🏀 BasketballGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
Sabotage on the Championship Court
The biggest game of the season is tonight, but someone has stolen the Head Coach's lucky playbook and greased the three-point line! The Metropolitan Arena is in lockdown. We need to analyze the court physics, study the clues, and find the Court Phantom before tip-off.
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 | Signature Move | Sneaker Brand | Wristband Placement | Hair Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola | crossover dribble | TurboGlide shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Joel | fadeaway jumper | TurboGlide shoes | left wristband | dyed blue hair | loud crowd noise |
| Devin | slammed dunk | GripMax shoes | left wristband | dyed blue hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Jayson | crossover dribble | ApexLeap shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Luka | no-look pass | TurboGlide shoes | right wristband | tall dreadlocks | loud crowd noise |
| Giannis | slammed dunk | TurboGlide shoes | right wristband | dyed blue hair | loud crowd noise |
| Jalen | three-point swish | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Stephen | fadeaway jumper | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Bam | crossover dribble | ApexLeap shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | blinding camera flash |
| Domantas | three-point swish | ApexLeap shoes | right wristband | tall dreadlocks | squeaky sneakers |
| Kawhi | three-point swish | ApexLeap shoes | left wristband | tall dreadlocks | loud crowd noise |
| Shai | slammed dunk | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | dyed blue hair | blinding camera flash |
| DeAaron | crossover dribble | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Ja | crossover dribble | ApexLeap shoes | right wristband | buzzed hair | squeaky sneakers |
| Jimmy | three-point swish | ApexLeap shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | loud crowd noise |
| Anthony | crossover dribble | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | buzzed hair | blinding camera flash |
| Kyrie | slammed dunk | AeroBounce shoes | left wristband | dyed blue hair | loud crowd noise |
| Zion | fadeaway jumper | ShockWave shoes | right wristband | tall dreadlocks | squeaky sneakers |
| Tyrese | fadeaway jumper | ShockWave shoes | left wristband | dyed blue hair | squeaky sneakers |
| LeBron | crossover dribble | GripMax shoes | right wristband | dyed blue hair | blinding camera flash |
| Kevin | no-look pass | AeroBounce shoes | right wristband | dyed blue hair | blinding camera flash |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To find where the suspect fled, we calculated the direct diagonal pass across the rectangular court.
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
125
50
37
25
26
39
39
111
26
65
100
123
37
41
65
123
T
125
74
37
111
34
T
125
15
34
116
123
5
39
26
100
37
41
50
123
37
41
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =T
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =U
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =N
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =H
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =B
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =V
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =G
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =D
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =L
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =E
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =A
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =O
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =R
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The suspect left a mysterious square chalk mark on the floor, and finding its side length revealed the next room code.
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
23
19
22
12
21
14
T
5
19
18
4
20
19
12
4
22
12
13
19
7
T
5
20
4
25
22
T
5
21
12
16
17
sqrt(25) =T
sqrt(256) =N
sqrt(529) =H
sqrt(625) =I
sqrt(49) =F
sqrt(441) =B
sqrt(289) =D
sqrt(169) =L
sqrt(324) =U
sqrt(144) =A
sqrt(196) =O
sqrt(361) =E
sqrt(484) =S
sqrt(400) =W
sqrt(16) =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
We analyzed the tournament bracket, which doubled in size every hour, to pinpoint the suspect's exact seat.
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
441
400
8
81
400
9
100
T
441
484
169
400
9
T
441
8
144
144
128
324
8
9
4
196
144
100
8
9
4
8
64
144
21^2 =T
9^2 =P
14^2 =Y
12^2 =S
13^2 =M
2^3 =E
20^2 =H
22^2 =O
3^2 =A
2^6 =R
2^2 =K
18^2 =U
10^2 =N
2^7 =Q
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The arena scoreboard malfunctioned, requiring us to solve a multi-step stat equation in the correct order to unlock the security 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.
W
10
11
94
103
64
119
61
17
7
95
57
119
61
17
103
94
73
64
32
32
11
61
18
57
84
95
2 × 6 - 2 =W
3 + 5 × 3 =H
71 + 6 × 4 =R
12 × 6 - 11 =D
37 + 4 × 5 =A
1 + 2 × 5 =E
9 × 12 - 14 =F
8 × 12 - 23 =B
3 × 11 - 26 =T
76 + 2 × 4 =I
9 + 2 × 4 =S
22 + 2 × 5 =Z
11 × 11 - 18 =O
12 × 10 - 1 =N
11 × 8 - 24 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The emergency exit gate is locked with a keypad that requires the square root of the main court's square area.
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(144) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain performs a flawless crossover dribble, then escapes easily in GripMax shoes.
2.The villain sinks a brilliant fadeaway jumper, then escapes easily in GripMax shoes.
3.The villain scores with a three-point swish, then bolts away in AeroBounce shoes.
4.The villain rattles the rim with a slammed dunk, then bolts away in AeroBounce shoes.
5.The villain performs a flawless crossover dribble, then dashes past the guard in ShockWave shoes.
6.The villain sinks a brilliant fadeaway jumper, then bolts away in AeroBounce shoes.
7.The villain sinks a brilliant fadeaway jumper, then dashes past the guard in ShockWave shoes.
8.The villain scores with a three-point swish, then leaps over the barrier in ApexLeap shoes.
9.The villain rattles the rim with a slammed dunk, then escapes easily in GripMax shoes.
10.The villain performs a flawless crossover dribble, then bolts away in AeroBounce shoes.
11.The villain rattles the rim with a slammed dunk, then speeds off in TurboGlide shoes.
12.The villain performs a flawless crossover dribble, then leaps over the barrier in ApexLeap shoes.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Sabotage on the Championship Court
Culprit: Stephen (fadeaway jumper · AeroBounce shoes · left wristband · buzzed hair · squeaky sneakers)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR TURBOGLIDE SHOES"legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (T) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (U) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (N) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (H) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (B) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (V) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (I) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (G) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (D) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (L) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (E) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (A) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (O) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (R) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (S)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SABOTEUR WEARS A LEFT WRISTBAND"sqrt(25) = 5 (T) · sqrt(256) = 16 (N) · sqrt(529) = 23 (H) · sqrt(625) = 25 (I) · sqrt(49) = 7 (F) · sqrt(441) = 21 (B) · sqrt(289) = 17 (D) · sqrt(169) = 13 (L) · sqrt(324) = 18 (U) · sqrt(144) = 12 (A) · sqrt(196) = 14 (O) · sqrt(361) = 19 (E) · sqrt(484) = 22 (S) · sqrt(400) = 20 (W) · sqrt(16) = 4 (R)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE PHANTOM HATES SQUEAKY SNEAKERS"21^2 = 441 (T) · 9^2 = 81 (P) · 14^2 = 196 (Y) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 13^2 = 169 (M) · 2^3 = 8 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (H) · 22^2 = 484 (O) · 3^2 = 9 (A) · 2^6 = 64 (R) · 2^2 = 4 (K) · 18^2 = 324 (U) · 10^2 = 100 (N) · 2^7 = 128 (Q)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF BUZZED HAIR"2 × 6 - 2 = 10 (W) · 3 + 5 × 3 = 18 (H) · 71 + 6 × 4 = 95 (R) · 12 × 6 - 11 = 61 (D) · 37 + 4 × 5 = 57 (A) · 1 + 2 × 5 = 11 (E) · 9 × 12 - 14 = 94 (F) · 8 × 12 - 23 = 73 (B) · 3 × 11 - 26 = 7 (T) · 76 + 2 × 4 = 84 (I) · 9 + 2 × 4 = 17 (S) · 22 + 2 × 5 = 32 (Z) · 11 × 11 - 18 = 103 (O) · 12 × 10 - 1 = 119 (N) · 11 × 8 - 24 = 64 (U)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 6) → Stephensqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(16) = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- Sabotage on the Championship Court — set in The Metropolitan Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects