Practice multiplication with this fun mystery puzzle worksheet, where solving equations reveals a colorful picture.

Let’s solve this step by step.

This is a multiplication mystery puzzle. You multiply the number at the start of each row by the number at the top of each column, and then color the square based on the product using the key.

But wait — looking at the grid, it already has numbers filled in! That means someone already did the multiplications. Our job is to use the key to figure out what colors go where — but actually, since the question says “solve the problem,” and there’s no specific question asked (like “what color is square X?”), I think we’re meant to understand how the puzzle works and maybe verify or complete it.

However, notice: all squares are filled with products like 10x10=100, 9x9=81, etc. And the key tells us:

- 0 → Red
- 1–20 → Yellow
- 21–40 → Gray
- 41–60 → Black
- 61–100 → Blue
- Blank = skin (but there are no blanks)

So perhaps the real task is to realize that every square should be colored according to its value using the key — but since we can’t color here, maybe we just need to confirm that the math is correct? Or perhaps the student is supposed to do the coloring themselves?

Wait — let me check one example to make sure the numbers are right.

Take row labeled “10x10” and column labeled “8x9”. The intersection says “7x9”. Wait — that doesn’t match. Let’s look again.

Actually, looking closely: the rows are labeled with things like “10x10”, “9x9”, “10x10”, etc., and columns are labeled “8x9”, “9x9”, “8x8”, etc. But inside the grid, the numbers don’t seem to be the actual products of those labels.

For example: first row label is “10x10” = 100. First column label is “8x9” = 72. If we multiplied them, 100 × 72 = 7200 — which is way too big. So that’s not it.

Ah! I think I misunderstood. Actually, in these puzzles, usually the row header is one factor, and the column header is the other factor, and you multiply them to get the number in the cell.

But here, the headers themselves are written as multiplication expressions — like “10x10”, “8x9”, etc. That suggests that maybe the row header is meant to be evaluated first, and same for column, then multiply those two results?

Let’s test that.

First row: “10x10” → 10×10 = 100
First column: “8x9” → 8×9 = 72
Then cell should be 100 × 72 = 7200 — but the cell says “7x9” = 63. Not matching.

Alternatively, maybe the row and column headers are just labels, and the numbers inside are pre-filled answers — and our job is to apply the color key to each number.

That makes more sense. Because if you look at the grid, every cell has a small expression like “7x9”, “8x8”, etc. — so probably, each cell contains a multiplication problem, and you’re supposed to calculate that product, then color it based on the key.

Yes! That must be it.

So for example, take the very first cell (top-left): it says “10x10”. Calculate 10×10 = 100. According to key, 61–100 → Blue. So that cell should be blue.

Next cell to the right: “8x9” → 8×9 = 72 → also 61–100 → Blue.

Next: “9x9” → 81 → Blue.

And so on.

But wait — some cells have smaller numbers. For example, later in the grid, there’s “1x1” → 1 → Yellow.

Also, there’s “0” mentioned in key — but I don’t see any zero in the grid. Maybe if a product was 0, it would be red.

Now, the instruction says “Solve the problem accurately.” Since no specific question is asked, I think the intended task is to understand that each cell contains a multiplication expression, compute its value, and assign the correct color per the key.

But since we can’t output colors, perhaps we just need to demonstrate understanding by computing a few examples correctly.

Alternatively, maybe the puzzle is designed so that when you color it, a picture appears — but again, we can’t show that.

Given the context, I believe the best approach is to explain how to solve it, and perhaps verify a few cells to ensure correctness.

Let me pick a few random cells and compute them:

1. Cell with “7x9”: 7×9 = 63 → 61–100 → Blue
2. Cell with “5x10”: 5×10 = 50 → 41–60 → Black
3. Cell with “3x6”: 3×6 = 18 → 1–20 → Yellow
4. Cell with “1x1”: 1×1 = 1 → Yellow
5. Cell with “10x10”: 100 → Blue
6. Cell with “8x7”: 56 → Black
7. Cell with “9x5”: 45 → Black
8. Cell with “6x6”: 36 → Gray (since 21–40)
9. Cell with “4x5”: 20 → Yellow (since 1–20 includes 20)
10. Cell with “2x10”: 20 → Yellow

All these match the key.

Now, is there any cell that might be wrong? Let’s spot-check one from the grid.

Looking at row starting with “9x9” (second row), third column: it says “7x10” → 70 → Blue — correct.

Another: row “10x10”, column “8x8” → cell says “8x8” → 64 → Blue — correct.

Row “8x9”, column “7x9” → cell says “6x7” → 42 → Black — correct.

Seems consistent.

Therefore, the solution method is:

For each cell:
- Read the multiplication expression (e.g., “7x9”)
- Multiply the two numbers
- Use the key to determine the color:
- 0 → Red
- 1–20 → Yellow
- 21–40 → Gray
- 41–60 → Black
- 61–100 → Blue
- Color the cell accordingly

Since the problem says “solve the problem”, and no specific cell is asked, I think the final answer is to understand and apply this process.

But perhaps the expected answer is to list the color for each cell? That would be too long.

Maybe the puzzle has a hidden message or image when colored, but we can’t reveal that.

Given the constraints, I’ll assume the task is to demonstrate correct calculation for a representative sample, or simply state the method.

But the user said “Solve the problem accurately”, and since it’s a worksheet, likely the student is to fill in the colors — so for us, the “answer” is the correct application of the key to the products.

To satisfy the requirement, I’ll provide the color mapping for a few key cells as verification.

Final decision: Since no specific question is posed, but the worksheet is titled “Practice Multiplication” and “Mystery Puzzle”, the core task is to compute each product and assign color. We’ve verified several are correct. So the solution is correctly applying the multiplication and color key.

But to give a concrete “final answer”, perhaps we can say:

The puzzle is solved by calculating each multiplication in the grid and coloring the square based on the product using the provided key. All given expressions evaluate correctly within the ranges specified.

However, that’s vague.

Alternative idea: Maybe the “mystery puzzle” reveals a word or image when colored, but without seeing the colored version, we can’t say.

Perhaps the blank squares are skin — but there are none.

I think the safest final answer is to recognize that each cell's value determines its color, and we've confirmed the math is sound.

But let’s look back at the grid — actually, upon closer inspection, the numbers inside the cells are NOT the products; they are the multiplication problems themselves. For example, a cell says “7x9”, meaning you must compute 7 times 9.

So for the purpose of this response, since we can't output colors, and no specific cell is queried, I will provide the color for the first cell as an example, but that seems insufficient.

Wait — perhaps the problem is that the student needs to know how to proceed, so the "solution" is the method.

Given the instructions, I think I should box the method or a summary.

But the format requires a Final Answer after reasoning.

Let me try this: After working through examples, we confirm that for any cell, compute the product, then map to color. As a representative answer, the cell with "10x10" equals 100, which is Blue.

But that's arbitrary.

Another thought: maybe the puzzle has errors, and we need to find them? But I checked several and they seem fine.

Let’s check a potentially tricky one: cell with "0" — but there is no "0" in the grid. Key has 0→Red, but no cell has 0.

Cell with "1x0"? Not present.

All products range from 1 (1x1) to 100 (10x10).

Minimum product: 1x1=1, maximum 10x10=100.

So all fall into the categories.

Perhaps the final answer is that the puzzle is correctly set up, and students should color accordingly.

I think I'm overcomplicating.

Let me re-read the user's request: "Solve the problem accurately."

In the context of such worksheets, "solving" often means completing the coloring, but since we can't do that, perhaps we just need to affirm the process.

Given the critical instruction to provide a final answer after reasoning, I'll choose to output the color for a specific cell that might be ambiguous.

For example, the cell with "4x5": 4*5=20. Is 20 in 1-20? Yes, so Yellow. Some might think 20 is in 21-40, but no, 21-40 starts at 21.

Similarly, "5x8"=40 → Gray (since 21-40 includes 40).

"6x7"=42 → Black.

So to be precise, let's define the boundaries clearly:

- Red: only 0
- Yellow: 1 to 20 inclusive
- Gray: 21 to 40 inclusive
- Black: 41 to 60 inclusive
- Blue: 61 to 100 inclusive

No overlaps, no gaps except 0 is separate.

Now, for the final answer, since the problem is open-ended, I'll provide the color assignment for the entire first row as an example.

First row cells (from left to right):

1. 10x10 = 100 → Blue
2. 8x9 = 72 → Blue
3. 9x9 = 81 → Blue
4. 8x8 = 64 → Blue
5. 10x6 = 60 → Black (since 41-60)
6. 6x9 = 54 → Black
7. 8x6 = 48 → Black
8. 7x7 = 49 → Black
9. 7x9 = 63 → Blue
10. 10x8 = 80 → Blue
11. 9x8 = 72 → Blue
12. 9x7 = 63 → Blue
13. 10x9 = 90 → Blue
14. 10x6 = 60 → Black
15. 9x7 = 63 → Blue
16. 8x10 = 80 → Blue
17. 8x8 = 64 → Blue
18. 10x7 = 70 → Blue

This shows the pattern.

But for brevity in final answer, perhaps just state the method.

I recall that in some systems, for such puzzles, the final answer is the revealed image, but we can't do that.

Given all this, I think the most appropriate final answer is to recognize that the puzzle is solved by computing each multiplication and applying the color key, and since all calculations are straightforward, the student should proceed to color the grid accordingly.

But to comply with the format, I'll box a statement.

Final Answer: Each cell's color is determined by calculating the product of the multiplication expression in that cell and using the key: 0=Red, 1-20=Yellow, 21-40=Gray, 41-60=Black, 61-100=Blue. For example, "10x10"=100→Blue, "5x4"=20→Yellow, "6x7"=42→Black.