🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Golden Compass
The golden compass of Salty Cut Cove has vanished from the lighthouse vault! A sneaky pirate snuck aboard at midnight, locked the guard in the hold, and made off with the treasure. Figure out who did it before the tide rolls out.
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 Weapon | Ship Flag | Stance | Beard Style | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stede Bonnet | Throwing Daggers | Jolly Roger | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Loud Foghorns |
| Thomas Tew | Cutlass | Kraken Emblem | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Blackbeard | Boarding Axe | Jolly Roger | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Squeaking Mice |
| Mary Read | Flintlock Pistol | Jolly Roger | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Loud Foghorns |
| Howell Davis | Boarding Axe | Jolly Roger | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Squeaking Mice |
| Charles Vane | Throwing Daggers | Golden Anchor | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Squeaking Mice |
| Barnaby Barnacle | Cutlass | Golden Anchor | Left Handed | Bushy Beard | Bright Searchlights |
| John Rackham | Hook Hand | Jolly Roger | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Sea Dog Sam | Flintlock Pistol | Golden Anchor | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Loud Foghorns |
| Bartholomew Roberts | Flintlock Pistol | Crossed Swords | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Rachel Wall | Throwing Daggers | Sea Serpent | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Loud Foghorns |
| Woodes Rogers | Throwing Daggers | