🔎 The arg bruke destroyerGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationPlace valueFractions of a number
Sabotage on the USS Defender
An unknown culprit has disrupted the ship's defense computer right in the middle of a high-stakes naval training drill. You must examine the clues, solve the training puzzles, and secure the destroyer before the fleet sails.
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 | Primary Duty | Specialty Gear | Observed Gear | Hair Style | Tactical Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Petty Officer Jackson | Chief Engineer | tactical tablet | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Lieutenant Chen | Comm Specialist | laser rangefinder | wears a ballcap | cropped black hair | bright glare |
| Lieutenant Commander Ramirez | Navigator | thermal goggles | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Petty Officer Smith | Weapons Officer | tactical tablet | wears a headset | wavy blonde hair | seasickness |
| Lieutenant Garcia | Chief Engineer | thermal goggles | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | loud sirens |
| Seaman Thomas | Sonar Operator | tactical tablet | wears a ballcap | wavy blonde hair | loud sirens |
| Lieutenant Lewis | Comm Specialist | encrypted radio | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Ensign Bradley | Navigator | thermal goggles | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | bright glare |
| Chief Petty Officer Davis | Weapons Officer | laser rangefinder | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | loud sirens |
| Ensign Taylor | Chief Engineer | thermal goggles | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | bright glare |
| Commander Martin | Weapons Officer | thermal goggles | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Ensign Thompson | Sonar Operator | laser rangefinder | wears a ballcap | cropped black hair | bright glare |
| Captain Vance | Comm Specialist | heavy multi tool | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | loud sirens |
| Chief Petty Officer Miller | Sonar Operator | laser rangefinder | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Commander Baker | Weapons Officer | encrypted radio | wears a headset | wavy blonde hair | bright glare |
| Commander Martinez | Sonar Operator | tactical tablet | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | bright glare |
| Lieutenant White | Weapons Officer | laser rangefinder | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Petty Officer Harris | Comm Specialist | thermal goggles | wears a headset | buzzcut brown hair | seasickness |
| Chief Petty Officer Clark | Weapons Officer | thermal goggles | wears a ballcap | cropped black hair | seasickness |
| Petty Officer Wilson | Comm Specialist | tactical tablet | wears a ballcap | cropped black hair | seasickness |
| Petty Officer Robinson | Navigator | thermal goggles | wears a ballcap | buzzcut brown hair | bright glare |
Clue 1
Addition
We need to tally the extra crates of backup gear loaded onto the ship. Add up the cargo supplies below to find out how many items we are tracking.
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
5170
8961
7075
9546
5329
7075
4055
5329
7075
6665
6552
5329
T
5170
8961
4003
3751
7075
T
5170
8961
7075
7075
6552
5040
5729
9840
5622
T
5170
7075
4055
5729
4003
4055
7211
5329
3087 + 2083 =T
2691 + 6270 =H
2167 + 3455 =P
3716 + 6124 =Y
2620 + 3932 =N
4291 + 2374 =S
2933 + 2796 =R
3508 + 1532 =C
3092 + 3983 =E
1291 + 2712 =A
1954 + 2101 =D
3098 + 4113 =I
5468 + 4078 =F
3727 + 1602 =O
2501 + 1250 =V
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The auxiliary fuel tank is draining rapidly into the backup engine. Subtract the lost gallons to see how much power remains on the console.
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
2609
3506
5090
4844
1513
2157
3464
4601
3464
2863
3573
2157
5090
3464
7766
5090
5874
4340
7745
7745
4601
5090
3464
4844
3129
2157
5646
3464
7271
3464
4967
4967
2701
3464
1141
7495 - 4886 =T
6403 - 4890 =U
9477 - 3831 =G
7762 - 4256 =H
8022 - 3178 =R
10377 - 4503 =D
3662 - 2521 =P
2427 - 270 =N
12334 - 4568 =K
3676 - 975 =C
5684 - 2821 =Y
6628 - 2027 =W
9482 - 4515 =L
5444 - 1104 =O
7385 - 3812 =S
9638 - 1893 =F
5659 - 2195 =A
3383 - 254 =I
7969 - 2879 =E
9117 - 1846 =B
0/20 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The missile launch bay is organized in perfect storage grids. Multiply the number of rows by the tubes in each row to find the total launch capacity.
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
1
42
35
44
100
T
1
45
70
48
35
45
44
81
81
T
1
45
70
72
72
7
44
100
72
15
44
T
1
42
81
35
121
81
44
22
14
100
35
81
81
1 × 1 =T
11 × 11 =A
7 × 1 =L
11 × 4 =I
6 × 7 =H
8 × 6 =D
11 × 2 =C
7 × 5 =E
9 × 9 =S
8 × 9 =G
5 × 9 =R
7 × 2 =K
10 × 7 =U
3 × 5 =W
10 × 10 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
The digital sonar screen shows a high-security target coordinate. Identify the digit in the hundreds place to unlock the next system sensor.
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
500
600
6000
60
300
100
3000
1000
900
90
9000
100
3000
1000
60
6000
700
300
40
40
7000
300
900
700
90
60
W
500
100
70
9000
200
90
What is the value of the 5 in 877,588?W
What is the value of the 1 in 591,457?S
What is the value of the 3 in 553,796?D
What is the value of the 7 in 197,649?C
What is the value of the 9 in 79,387?A
What is the value of the 1 in 386,164?N
What is the value of the 3 in 429,300?U
What is the value of the 6 in 956,821?F
What is the value of the 9 in 34,491?R
What is the value of the 9 in 610,931?T
What is the value of the 7 in 239,675?H
What is the value of the 4 in 825,147?Z
What is the value of the 6 in 324,363?O
What is the value of the 7 in 89,759?B
What is the value of the 2 in 91,207?I
What is the value of the 6 in 91,697?E
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
We have mapped out the surrounding harbor into equal patrol sectors. Find the fraction of the total sectors that have been cleared by our helicopters.
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
4/5 of 10 = ?
3/6 of 22 = ?
1/6 of 42 = ?
6/10 of 10 = ?
4/8 of 18 = ?
1/6 of 30 = ?
1/4 of 40 = ?
1/5 of 5 = ?
8/10 of 5 = ?
1/8 of 96 = ?
1/3 of 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sabotaged the missile defense bay, then broadcast a false distress signal.
2.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then fled through the dark cargo hold.
3.The villain unlocked the engine turbines, then scanned the shoreline for escape paths.
4.The villain reprogrammed the sonar deck, then deleted the ship security logs.
5.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then scanned the shoreline for escape paths.
6.The villain reprogrammed the sonar deck, then broadcast a false distress signal.
7.The villain sabotaged the missile defense bay, then fled through the dark cargo hold.
8.The villain sabotaged the missile defense bay, then scanned the shoreline for escape paths.
9.The villain reprogrammed the sonar deck, then fled through the dark cargo hold.
10.The villain unlocked the engine turbines, then pried open the control room hatch.
11.The villain unlocked the engine turbines, then deleted the ship security logs.
12.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then deleted the ship security logs.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Sabotage on the USS Defender
Culprit: Lieutenant Commander Ramirez (Navigator · thermal goggles · wears a ballcap · buzzcut brown hair · seasickness)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE FOE DOES NOT HAVE THE ENCRYPTED RADIO"3087 + 2083 = 5170 (T) · 2691 + 6270 = 8961 (H) · 2167 + 3455 = 5622 (P) · 3716 + 6124 = 9840 (Y) · 2620 + 3932 = 6552 (N) · 4291 + 2374 = 6665 (S) · 2933 + 2796 = 5729 (R) · 3508 + 1532 = 5040 (C) · 3092 + 3983 = 7075 (E) · 1291 + 2712 = 4003 (A) · 1954 + 2101 = 4055 (D) · 3098 + 4113 = 7211 (I) · 5468 + 4078 = 9546 (F) · 3727 + 1602 = 5329 (O) · 2501 + 1250 = 3751 (V)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE RUNAWAY SNEAKED OFF WEARING A BALLCAP"7495 - 4886 = 2609 (T) · 6403 - 4890 = 1513 (U) · 9477 - 3831 = 5646 (G) · 7762 - 4256 = 3506 (H) · 8022 - 3178 = 4844 (R) · 10377 - 4503 = 5874 (D) · 3662 - 2521 = 1141 (P) · 2427 - 270 = 2157 (N) · 12334 - 4568 = 7766 (K) · 3676 - 975 = 2701 (C) · 5684 - 2821 = 2863 (Y) · 6628 - 2027 = 4601 (W) · 9482 - 4515 = 4967 (L) · 5444 - 1104 = 4340 (O) · 7385 - 3812 = 3573 (S) · 9638 - 1893 = 7745 (F) · 5659 - 2195 = 3464 (A) · 3383 - 254 = 3129 (I) · 7969 - 2879 = 5090 (E) · 9117 - 1846 = 7271 (B)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE INTRUDER IS STRUGGLING WITH SEASICKNESS"1 × 1 = 1 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (A) · 7 × 1 = 7 (L) · 11 × 4 = 44 (I) · 6 × 7 = 42 (H) · 8 × 6 = 48 (D) · 11 × 2 = 22 (C) · 7 × 5 = 35 (E) · 9 × 9 = 81 (S) · 8 × 9 = 72 (G) · 5 × 9 = 45 (R) · 7 × 2 = 14 (K) · 10 × 7 = 70 (U) · 3 × 5 = 15 (W) · 10 × 10 = 100 (N)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF BUZZCUT BROWN HAIR"What is the value of the 5 in 877,588? = 500 (W) · What is the value of the 1 in 591,457? = 1000 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 553,796? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 197,649? = 7000 (C) · What is the value of the 9 in 79,387? = 9000 (A) · What is the value of the 1 in 386,164? = 100 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 429,300? = 300 (U) · What is the value of the 6 in 956,821? = 6000 (F) · What is the value of the 9 in 34,491? = 90 (R) · What is the value of the 9 in 610,931? = 900 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 239,675? = 70 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 825,147? = 40 (Z) · What is the value of the 6 in 324,363? = 60 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 89,759? = 700 (B) · What is the value of the 2 in 91,207? = 200 (I) · What is the value of the 6 in 91,697? = 600 (E)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 2) → Lieutenant Commander Ramirez4/5 of 10 = 8 · 3/6 of 22 = 11 · 1/6 of 42 = 7 · 6/10 of 10 = 6 · 4/8 of 18 = 9 · 1/6 of 30 = 5 · 1/4 of 40 = 10 · 1/5 of 5 = 1 · 8/10 of 5 = 4 · 1/8 of 96 = 12 · 1/3 of 9 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Place value, Fractions of a number
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- Sabotage on the USS Defender — set in USS Defender guided missile destroyer
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects