Grade 8Reading: grades 5-6ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
Mystery of the Lost Sun Disk
Someone broke into the camp supply tent and swiped the ancient Golden Sun Disk. Gather evidence around the dig site to uncover the suspect.
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 | Explorer Tool | Survival Gear | Handedness | Hat Feather | Phobia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mila Mud | Grappling Hook | Parachute | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Lucas Lake | Machete | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Elena Explorer | Machete | Canteen | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Iris River | Machete | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Red Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Sienna Stone | Grappling Hook | Canteen | Left Handed | Red Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Toby Trek | Machete | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Clara Canyon | Compass Badge | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Gold Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Jasper Jade | Grappling Hook | Parachute | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Rory Ridge | Binoculars | Map Scroll | Right Handed | Red Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Professor Leo | Compass Badge | Signal Flare | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Marcus Moss | Lantern Torch | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Nora Nav | Compass Badge | Canteen | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Nico Peak | Grappling Hook | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Bruno Boulder | Machete | Parachute | Right Handed | Gold Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Sammy Swift | Compass Badge | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Red Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Dr Maya | Binoculars | Canteen | Left Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Kira Karst | Grappling Hook | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Gold Feather | Afraid of Snakes |
| Daisy Diggs | Lantern Torch | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Gold Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
| Hugo Hill | Binoculars | Canteen | Right Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Felix Fern | Machete | Canteen | Right Handed | Gold Feather | Afraid of Bats |
| Victor Vine | Compass Badge | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Blue Feather | Afraid of Spiders |
Clue 1
Exponents
To calculate how the jungle radio signal amplified across base stations evaluate the power levels
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
144
216
121
100
729
100
196
121
512
T
144
27
8
121
100
256
8
T
144
512
225
4
4
81
225
100
441
125
256
225
625
243
625
225
4
121
12^2 =T
10^2 =S
11^2 =E
2^3 =O
21^2 =I
3^5 =F
8^3 =C
3^3 =D
2^2 =R
3^4 =Y
2^8 =N
6^3 =H
15^2 =A
14^2 =P
5^4 =L
3^6 =U
5^3 =G
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The floor tiles of the ancient temple form a square grid so solve for the side length
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
17
6
14
T
17
2
11
3
25
4
10
14
2
14
23
11
16
14
8
19
11
2
20
22
6
T
17
6
11
18
16
14
16
4
18
14
11
25
sqrt(289) =T
sqrt(100) =W
sqrt(324) =N
sqrt(121) =A
sqrt(64) =B
sqrt(36) =H
sqrt(529) =M
sqrt(361) =Y
sqrt(16) =S
sqrt(256) =D
sqrt(196) =E
sqrt(484) =G
sqrt(625) =K
sqrt(9) =C
sqrt(4) =R
sqrt(400) =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
To find the direct distance across the canyon from camp to the ruins measure the right triangle sides
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
5
50
13
10
20
68
52
17
87
T
5
17
40
41
40
58
40
51
15
17
29
26
40
82
58
40
17
26
29
15
25
40
T
5
82
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =T
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =L
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =O
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =S
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =P
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =R
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =W
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =Y
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =A
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =C
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =H
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =F
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =U
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =I
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =M
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =B
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =N
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =E
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The ancient lock code requires following the strict order of mathematical steps to turn the gears
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
77
79
88
42
88
T
77
88
64
T
77
68
75
88
94
105
27
T
77
T
77
88
42
6
57
11
31
88
120
88
6
T
77
79
88
97
59 + 9 × 2 =T
12 × 9 - 20 =E
8 × 8 - 7 =B
65 + 2 × 5 =V
77 + 4 × 5 =R
10 × 12 - 15 =P
9 × 9 - 17 =C
9 × 2 - 12 =A
5 × 12 - 29 =U
9 × 8 - 4 =I
8 × 5 - 13 =O
11 × 12 - 12 =F
5 + 2 × 3 =L
7 + 5 × 7 =D
67 + 4 × 3 =H
11 × 11 - 27 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The expedition log tracks remaining trail supplies using an algebraic formula
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
2x + 10 = 20, x = ?
6x + 6 = 18, x = ?
5x + 9 = 59, x = ?
4x + 6 = 50, x = ?
4x + 7 = 11, x = ?
2x + 7 = 31, x = ?
3x + 5 = 26, x = ?
2x + 10 = 22, x = ?
4x + 5 = 41, x = ?
3x + 12 = 24, x = ?
3x + 10 = 19, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then drank water from a canteen.
2.The villain spotted the temple with binoculars, then drank water from a canteen.
3.The villain cleared vines with a machete, then launched a bright signal flare.
4.The villain spotted the temple with binoculars, then climbed down a rope ladder.
5.The villain cleared vines with a machete, then drank water from a canteen.
6.The villain lit the hidden tunnel with a lantern torch, then drank water from a canteen.
7.The villain lit the hidden tunnel with a lantern torch, then unfolded an ancient map scroll.
8.The villain lit the hidden tunnel with a lantern torch, then climbed down a rope ladder.
9.The villain checked direction with a compass badge, then climbed down a rope ladder.
10.The villain checked direction with a compass badge, then drank water from a canteen.
11.The villain spotted the temple with binoculars, then floated down safely with a parachute.
12.The villain spotted the temple with binoculars, then launched a bright signal flare.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Mystery of the Lost Sun Disk
Culprit: Marcus Moss (Lantern Torch · Rope Ladder · Right Handed · Blue Feather · Afraid of Bats)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT CARRY A SIGNAL FLARE"12^2 = 144 (T) · 10^2 = 100 (S) · 11^2 = 121 (E) · 2^3 = 8 (O) · 21^2 = 441 (I) · 3^5 = 243 (F) · 8^3 = 512 (C) · 3^3 = 27 (D) · 2^2 = 4 (R) · 3^4 = 81 (Y) · 2^8 = 256 (N) · 6^3 = 216 (H) · 15^2 = 225 (A) · 14^2 = 196 (P) · 5^4 = 625 (L) · 3^6 = 729 (U) · 5^3 = 125 (G)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE TRACKS WERE MADE BY A RIGHT HANDED SNEAK"sqrt(289) = 17 (T) · sqrt(100) = 10 (W) · sqrt(324) = 18 (N) · sqrt(121) = 11 (A) · sqrt(64) = 8 (B) · sqrt(36) = 6 (H) · sqrt(529) = 23 (M) · sqrt(361) = 19 (Y) · sqrt(16) = 4 (S) · sqrt(256) = 16 (D) · sqrt(196) = 14 (E) · sqrt(484) = 22 (G) · sqrt(625) = 25 (K) · sqrt(9) = 3 (C) · sqrt(4) = 2 (R) · sqrt(400) = 20 (I)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE CULPRIT RAN AWAY FROM A SWARM OF BATS"legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (T) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (L) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (O) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (S) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (P) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (R) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (W) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (Y) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (A) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (C) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (H) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (F) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (U) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (I) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (M) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (B) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (N) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE DETECTIVE SPOTTED A BLUE FEATHER"59 + 9 × 2 = 77 (T) · 12 × 9 - 20 = 88 (E) · 8 × 8 - 7 = 57 (B) · 65 + 2 × 5 = 75 (V) · 77 + 4 × 5 = 97 (R) · 10 × 12 - 15 = 105 (P) · 9 × 9 - 17 = 64 (C) · 9 × 2 - 12 = 6 (A) · 5 × 12 - 29 = 31 (U) · 9 × 8 - 4 = 68 (I) · 8 × 5 - 13 = 27 (O) · 11 × 12 - 12 = 120 (F) · 5 + 2 × 3 = 11 (L) · 7 + 5 × 7 = 42 (D) · 67 + 4 × 3 = 79 (H) · 11 × 11 - 27 = 94 (S)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 8) → Marcus Moss2x + 10 = 20, x = 5 · 6x + 6 = 18, x = 2 · 5x + 9 = 59, x = 10 · 4x + 6 = 50, x = 11 · 4x + 7 = 11, x = 1 · 2x + 7 = 31, x = 12 · 3x + 5 = 26, x = 7 · 2x + 10 = 22, x = 6 · 4x + 5 = 41, x = 9 · 3x + 12 = 24, x = 4 · 3x + 10 = 19, x = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- Mystery of the Lost Sun Disk — set in The Deep Canopy of Isla Mystery
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects