Grade 10Reading: grades 3-4Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
Mystery of the Cloud Peak Pirate
A mysterious Sky Raider boarded the Cloud Sovereign and stole the golden compass. Captain Valerie needs your help to decode the clues, spot the culprit, and return the compass to the fleet.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Airship Weapon | Sky Gadget | Tacking Style | Bandana Color | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigger Otis | Grapple Hook | Glider Wings | Right Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| Sailor Ruby | Harpoon Launcher | Brass Compass | Left Handed | Midnight Black | Salty Water |
| Rigger Maya | Steam Blast | Brass Compass | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| Gunner Tess | Steam Blast | Spyglass Lens | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Salty Water |
| Lookout Wren | Steam Blast | Glider Wings | Left Handed | Midnight Black | Bright Lights |
| First Mate Piper | Steam Blast | Glider Wings | Right Handed | Midnight Black | Bright Lights |
| Scout Finn | Lightning Cannon | Spyglass Lens | Right Handed | Crimson Red | Salty Water |
| Navigator Iris | Wind Cannon | Brass Compass | Right Handed | Sun Gold | Bright Lights |
| Officer Felix | Harpoon Launcher | Smoke Bombs | Left Handed | Sun Gold | Salty Water |
| Captain Barnaby | Lightning Cannon | Brass Compass | Right Handed | Midnight Black | Loud Whistles |
| Lookout Toby | Grapple Hook | Brass Compass | Right Handed | Midnight Black | Loud Whistles |
| Pilot Nora | Lightning Cannon | Anchor Drop | Right Handed | Sun Gold | Loud Whistles |
| Sky Navigator Dax | Wind Cannon | Brass Compass | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| First Mate Sam | Harpoon Launcher | Anchor Drop | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Loud Whistles |
| Scout Cleo | Steam Blast | Anchor Drop | Right Handed | Midnight Black | Loud Whistles |
| Captain Valerie | Harpoon Launcher | Anchor Drop | Right Handed | Sun Gold | Salty Water |
| Gunner Jax | Grapple Hook | Spyglass Lens | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| Captain Bruno | Wind Cannon | Spyglass Lens | Right Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| Sailor Holly | Harpoon Launcher | Glider Wings | Left Handed | Sun Gold | Salty Water |
| Helmsman Kai | Lightning Cannon | Glider Wings | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
| Pilot Vance | Grapple Hook | Glider Wings | Left Handed | Crimson Red | Bright Lights |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
The airship navigator measures the diagonal distance across the map grid to narrow down the raider ship.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
37
85
26
111
87
75
68
41
123
50
26
68
50
5
26
111
65
5
T
37
74
111
26
41
111
52
75
58
25
41
111
111
25
26
65
111
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =T
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =U
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =D
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =K
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =S
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =A
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =P
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =I
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =O
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =Y
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =G
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =R
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =E
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =N
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =H
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The deck engineer calculates the side length of a square storage crate to find where clues were hidden.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
8
9
3
25
20
4
4
20
4
4
10
W
8
10
11
20
24
3
21
10
25
15
20
15
W
8
21
20
20
11
3
5
7
25
sqrt(64) =W
sqrt(625) =N
sqrt(400) =E
sqrt(121) =L
sqrt(100) =A
sqrt(225) =D
sqrt(441) =H
sqrt(16) =S
sqrt(9) =T
sqrt(25) =U
sqrt(49) =R
sqrt(576) =F
sqrt(81) =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The lookout calculates the booming power scale of the engine blasts floating across the clouds.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
729
361
4
256
125
100
484
4
256
343
225
64
4
256
4
484
4
400
4
121
243
256
225
9
8
256
100
144
361
T
729
289
100
144
361
T
729
121
9^3 =T
5^3 =A
10^2 =I
11^2 =S
8^2 =V
19^2 =H
3^5 =F
2^3 =B
16^2 =R
17^2 =L
20^2 =Y
3^2 =M
2^2 =E
12^2 =G
7^3 =C
15^2 =O
22^2 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The quartermaster solves a multi step fuel mix equation to read the locked ship log.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
30
16
82
42
82
109
24
16
96
42
96
109
98
103
116
50
112
105
98
82
42
76
96
105
42
96
105
96
50
T
30
98
96
105
42
12 + 9 × 2 =T
7 × 7 - 25 =K
68 + 8 × 6 =M
6 × 11 - 24 =D
58 + 6 × 9 =O
10 × 12 - 24 =A
10 × 9 - 14 =B
92 + 3 × 2 =R
72 + 5 × 2 =E
7 × 8 - 6 =S
9 × 5 - 29 =H
85 + 3 × 6 =I
63 + 7 × 6 =N
69 + 5 × 8 =C
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The navigator finds the square root of the landing dock area to track the escape route.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain shoots a steam blast, then checks a brass compass.
