 4 =
O -2 - -20 = → -2 - (-20) = 18
F -9 - 9 =
B 6 - 16 =

Bottom right:

Q 5 - 5 =
E -4 - 10 =
T -9 - -5 = → -9 - (-5) = -4
N 6 - 7 =
S 15 - -2 = → 15 - (-2) = 17
O -8 - -12 = → -8 - (-12) = 4
H -11 - 6 =

Also, on the far right, there’s a separate list:

38 18
25 -10
26 -2
42 0
33 -15
1 9
8 7

And below:

3 14
16 -3
36 -14
6 3
40 -11
18 0
39 11

This looks like the answer key — meaning, for example, if you get answer 18, you put the letter in box 38. If you get -10, put in box 25, etc.

Yes! That makes sense.

So the grid on the right is not the placement — rather, the numbers on the far right are the mapping: answer value → box number.

For example:

If your answer is 18, go to box 38 and write the letter.

If your answer is -10, go to box 25.

If your answer is -2, go to box 26.

If your answer is 0, go to box 42.

If your answer is -15, go to box 33.

If your answer is 9, go to box 1.

If your answer is 7, go to box 8.

And so on.

Perfect.

So now, let’s solve each problem, get the answer, then use the key to find which box to fill.

Key (from far right):

Answer → Box Number:

18 → 38
-10 → 25
-2 → 26
0 → 42
-15 → 33
9 → 1
7 → 8
14 → 3
-3 → 16
-14 → 36
3 → 6
-11 → 40
0 → 18? Wait, conflict — 0 is mapped to 42 and also to 18? Let's list clearly.

From the image text:

Top right list:

38 18
25 -10
26 -2
42 0
33 -15
1 9
8 7

Bottom right list:

3 14
16 -3
36 -14
6 3
40 -11
18 0
39 11

So combining:

- Answer 18 → box 38
- Answer -10 → box 25
- Answer -2 → box 26
- Answer 0 → box 42 AND box 18? Conflict.

Wait, "18 0" means answer 0 goes to box 18? But earlier "42 0" also says answer 0 goes to box 42.

That can't be. Perhaps it's paired differently.

Maybe it's:

First column is box number, second is answer? No, because the instruction says: "the letter of the exercise goes in the box that contains the number of the answer."

Re-read: "find your answer in the corresponding answer column. The letter of the exercise goes in the box that contains the number of the answer."

And the "answer column" is likely the list on the right.

Perhaps the list on the right is: for each possible answer, which box to use.

But we have duplicates.

Another possibility: the numbers on the far right are not the mapping, but part of the grid itself.

Let's look at the grid visually described.

The grid has 42 positions, numbered 1 to 42, and each has a number inside.

For example, position 1 has 18, position 2 has 10, position 3 has 17, ..., position 21 has 21? Not clear.

Perhaps the "answer column" refers to the values inside the grid cells, and we need to find which cell has our calculated answer, and put the letter there.

For example, if I calculate -4, I find the cell that has "-4" written in it, and put the letter T there.

Then when all are filled, the letters spell out the joke.

That makes more sense.

So let's assume that.

I need to know what number is in which box.

From the image description, the grid is given with numbers in circles/stars.

Let me try to reconstruct the grid from the text.

In the user's message, the grid is represented as:

After the problems, there's a section with:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *