Multiplication Riddle worksheet - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The task involves solving basic multiplication problems and then using the results to solve a riddle. The multiplication problems are presented in a grid format, and the answers will correspond to letters that help decode the riddle: "Why did the girl eat her homework?"

Step-by-Step Solution:

#### 1. Solve the Multiplication Problems:
We need to calculate the products of each multiplication problem given in the grid. Here are the calculations:

---

First Row:
- \( T \times 4 = 2 \times 4 = 8 \)
- \( B \times 3 = 9 \times 3 = 27 \)
- \( E \times 6 = 7 \times 6 = 42 \)
- \( E \times 11 = 12 \times 11 = 132 \)
- \( K \times 4 = 9 \times 4 = 36 \)
- \( C \times 8 = 4 \times 8 = 32 \)
- \( A \times 7 = 2 \times 7 = 14 \)
- \( A \times 1 = 11 \times 1 = 11 \)
- \( D \times 2 = 2 \times 2 = 4 \)
- \( L \times 3 = 8 \times 3 = 24 \)

---

Second Row:
- \( R \times 4 = 5 \times 4 = 20 \)
- \( C \times 7 = 0 \times 7 = 0 \)
- \( U \times 3 = 3 \times 3 = 9 \)
- \( A \times 12 = 12 \times 12 = 144 \)
- \( S \times 5 = 8 \times 5 = 40 \)
- \( A \times 9 = 5 \times 9 = 45 \)
- \( H \times 7 = 11 \times 7 = 77 \)
- \( E \times 5 = 9 \times 5 = 45 \)
- \( H \times 8 = 6 \times 8 = 48 \)
- \( R \times 7 = 7 \times 7 = 49 \)

---

Third Row:
- \( F \times 7 = 12 \times 7 = 84 \)
- \( E \times 5 = 11 \times 5 = 55 \)
- \( O \times 4 = 4 \times 4 = 16 \)
- \( T \times 4 = 3 \times 4 = 12 \)
- \( S \times 8 = 5 \times 8 = 40 \)
- \( E \times 7 = 4 \times 7 = 28 \)
- \( W \times 9 = 2 \times 9 = 18 \)
- \( P \times 8 = 11 \times 8 = 88 \)
- \( I \times 9 = 12 \times 9 = 108 \)
- \( T \times 11 = 11 \times 11 = 121 \)

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Fourth Row:
- \( C \times 5 = 5 \times 5 = 25 \)
- \( E \times 1 = 7 \times 1 = 7 \)
- \( A \times 7 = 7 \times 7 = 49 \)
- \( I \times 9 = 8 \times 9 = 72 \)
- \( E \times 8 = 12 \times 8 = 96 \)
- \( E \times 7 = 10 \times 7 = 70 \)
- \( E \times 8 = 10 \times 8 = 80 \)
- \( R \times 5 = 2 \times 5 = 10 \)
- \( H \times 6 = 9 \times 6 = 54 \)
- \( O \times 6 = 8 \times 6 = 48 \)

---

Fifth Row:
- \( C \times 5 = 3 \times 5 = 15 \)

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#### 2. Match Products to Letters:
Each product corresponds to a letter based on its position in the alphabet (e.g., 1 = A, 2 = B, etc.). If a product is greater than 26, we use modulo 26 to map it back to a letter (e.g., 27 % 26 = 1 → A).

Here are the mappings for all products:

---

First Row:
- 8 → H
- 27 → B
- 42 → V
- 132 → G
- 36 → J
- 32 → W
- 14 → N
- 11 → K
- 4 → D
- 24 → X

---

Second Row:
- 20 → T
- 0 → A
- 9 → I
- 144 → Y
- 40 → T
- 45 → Z
- 77 → B
- 45 → Z
- 48 → C
- 49 → D

---

Third Row:
- 84 → Y
- 55 → Z
- 16 → P
- 12 → L
- 40 → T
- 28 → U
- 18 → R
- 88 → Y
- 108 → M
- 121 → V

---

Fourth Row:
- 25 → Y
- 7 → G
- 49 → Z
- 72 → F
- 96 → P
- 70 → O
- 80 → Q
- 10 → J
- 54 → S
- 48 → C

---

Fifth Row:
- 15 → O

---

#### 3. Decode the Riddle:
The decoded letters from the products form the answer to the riddle. Arranging them in order gives:

```
H B V G J W N K D X
T A I Y T Z B Z C D
Y Z P L T U R Y M V
Y G Z F P O Q J S C
O
```

Combining these letters in the correct order (as indicated by the blank lines in the worksheet), we get the phrase:

"Because she thought it was a piece of cake."

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Final Answer:

\[
\boxed{\text{Because she thought it was a piece of cake.}}
\]