What Do Hairdressers Do 5-19-20 - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step. The worksheet is titled "What do Hairdressers do?" and involves solving subtraction problems with mixed numbers and fractions, then using the answers to find letters in a grid. Once we identify the correct letters, we rearrange them to form words that reveal the joke.

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Step 1: Solve Each Problem

We'll go through each problem one by one.

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#### Problem ①:
$-2\frac{1}{4} - 4\frac{1}{3}$

Convert to improper fractions:
- $-2\frac{1}{4} = -\frac{9}{4}$
- $4\frac{1}{3} = \frac{13}{3}$

Now subtract:
$$
-\frac{9}{4} - \frac{13}{3} = -\left(\frac{9}{4} + \frac{13}{3}\right)
$$

Find common denominator (LCM of 4 and 3 is 12):
$$
= -\left(\frac{27}{12} + \frac{52}{12}\right) = -\frac{79}{12} = -6\frac{7}{12}
$$

Look for $-6\frac{7}{12}$ in the grid → matches H

✔ Answer: H

---

#### Problem ②:
$6\frac{3}{4} - (-2\frac{4}{5}) = 6\frac{3}{4} + 2\frac{4}{5}$

Convert:
- $6\frac{3}{4} = \frac{27}{4}$
- $2\frac{4}{5} = \frac{14}{5}$

Add:
$$
\frac{27}{4} + \frac{14}{5} = \frac{135}{20} + \frac{56}{20} = \frac{191}{20} = 9\frac{11}{20}
$$

Look for $9\frac{11}{20}$ → matches T

✔ Answer: T

---

#### Problem ③:
$-5\frac{1}{2} - (-1\frac{1}{6}) = -5\frac{1}{2} + 1\frac{1}{6}$

Convert:
- $-5\frac{1}{2} = -\frac{11}{2}$
- $1\frac{1}{6} = \frac{7}{6}$

$$
-\frac{11}{2} + \frac{7}{6} = -\frac{33}{6} + \frac{7}{6} = -\frac{26}{6} = -\frac{13}{3} = -4\frac{1}{3}
$$

Look for $-4\frac{1}{3}$ → matches E

✔ Answer: E

---

#### Problem ④:
$4\frac{1}{8} - 1\frac{3}{4}$

Convert:
- $4\frac{1}{8} = \frac{33}{8}$
- $1\frac{3}{4} = \frac{7}{4} = \frac{14}{8}$

$$
\frac{33}{8} - \frac{14}{8} = \frac{19}{8} = 2\frac{3}{8}
$$

Wait — but look at the options: Is $2\frac{3}{8}$ listed?

Check the grid:

- Y has $2\frac{3}{8}$ ✔

So answer is Y

✔ Answer: Y

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#### Problem ⑤:
$-6\frac{2}{3} - (-8\frac{1}{5}) = -6\frac{2}{3} + 8\frac{1}{5}$

Convert:
- $-6\frac{2}{3} = -\frac{20}{3}$
- $8\frac{1}{5} = \frac{41}{5}$

$$
-\frac{20}{3} + \frac{41}{5} = \frac{-100 + 123}{15} = \frac{23}{15} = 1\frac{8}{15}
$$

Look for $1\frac{8}{15}$ → matches U

✔ Answer: U

---

#### Problem ⑥:
$3\frac{2}{5} - (-5\frac{5}{6}) = 3\frac{2}{5} + 5\frac{5}{6}$

Convert:
- $3\frac{2}{5} = \frac{17}{5}$
- $5\frac{5}{6} = \frac{35}{6}$

$$
\frac{17}{5} + \frac{35}{6} = \frac{102}{30} + \frac{175}{30} = \frac{277}{30} = 9\frac{7}{30}
$$

Look for $9\frac{7}{30}$ → matches L

✔ Answer: L

---

#### Problem ⑦:
$-7\frac{1}{4} - 1\frac{7}{9}$

Convert:
- $-7\frac{1}{4} = -\frac{29}{4}$
- $1\frac{7}{9} = \frac{16}{9}$

$$
-\frac{29}{4} - \frac{16}{9} = -\left(\frac{29}{4} + \frac{16}{9}\right)
$$

Common denominator: 36
$$
= -\left(\frac{261}{36} + \frac{64}{36}\right) = -\frac{325}{36} = -9\frac{1}{36}
$$

Wait — check the grid: is there $-9\frac{1}{36}$? Yes!

→ R has $-9\frac{1}{36}$

✔ Answer: R

---

#### Problem ⑧:
$-4\frac{1}{2} - (-2\frac{3}{5}) = -4\frac{1}{2} + 2\frac{3}{5}$

Convert:
- $-4\frac{1}{2} = -\frac{9}{2}$
- $2\frac{3}{5} = \frac{13}{5}$

$$
-\frac{9}{2} + \frac{13}{5} = \frac{-45 + 26}{10} = -\frac{19}{10} = -1\frac{9}{10}
$$

Look for $-1\frac{9}{10}$ → matches C

✔ Answer: C

---

#### Problem ⑨:
$1\frac{7}{8} - (-3\frac{1}{2}) = 1\frac{7}{8} + 3\frac{1}{2}$

Convert:
- $1\frac{7}{8} = \frac{15}{8}$
- $3\frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{2} = \frac{28}{8}$

$$
\frac{15}{8} + \frac{28}{8} = \frac{43}{8} = 5\frac{3}{8}
$$

But wait — is $5\frac{3}{8}$ in the grid? Let's scan:

No direct match. But maybe it’s not needed yet. Wait — let’s check if any letter has $5\frac{3}{8}$? No.

Wait — perhaps I made a mistake.

Wait — actually, the image shows only up to problem ⑩, but only ⑨ and ⑩ are partially visible.

But since we have 8 solved so far, and the joke likely has 8 letters or fewer, let's see what we have.

But wait — the joke might be longer. Let's keep going.

Wait — looking at the layout, there are two columns of 5 problems each, so 10 total.

But only ⑨ and ⑩ are cut off.

Let me try to infer from context.

But first, let's collect what we have:

From problems ① to ⑧:

1. H
2. T
3. E
4. Y
5. U
6. L
7. R
8. C

So far: H, T, E, Y, U, L, R, C

That seems like a jumble.

But maybe we need to arrange them into words.

Wait — the instruction says: “rearrange the circled letters in each grid to make a word.”

Ah! So each grid has a set of letters, and we circle the correct answer, which corresponds to a letter. Then, in each grid, we rearrange the circled letters to make a word.

Wait — looking back: There are two grids on the right side.

First grid (top):

| E | R | Y |
|---|---|---|
| A | P | T |
| S | H | I |

Second grid:

| L | T | U |
|---|---|---|
| R | E | D |
| A | L | C |

And third grid? Wait — no, the image shows three rows of letters.

Wait — actually, it looks like three separate grids:

- First grid: 3x3 with E, R, Y, A, P, T, S, H, I
- Second grid: 3x3 with L, T, U, R, E, D, A, L, C
- Third grid: T, S, P, etc. — but it's cut off.

Wait — actually, looking closely:

The first grid has:

- Row 1: E $-4\frac{1}{3}$, R $-6\frac{1}{3}$, Y $2\frac{3}{8}$
- Row 2: A $1\frac{1}{12}$, P $-4\frac{1}{2}$, T $9\frac{11}{20}$
- Row 3: S $-5\frac{2}{3}$, H $-6\frac{7}{12}$, I $8\frac{1}{10}$

So this is a 3x3 grid of letters and values.

Similarly, second grid:

- L $9\frac{7}{30}$, T $-1\frac{1}{2}$, U $1\frac{8}{15}$
- R $-9\frac{1}{36}$, E $-\frac{7}{10}$, D $-8\frac{1}{9}$
- A $9\frac{13}{30}$, L $2\frac{1}{15}$, C $-1\frac{9}{10}$

Third grid (partially visible):

- T $-4\frac{5}{6}$, S $-6\frac{19}{20}$, P $-6\frac{17}{20}$

But we can’t see the full third grid.

But from our earlier calculations:

We found answers to problems ①–⑧, and each gives a value, which corresponds to a letter.

So now, let’s list all answers and their corresponding letters.

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Summary of Answers:

| Problem | Answer | Letter |
|--------|--------|--------|
| ① | $-6\frac{7}{12}$ | H |
| ② | $9\frac{11}{20}$ | T |
| ③ | $-4\frac{1}{3}$ | E |
| ④ | $2\frac{3}{8}$ | Y |
| ⑤ | $1\frac{8}{15}$ | U |
| ⑥ | $9\frac{7}{30}$ | L |
| ⑦ | $-9\frac{1}{36}$ | R |
| ⑧ | $-1\frac{9}{10}$ | C |

So the circled letters are: H, T, E, Y, U, L, R, C

Now, the instruction says: "Rearrange the circled letters in each grid to make a word."

Wait — but these letters come from different grids.

Actually, each problem corresponds to a value, which maps to a letter in one of the grids.

But the grids are arranged such that each cell has a letter and a number.

So when you solve a problem and get an answer, you find that number in the grid and circle the letter.

Then, after doing all problems, you take the circled letters and rearrange them to form a word.

But the hint says: "rearrange the circled letters in each grid to make a word." So probably, the circled letters are grouped by grid.

But we have 8 problems so far.

Wait — maybe the joke is "They cut hair", or something like that.

Let’s look at the letters we have: H, T, E, Y, U, L, R, C

Can we form a word?

Try: THEY CURL? That’s a possibility.

"Hairdressers curl hair"? Or "They curl"?

But we have 8 letters.

Wait — "CURL" is 4 letters, "THEY" is 4.

But we have more.

Wait — perhaps the joke is: "They cut hair"?

But we don’t have 'A' or 'I' or 'C'?

Wait — we have C, H, T, Y, U, L, R, E

So: C, H, T, Y, U, L, R, E

Try to rearrange: "They curl"?

But "they" uses T, H, E, Y — yes.

"Curl" uses C, U, R, L — yes.

So the phrase is: "They curl"?

But that doesn't make sense as a complete sentence.

Wait — maybe it's "They cut hair", but we don’t have 'A', 'I', 'T'? We have 'T', but not 'A' or 'I'.

Wait — do we have 'A'?

Looking at the grid:

In first grid: A is at $1\frac{1}{12}$

Is any problem equal to $1\frac{1}{12}$?

Let’s check problem ⑨.

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#### Problem ⑨:
$1\frac{7}{8} - (-3\frac{1}{2}) = 1\frac{7}{8} + 3\frac{1}{2}$

As before:

$1\frac{7}{8} = \frac{15}{8}$, $3\frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{2} = \frac{28}{8}$

Sum: $\frac{43}{8} = 5\frac{3}{8}$

Is $5\frac{3}{8}$ in any grid?

No.

But maybe problem ⑩?

Let’s assume problem ⑩ is similar.

Alternatively, perhaps we missed something.

Wait — we have 8 answers so far, but the joke might be shorter.

Wait — perhaps the circled letters are meant to be grouped into words per grid.

But the instructions say: "rearrange the circled letters in each grid to make a word."

So likely, the answers from problems ①–③ are in the first grid, ④–⑥ in second, etc.

But let’s see which values are in which grid.

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Grid 1 (Top):

- E: $-4\frac{1}{3}$
- R: $-6\frac{1}{3}$
- Y: $2\frac{3}{8}$
- A: $1\frac{1}{12}$
- P: $-4\frac{1}{2}$
- T: $9\frac{11}{20}$
- S: $-5\frac{2}{3}$
- H: $-6\frac{7}{12}$
- I: $8\frac{1}{10}$

Our answers:

- ①: $-6\frac{7}{12}$ → H → Grid 1
- ②: $9\frac{11}{20}$ → T → Grid 1
- ③: $-4\frac{1}{3}$ → E → Grid 1
- ④: $2\frac{3}{8}$ → Y → Grid 1
- ⑤: $1\frac{8}{15}$ → U → Grid 2
- ⑥: $9\frac{7}{30}$ → L → Grid 2
- ⑦: $-9\frac{1}{36}$ → R → Grid 2
- ⑧: $-1\frac{9}{10}$ → C → Grid 2

So:

- Grid 1: H, T, E, Y
- Grid 2: U, L, R, C

Now, rearrange the letters in each grid to make a word.

Grid 1: H, T, E, Y

Rearranged: THEY

✔

Grid 2: U, L, R, C

Rearranged: CURL

✔

So the words are: THEY and CURL

Now, the joke is: "What do hairdressers do?"

Answer: They curl!

Or: They curl hair — but we only have "curl".

But the joke is likely: "They curl" — short and funny.

But wait — we have more problems.

Problems ⑨ and ⑩ are still missing.

Let’s solve them.

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#### Problem ⑨:
$1\frac{7}{8} - (-3\frac{1}{2}) = 1\frac{7}{8} + 3\frac{1}{2} = \frac{15}{8} + \frac{7}{2} = \frac{15}{8} + \frac{28}{8} = \frac{43}{8} = 5\frac{3}{8}$

Is $5\frac{3}{8}$ in any grid?

Not in the visible ones.

But look at the third grid (bottom):

T $-4\frac{5}{6}$, S $-6\frac{19}{20}$, P $-6\frac{17}{20}$

No $5\frac{3}{8}$.

Wait — maybe it's not needed.

Perhaps the joke is just "They curl".

But let’s check problem ⑩.

#### Problem ⑩:
$1\frac{2}{3} - (-2\frac{1}{4}) = 1\frac{2}{3} + 2\frac{1}{4}$

Convert:
- $1\frac{2}{3} = \frac{5}{3}$
- $2\frac{1}{4} = \frac{9}{4}$

$$
\frac{5}{3} + \frac{9}{4} = \frac{20}{12} + \frac{27}{12} = \frac{47}{12} = 3\frac{11}{12}
$$

Is $3\frac{11}{12}$ in any grid?

Not visible.

But perhaps we don’t need all.

Wait — maybe the joke is: "They curl", and the remaining problems are for another part.

But the title says "When you finish you will know what hairdressers do!"

So likely, the full answer is "They curl hair", but we only have "THEY" and "CURL".

Wait — perhaps "CURL" is not enough.

Another idea: Maybe the letters are meant to be combined.

But we have:

- Grid 1: THEY
- Grid 2: CURL

So the answer is: They curl

But is that the whole joke?

Yes — a pun: Hairdressers do curl (as in "curl your hair"), but also "curl" as in "curl up" — but that doesn't fit.

Wait — better: "They curl" — because they curl hair.

But the punchline is likely: "They cut hair" — but we don’t have 'A' or 'I'.

Wait — unless we have 'A' from somewhere.

Wait — in grid 1, A is at $1\frac{1}{12}$

Is any problem equal to $1\frac{1}{12}$?

Let’s check:

Suppose problem ⑨ was $1\frac{1}{12}$ — but we got $5\frac{3}{8}$

No.

Wait — perhaps we made a mistake.

Let’s double-check problem ⑤:

#### Recheck Problem ⑤:
$-6\frac{2}{3} - (-8\frac{1}{5}) = -6\frac{2}{3} + 8\frac{1}{5}$

$-6\frac{2}{3} = -\frac{20}{3}$, $8\frac{1}{5} = \frac{41}{5}$

$$
-\frac{20}{3} + \frac{41}{5} = \frac{-100 + 123}{15} = \frac{23}{15} = 1\frac{8}{15} → U → correct
$$

So no issue.

But we have:

- Grid 1: H, T, E, Y → THEY
- Grid 2: U, L, R, C → CURL

So the answer is: They curl

But is that the full joke?

Wait — perhaps it’s "They cut hair", but we don’t have those letters.

Unless 'C' stands for 'cut' — but we have 'C', 'U', 'R', 'L' — so 'curl'.

Another possibility: "They do hair" — but we don’t have 'D', 'O', 'H', 'A', 'I', 'R'

But we have 'H', 'T', 'E', 'Y', 'C', 'U', 'R', 'L'

So the most plausible is: "They curl"

And the joke is: Hairdressers curl hair — so they "curl".

But the punchline is: "They curl" — which is a play on words.

But let’s see if there’s another interpretation.

Wait — maybe the letters are to be rearranged across all grids to form a single phrase.

But the instruction says: "rearrange the circled letters in each grid to make a word."

So likely, two words: THEY and CURL

So the answer is: They curl

Thus, the joke is: What do hairdressers do? They curl.

Even though it's incomplete, it's a pun.

Alternatively, maybe it's "They cut hair", but we don’t have the letters.

Wait — perhaps we missed a letter.

Wait — in grid 2, we have:

- L $9\frac{7}{30}$ → used
- T $-1\frac{1}{2}$ → not used
- U $1\frac{8}{15}$ → used
- R $-9\frac{1}{36}$ → used
- E $-\frac{7}{10}$ → not used
- D $-8\frac{1}{9}$ → not used
- A $9\frac{13}{30}$ → not used
- L $2\frac{1}{15}$ → not used
- C $-1\frac{9}{10}$ → used

So only U, L, R, C are used.

So "CURL"

Similarly, in grid 1: H, T, E, Y used → "THEY"

So final answer: They curl

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Final Answer:

After solving the problems and circling the corresponding letters:

- From the first grid: H, T, E, Y → rearrange to THEY
- From the second grid: U, L, R, C → rearrange to CURL

Therefore, the answer to "What do hairdressers do?" is:

> They curl.

This is a pun — hairdressers curl hair, and the word "curl" sounds like "curl" — but it's a play on the verb.

Alternatively, it could be interpreted as "They curl!" meaning they make hair curly.

So the joke is simple and clever.

✔ Answer: They curl.