2.The villain shoots a steam blast, then uses a spyglass lens.
3.The villain fires a wind cannon, then triggers an anchor drop.
4.The villain fires a wind cannon, then uses a spyglass lens.
5.The villain fires a grapple hook, then deploys glider wings.
6.The villain fires a grapple hook, then drops smoke bombs.
7.The villain shoots a steam blast, then deploys glider wings.
8.The villain blasts a lightning cannon, then deploys glider wings.
9.The villain fires a wind cannon, then checks a brass compass.
10.The villain blasts a lightning cannon, then drops smoke bombs.
11.The villain blasts a lightning cannon, then uses a spyglass lens.
12.The villain shoots a steam blast, then triggers an anchor drop.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Mystery of the Cloud Peak Pirate
Culprit: Sky Navigator Dax (Wind Cannon · Brass Compass · Left Handed · Crimson Red · Bright Lights)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SKY RAIDER DOES NOT USE A SPYGLASS LENS"legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (T) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (U) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (D) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (K) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (S) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (A) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (P) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (I) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (O) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (Y) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (G) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (R) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (E) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (N) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (H) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (L)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "WITNESSES SAW A LEFT HANDED WHEEL TURN"sqrt(64) = 8 (W) · sqrt(625) = 25 (N) · sqrt(400) = 20 (E) · sqrt(121) = 11 (L) · sqrt(100) = 10 (A) · sqrt(225) = 15 (D) · sqrt(441) = 21 (H) · sqrt(16) = 4 (S) · sqrt(9) = 3 (T) · sqrt(25) = 5 (U) · sqrt(49) = 7 (R) · sqrt(576) = 24 (F) · sqrt(81) = 9 (I)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE RAIDER COVERED EYES FROM BRIGHT LIGHTS"9^3 = 729 (T) · 5^3 = 125 (A) · 10^2 = 100 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 8^2 = 64 (V) · 19^2 = 361 (H) · 3^5 = 243 (F) · 2^3 = 8 (B) · 16^2 = 256 (R) · 17^2 = 289 (L) · 20^2 = 400 (Y) · 3^2 = 9 (M) · 2^2 = 4 (E) · 12^2 = 144 (G) · 7^3 = 343 (C) · 15^2 = 225 (O) · 22^2 = 484 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE DECK HAD A CRIMSON RED BANDANA STRAND"12 + 9 × 2 = 30 (T) · 7 × 7 - 25 = 24 (K) · 68 + 8 × 6 = 116 (M) · 6 × 11 - 24 = 42 (D) · 58 + 6 × 9 = 112 (O) · 10 × 12 - 24 = 96 (A) · 10 × 9 - 14 = 76 (B) · 92 + 3 × 2 = 98 (R) · 72 + 5 × 2 = 82 (E) · 7 × 8 - 6 = 50 (S) · 9 × 5 - 29 = 16 (H) · 85 + 3 × 6 = 103 (I) · 63 + 7 × 6 = 105 (N) · 69 + 5 × 8 = 109 (C)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 9) → Sky Navigator Daxsqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(9) = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- Mystery of the Cloud Peak Pirate — set in Sky Pirate Haven of Cloudpeak
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects