Using 2nd Grade Math Worksheets to Teach 3-Digit Subtraction With ... - Free Printable

Let's solve this step by step.

We are given a subtraction worksheet titled "Subtraction Shopping" with 16 problems. Each problem has a letter on a price tag, and we need to solve the subtraction problems (all 3-digit subtraction without regrouping, as stated). Then, we'll use the answers to decode a riddle at the bottom:

> "What did the duck say after he went shopping?"

---

Step 1: Solve each subtraction problem

We’ll go through each one:

---

1. m:
$ 486 - 344 = 142 $

2. $:
$ 789 - 175 = 614 $

3. p:
$ 889 - 468 = 421 $

4. u:
$ 497 - 182 = 315 $

5. $:
$ 857 - 547 = 310 $

6. o:
$ 744 - 344 = 400 $

7. $:
$ 975 - 565 = 410 $

8. l:
$ 896 - 344 = 552 $

9. t:
$ 736 - 425 = 311 $

10. $:
$ 983 - 152 = 831 $

11. y:
$ 839 - 223 = 616 $

12. n:
$ 689 - 326 = 363 $

13. $:
$ 755 - 240 = 515 $

14. i:
$ 489 - 388 = 101 $

15. $:
$ 486 - 133 = 353 $

16. b:
$ 677 - 141 = 536 $

---

Now let’s collect all the answers and match them to their letters:

| Letter | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| m | 142 |
| $ | 614 |
| p | 421 |
| u | 315 |
| $ | 310 |
| o | 400 |
| $ | 410 |
| l | 552 |
| t | 311 |
| $ | 831 |
| y | 616 |
| n | 363 |
| $ | 515 |
| i | 101 |
| $ | 353 |
| b | 536 |

Wait — some of these answers don’t match the ones in the key at the bottom.

Let’s look at the riddle answer key at the bottom:

> 421 315 311 101 311 400 363 142 616 536 101 552 552

So the correct answers must be from that list.

But our calculations show some values not in that list, like 614, 310, 410, etc.

That suggests either:
- We made an error,
- Or the $ tags are just placeholders (maybe they’re not letters), or
- Only certain letters matter.

Wait — look again: The $ symbols are not labeled with letters, but others are: m, p, u, o, l, t, y, n, i, b.

The $ might just be decorative or represent "price", but only the letters are used for the riddle.

So perhaps we only care about the letters: m, p, u, o, l, t, y, n, i, b.

Let’s recompute only the ones with letters:

---

✔ m: 486 - 344 = 142

✔ p: 889 - 468 = 421

✔ u: 497 - 182 = 315

✔ o: 744 - 344 = 400

✔ l: 896 - 344 = 552

✔ t: 736 - 425 = 311

✔ y: 839 - 223 = 616

✔ n: 689 - 326 = 363

✔ i: 489 - 388 = 101

✔ b: 677 - 141 = 536

Now list the letter answers:

- m → 142
- p → 421
- u → 315
- o → 400
- l → 552
- t → 311
- y → 616
- n → 363
- i → 101
- b → 536

Now look at the riddle clue:

> 421 315 311 101 311 400 363 142 616 536 101 552 552

Let’s match these numbers to letters:

- 421 → p
- 315 → u
- 311 → t
- 101 → i
- 311 → t
- 400 → o
- 363 → n
- 142 → m
- 616 → y
- 536 → b
- 101 → i
- 552 → l
- 552 → l

So the sequence is:

p u t i t o n m y b i l l

Wait — that’s "Put it on my bill"?

But that doesn't make sense grammatically.

Wait — let's write it properly:

From the numbers:

1. 421 → p
2. 315 → u
3. 311 → t
4. 101 → i
5. 311 → t
6. 400 → o
7. 363 → n
8. 142 → m
9. 616 → y
10. 536 → b
11. 101 → i
12. 552 → l
13. 552 → l

So the word is:

p u t i t o n m y b i l l

→ "Put it on my bill"

But the riddle says: "What did the duck say after he went shopping?"

Ah! That makes sense!

The duck said: "Put it on my bill!"

But wait — that’s not funny. Is there a pun?

Wait — maybe it’s a play on words.

"Put it on my bill" — but ducks have bills!

So the joke is: "Put it on my bill!" — because ducks have bills.

So the punchline is a pun on "bill" meaning both account and duck’s beak.

So the answer is:

> "Put it on my bill!"

---

Final Answer:

The duck said: "Put it on my bill!"

Because:
- The subtraction results correspond to the letters.
- The decoded message is: P U T I T O N M Y B I L L
- And “bill” is a pun — both a receipt and a duck’s beak.

✔ Answer: "Put it on my bill!"

---

Summary of Steps:

1. Solved all subtraction problems.
2. Identified which letters had answers matching the key.
3. Matched the number sequence to letters.
4. Decoded the message: "Put it on my bill!"
5. Recognized the pun on "bill".

✔ Final Answer: "Put it on my bill!" ✔