The Abrams Tank Rescue
Chief Joshua Dax Zeno needs your help! A rogue operative has taken an M1 Abrams tank and a junior cadet. We must track down the culprit before they reach the state line. Search for clues, do the math, and save the cadet!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Main Tech | Auxiliary Gear | Steering Style | Hair Style | Target Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet R Brooks | smoke screen | laser sights | left handed | mohawk | bright lights |
| Ranger C Blake | armor plating | laser sights | right handed | shaved head | bright lights |
| Officer A Vance | armor plating | radio scanner | left handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Sgt J Miller | armor plating | decoy flares | right handed | mohawk | bright lights |
| Captain Knox | smoke screen | decoy flares | left handed | buzz cut | bright lights |
| Sgt H Hayes | thermal goggles | turbo booster | right handed | shaved head | loud alarms |
| Captain R Flint | smoke screen | radio scanner | left handed | shaved head | muddy roads |
| Agent P Pierce | night vision | drone control | right handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Agent J Shaw | radar jammer | radio scanner | right handed | mohawk | loud alarms |
| Major V Payne | radar jammer | turbo booster | left handed | mohawk | muddy roads |
| Specialist K Reed | armor plating | turbo booster | right handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Specialist D West | night vision | decoy flares | left handed | mohawk | loud alarms |
| Cadet F Hunter | thermal goggles | decoy flares | right handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Corporal M Vance | smoke screen | turbo booster | left handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Corporal J Cruz | night vision | drone control | left handed | mohawk | bright lights |
| Agent B Cooper | smoke screen | drone control | right handed | buzz cut | bright lights |
| Sgt B Rollins | radar jammer | laser sights | right handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Lt E Morgan | night vision | radio scanner | right handed | mohawk | loud alarms |
| Ranger T Stone | night vision | drone control | right handed | mohawk | bright lights |
| Lt G Riggs | radar jammer | drone control | right handed | buzz cut | loud alarms |
| Officer M Gibbs | night vision | laser sights | right handed | shaved head | loud alarms |
Subtraction
Chief Joshua Dax Zeno checks the inventory at the motor pool. Several M1 Abrams parts are missing from the storage crates, but subtracting the remaining parts reveals a crucial pattern.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
Task Force Abrams scouts count the tire tracks leading out of the base. Adding the number of tracks from the north gate to those at the south gate points toward a specific getaway path.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Our drones spot several storage buildings near the valley. If each building holds a set number of emergency crates, multiplying the rows gives us the total gear count of the suspect.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number
A witness found a discarded equipment bag nearby. Only a small fraction of the tools inside belong to the base, which helps us calculate the exact equipment weight of the culprit.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number — the last clue
We analyze the fuel usage of the runaway tank. Calculating what fraction of the full tank has been burned tells us exactly how far into the pine forest the rogue driver could have traveled.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Abrams Tank Rescue
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE CULPRIT DOES NOT USE A TURBO BOOSTER"10397 - 3861 = 6536 (T) · 9608 - 4397 = 5211 (O) · 4326 - 2935 = 1391 (H) · 8986 - 758 = 8228 (N) · 6243 - 589 = 5654 (S) · 5706 - 2213 = 3493 (E) · 10413 - 4177 = 6236 (L) · 9997 - 1865 = 8132 (C) · 7408 - 3649 = 3759 (P) · 4051 - 875 = 3176 (A) · 6430 - 924 = 5506 (D) · 9503 - 3785 = 5718 (B) · 9850 - 3442 = 6408 (R) · 7675 - 4899 = 2776 (U) · 2237 - 586 = 1651 (I)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT USED A RIGHT HANDED GRIP"1215 + 1015 = 2230 (T) · 1275 + 1188 = 2463 (U) · 2167 + 4110 = 6277 (D) · 5727 + 3214 = 8941 (C) · 3082 + 5851 = 8933 (H) · 1930 + 1032 = 2962 (P) · 2057 + 1886 = 3943 (G) · 1403 + 1539 = 2942 (R) · 2268 + 3384 = 5652 (S) · 1578 + 3166 = 4744 (N) · 2760 + 2916 = 5676 (I) · 2186 + 3180 = 5366 (A) · 5470 + 3898 = 9368 (E)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY FLED FROM THE LOUD ALARMS"11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 11 × 8 = 88 (M) · 12 × 12 = 144 (O) · 8 × 8 = 64 (F) · 7 × 4 = 28 (U) · 11 × 5 = 55 (D) · 10 × 12 = 120 (R) · 9 × 3 = 27 (A) · 2 × 10 = 20 (H) · 2 × 1 = 2 (Y) · 9 × 10 = 90 (E) · 3 × 8 = 24 (S) · 1 × 7 = 7 (L)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND BUZZ CUT HAIR CLIPPINGS"2/10 of 105 = 21 (W) · 1/4 of 100 = 25 (D) · 2/8 of 76 = 19 (T) · 8/10 of 50 = 40 (Z) · 1/5 of 10 = 2 (H) · 1/3 of 15 = 5 (C) · 2/4 of 36 = 18 (L) · 2/10 of 155 = 31 (O) · 5/10 of 34 = 17 (U) · 3/4 of 8 = 6 (R) · 1/2 of 54 = 27 (B) · 1/8 of 120 = 15 (N) · 1/2 of 26 = 13 (G) · 1/3 of 96 = 32 (S) · 7/10 of 50 = 35 (I) · 2/6 of 72 = 24 (E) · 6/8 of 48 = 36 (F) · 5/10 of 68 = 34 (P) · 5/10 of 46 = 23 (A)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 1) → Cadet F Hunter1/3 of 6 = 2 · 4/8 of 20 = 10 · 1/10 of 30 = 3 · 2/4 of 22 = 11 · 1/10 of 90 = 9 · 4/5 of 15 = 12 · 4/10 of 15 = 6 · 4/8 of 14 = 7 · 3/6 of 16 = 8 · 4/8 of 10 = 5 · 4/8 of 8 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Addition, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Abrams Tank Rescue — set in Fort Armor Training Grounds and the surrounding pine valley
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects