"Crack the Code" math worksheets for addition and subtraction practice.

Let’s solve the “Crack the Code” worksheet that uses addition (the one with the alien and coffee joke).

We are told:
> Solve each addition problem. Then match the answer to the letter next to it. Finally, use those letters to fill in the blanks at the bottom to crack the code and answer the joke:
> “How did the alien pay for his coffee?”

---

Step 1: Solve each addition problem and write down the matching letter.

Here are the problems from the sheet:

1. 9 + 2 = 11 → letter j
2. 8 + 5 = 13 → letter i
3. 4 + 3 = 7 → letter b
4. 5 + 0 = 5 → letter r
5. 3 + 3 = 6 → letter k
6. 7 + 2 = 9 → letter h
7. 6 + 6 = 12 → letter s
8. 8 + 2 = 10 → letter n
9. 7 + 7 = 14 → letter u
10. 5 + 3 = 8 → letter w
11. 3 + 0 = 3 → letter c
12. 4 + 6 = 10 → letter d *(Wait — 4+6=10, but #8 also gave 10 → n? Let’s check again.)*

Hold on — let’s double-check all answers carefully.

Actually, looking at the sheet layout:

The right column has:

8. 8 + 2 = ___ → n → 8+2=10 → so 10 = n
9. 7 + 7 = ___ → u → 14 = u
10. 5 + 3 = ___ → w → 8 = w
11. 3 + 0 = ___ → c → 3 = c
12. 4 + 6 = ___ → d → 10 = d ← Wait! This is a conflict.

But look — both #8 and #12 give 10? That can’t be unless two letters map to same number — which they shouldn’t in this kind of puzzle.

Wait — maybe I misread the numbering.

Looking again at the image description (even though we don’t describe images, we must interpret the data):

The left column is problems 1–7, right column is 8–14.

So:

Left:
1. 9+2=11 → j
2. 8+5=13 → i
3. 4+3=7 → b
4. 5+0=5 → r
5. 3+3=6 → k
6. 7+2=9 → h
7. 6+6=12 → s

Right:
8. 8+2=10 → n
9. 7+7=14 → u
10. 5+3=8 → w
11. 3+0=3 → c
12. 4+6=10 → d ← Hmm, 4+6=10, same as #8? But #8 is labeled ‘n’, #12 is labeled ‘d’ — that would mean 10 maps to both n and d? That doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps there’s a typo in my reading? Or maybe the worksheet intends for us to use the letter assigned to each problem regardless of duplicate sums? But that breaks the code.

Alternatively — maybe I misassigned the letters.

Let me list them clearly with their given letters:

From the sheet (as described):

Problem | Equation | Answer | Letter
--------|----------|--------|-------
1 | 9 + 2 | 11 | j
2 | 8 + 5 | 13 | i
3 | 4 + 3 | 7 | b
4 | 5 + 0 | 5 | r
5 | 3 + 3 | 6 | k
6 | 7 + 2 | 9 | h
7 | 6 + 6 | 12 | s
8 | 8 + 2 | 10 | n
9 | 7 + 7 | 14 | u
10 | 5 + 3 | 8 | w
11 | 3 + 0 | 3 | c
12 | 4 + 6 | 10 | d ← Here’s the issue: 10 appears twice, mapped to n and d.
13 | 8 + 8 | 16 | a
14 | 2 + 2 | 4 | t

Now, the code line at the bottom says:

Fill in the blanks under these numbers:

8 13 4 9 12 4 16 5 7 14 3 6 12

We need to replace each number with its corresponding letter based on the key above.

But if 10 maps to both n and d, that’s a problem — however, notice that 10 does NOT appear in the code line. The code line has: 8, 13, 4, 9, 12, 4, 16, 5, 7, 14, 3, 6, 12.

So even if 10 is duplicated in the key, it won’t affect our decoding because 10 isn’t used in the final message.

Great! So let’s proceed.

Build the mapping from number to letter using the solved problems:

From above:

- 3 → c (from #11)
- 4 → t (from #14)
- 5 → r (from #4)
- 6 → k (from #5)
- 7 → b (from #3)
- 8 → w (from #10)
- 9 → h (from #6)
- 11 → j (from #1)
- 12 → s (from #7) — note: 12 appears twice in code, should be same letter
- 13 → i (from #2)
- 14 → u (from #9)
- 16 → a (from #13)

What about 10? We have two entries: n and d — but since 10 isn’t in the code, ignore for now.

Also, what about 15? Not present. 1? Not present. Etc.

Now, decode the sequence:

Code:
8 13 4 9 12 4 16 5 7 14 3 6 12

Replace each number with its letter:

8 → w
13 → i
4 → t
9 → h
12 → s
4 → t
16 → a
5 → r
7 → b
14 → u
3 → c
6 → k
12 → s

So putting it together:

w i t h s t a r b u c k s

That spells: with starbucks

Wait — let’s write it out:

Positions:

1. 8 → w
2. 13 → i
3. 4 → t
4. 9 → h
5. 12 → s
6. 4 → t
7. 16 → a
8. 5 → r
9. 7 → b
10. 14 → u
11. 3 → c
12. 6 → k
13. 12 → s

So: w-i-t-h-s-t-a-r-b-u-c-k-s → “with starbucks”

But that’s not quite right — probably it’s “With Starbucks” meaning he paid *with* a Starbucks card or something? But the joke is: “How did the alien pay for his coffee?”

Answer: With Starbucks — but that seems odd.

Wait — maybe it’s “He paid with a Star Bucks” — like space money?

But let’s check spelling: w-i-t-h-s-t-a-r-b-u-c-k-s → that’s 13 letters.

Perhaps it’s meant to be: “With Star Bucks” — as in, he used “Star Bucks” as currency.

Yes — that makes sense for an alien paying for coffee — he paid with “Star Bucks” (a play on “stars” and “bucks” as money).

So the decoded phrase is: with starbucks

But to make it grammatically correct for the joke: “He paid with Star Bucks.”

However, the blank lines are just for the letters — so the answer to fill in is the string of letters: withstarbucks? No — we should separate words if possible.

Looking at the positions:

After “with” (positions 1-4: w,i,t,h), then position 5 is ‘s’, 6 is ‘t’, etc.

Actually, let’s group:

w i t h s t a r b u c k s → “with star bucks”

Yes — that’s three words: “with”, “star”, “bucks”

So the full answer to the joke is: With Star Bucks

Meaning: He paid using “Star Bucks” — fictional space money.

Perfect.

Now, just to confirm no calculation errors:

Double-check a few:

- 9+2=11 → j ✔️
- 8+5=13 → i ✔️
- 4+3=7 → b ✔️
- 5+0=5 → r ✔️
- 3+3=6 → k ✔️
- 7+2=9 → h ✔️
- 6+6=12 → s ✔️
- 8+2=10 → n (not used)
- 7+7=14 → u ✔️
- 5+3=8 → w ✔️
- 3+0=3 → c ✔️
- 4+6=10 → d (not used)
- 8+8=16 → a ✔️
- 2+2=4 → t ✔️

All good.

Code: 8(w), 13(i), 4(t), 9(h), 12(s), 4(t), 16(a), 5(r), 7(b), 14(u), 3(c), 6(k), 12(s) → “withstarbucks” → split as “with star bucks”

Final Answer: With Star Bucks