🏎️ Sports, food, candy, carsGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Case of the Candy Prix Saboteur
During the championship finals at the Nitro Candy Raceway, someone tampered with the leader board supply trucks and spilled syrup across the pit lane. The Pit Crew Chief called in detective support to analyze track telemetry and narrow down the suspects before the checkered flag drops.
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 | Car Type | Snack Engine | Grip Style | Helmet Stripe | Pit Stop Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Clark | Nitro Muscle Car | Salty Pretzel Booster | Left Handed Steering | Bright Red Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| LeBron James | Licorice Dragster | Cotton Candy Fuel | Left Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Turbo Roadster | Hot Cocoa Exhaust | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Bubba Wallace | Licorice Dragster | Salty Pretzel Booster | Left Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Max Verstappen | Fudge Formula One | Caramel Supercharger | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Lionel Messi | Licorice Dragster | Hot Cocoa Exhaust | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Nitro Muscle Car | Caramel Supercharger | Right Handed Steering | Bright Red Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Lando Norris | Nitro Muscle Car | Cotton Candy Fuel | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Tiger Woods | Licorice Dragster | Salty Pretzel Booster | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Shaquille O Neal | Licorice Dragster | Peppermint Nitro | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Danica Patrick | Fudge Formula One | Peppermint Nitro | Left Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Overheated Radiator |
| Mario Andretti | Turbo Roadster | Peppermint Nitro | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Usain Bolt | Turbo Roadster | Hot Cocoa Exhaust | Left Handed Steering | Bright Red Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Naomi Osaka | Turbo Roadster | Peppermint Nitro | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Simone Biles | Turbo Roadster | Peppermint Nitro | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Shohei Ohtani | Licorice Dragster | Salty Pretzel Booster | Right Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Serena Williams | Gummy Dune Buggy | Salty Pretzel Booster | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
| Jeff Gordon | Licorice Dragster | Caramel Supercharger | Left Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Travis Kelce | Licorice Dragster | Salty Pretzel Booster | Right Handed Steering | Electric Blue Stripe | Overheated Radiator |
| Patrick Mahomes | Fudge Formula One | Hot Cocoa Exhaust | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slow Tire Swap |
| Alex Morgan | Licorice Dragster | Caramel Supercharger | Left Handed Steering | Neon Green Stripe | Slippy Clutch |
Clue 1
Integers
The raceway telemetry logged temperature shifts above and below zero degrees on the track. Calculating the net integer change reveals the first clue.
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
10
25
23
30
21
28
13
T
10
23
12
15
29
13
23
30
14
13
T
10
12
30
23
18
23
18
18
23
15
27
16
14
T
10
14
16
T
10
15
13
(-4) + 14 =T
17 - (-1) =P
24 - (-1) =H
(-12) + 24 =U
(-15) + 44 =D
22 - (-8) =S
(-2) + 18 =I
17 - (-4) =A
25 - (-3) =B
8 - (-7) =R
14 - (-13) =M
12 - (-11) =E
5 - (-8) =O
9 - (-5) =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The pit crew analyzed the fuel efficiency report to see what percentage of cotton candy octane remained in the tank, uncovering a key detail.
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
4
38
29
44
2
44
32
29
13
T
4
44
T
4
29
29
59
29
46
27
29
43
T
4
6
1
T
4
38
57
21
29
38
41
21
46
40% of 10 =T
5% of 20 =I
25% of 116 =E
50% of 86 =F
25% of 164 =A
20% of 230 =D
25% of 176 =S
50% of 26 =C
5% of 540 =L
75% of 28 =N
10% of 380 =H
5% of 120 =W
75% of 76 =O
5% of 640 =P
10% of 590 =R
50% of 4 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To decode the locked lap-timer console, the mechanics must follow the precise order of operations on the diagnostic readout.
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
32
84
50
107
105
71
15
50
105
65
18
76
115
38
71
36
50
107
103
45
18
76
36
71
79
79
45
60
36
88
T
32
60
84
11 × 3 - 1 =T
9 × 7 - 18 =Y
9 × 10 - 14 =S
67 + 5 × 8 =D
80 + 2 × 2 =H
12 × 9 - 5 =B
38 + 6 × 2 =E
70 + 7 × 5 =R
6 × 9 - 18 =L
9 × 4 - 21 =V
10 × 9 - 11 =P
10 × 4 - 22 =A
10 × 7 - 10 =C
8 × 7 - 18 =O
11 × 11 - 6 =F
38 + 3 × 9 =W
65 + 3 × 2 =I
10 × 9 - 2 =U
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Engine sensors calculated horsepower gains scaling exponentially with each turbo boost stage, unlocking another piece of evidence.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
9
100
25
64
256
100
400
27
289
121
400
400
27
289
128
100
169
64
289
169
225
256
64
64
169
400
121
256
343
361
64
3^2 =C
20^2 =S
15^2 =G
3^3 =H
4^3 =E
19^2 =P
13^2 =N
2^7 =W
2^8 =R
17^2 =O
10^2 =A
7^3 =I
11^2 =T
5^2 =M
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The head engineer set up a two-step equation balancing total lap time against penalty seconds to expose the final track secret.
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
4x + 4 = 20, x = ?
6x + 3 = 51, x = ?
4x + 4 = 8, x = ?
2x + 9 = 27, x = ?
2x + 12 = 36, x = ?
5x + 7 = 17, x = ?
4x + 3 = 23, x = ?
2x + 2 = 16, x = ?
4x + 6 = 46, x = ?
6x + 1 = 37, x = ?
4x + 2 = 14, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drives a licorice dragster, then activates a caramel supercharger.
2.The villain drives a nitro muscle car, then runs on peppermint nitro.
3.The villain drives a nitro muscle car, then blasts hot cocoa exhaust.
4.The villain drives a fudge formula one, then activates a caramel supercharger.
5.The villain drives a turbo roadster, then runs on peppermint nitro.
6.The villain drives a nitro muscle car, then burns cotton candy fuel.
7.The villain drives a turbo roadster, then burns cotton candy fuel.
8.The villain drives a licorice dragster, then uses a salty pretzel booster.
9.The villain drives a turbo roadster, then uses a salty pretzel booster.
10.The villain drives a licorice dragster, then runs on peppermint nitro.
11.The villain drives a turbo roadster, then blasts hot cocoa exhaust.
12.The villain drives a gummy dune buggy, then runs on peppermint nitro.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Candy Prix Saboteur
Culprit: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Turbo Roadster · Hot Cocoa Exhaust · Left Handed Steering · Neon Green Stripe · Slippy Clutch)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE PEPPERMINT NITRO"(-4) + 14 = 10 (T) · 17 - (-1) = 18 (P) · 24 - (-1) = 25 (H) · (-12) + 24 = 12 (U) · (-15) + 44 = 29 (D) · 22 - (-8) = 30 (S) · (-2) + 18 = 16 (I) · 17 - (-4) = 21 (A) · 25 - (-3) = 28 (B) · 8 - (-7) = 15 (R) · 14 - (-13) = 27 (M) · 12 - (-11) = 23 (E) · 5 - (-8) = 13 (O) · 9 - (-5) = 14 (N)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT STEERED LEFT WITH ONE HAND"40% of 10 = 4 (T) · 5% of 20 = 1 (I) · 25% of 116 = 29 (E) · 50% of 86 = 43 (F) · 25% of 164 = 41 (A) · 20% of 230 = 46 (D) · 25% of 176 = 44 (S) · 50% of 26 = 13 (C) · 5% of 540 = 27 (L) · 75% of 28 = 21 (N) · 10% of 380 = 38 (H) · 5% of 120 = 6 (W) · 75% of 76 = 57 (O) · 5% of 640 = 32 (P) · 10% of 590 = 59 (R) · 50% of 4 = 2 (U)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE DRIVER WAS FOILED BY A SLIPPY CLUTCH"11 × 3 - 1 = 32 (T) · 9 × 7 - 18 = 45 (Y) · 9 × 10 - 14 = 76 (S) · 67 + 5 × 8 = 107 (D) · 80 + 2 × 2 = 84 (H) · 12 × 9 - 5 = 103 (B) · 38 + 6 × 2 = 50 (E) · 70 + 7 × 5 = 105 (R) · 6 × 9 - 18 = 36 (L) · 9 × 4 - 21 = 15 (V) · 10 × 9 - 11 = 79 (P) · 10 × 4 - 22 = 18 (A) · 10 × 7 - 10 = 60 (C) · 8 × 7 - 18 = 38 (O) · 11 × 11 - 6 = 115 (F) · 38 + 3 × 9 = 65 (W) · 65 + 3 × 2 = 71 (I) · 10 × 9 - 2 = 88 (U)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "CAMERA SHOTS SHOW A NEON GREEN STRIPE"3^2 = 9 (C) · 20^2 = 400 (S) · 15^2 = 225 (G) · 3^3 = 27 (H) · 4^3 = 64 (E) · 19^2 = 361 (P) · 13^2 = 169 (N) · 2^7 = 128 (W) · 2^8 = 256 (R) · 17^2 = 289 (O) · 10^2 = 100 (A) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (T) · 5^2 = 25 (M)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 11) → Giannis Antetokounmpo4x + 4 = 20, x = 4 · 6x + 3 = 51, x = 8 · 4x + 4 = 8, x = 1 · 2x + 9 = 27, x = 9 · 2x + 12 = 36, x = 12 · 5x + 7 = 17, x = 2 · 4x + 3 = 23, x = 5 · 2x + 2 = 16, x = 7 · 4x + 6 = 46, x = 10 · 6x + 1 = 37, x = 6 · 4x + 2 = 14, x = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Candy Prix Saboteur — set in The Nitro Candy Raceway
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects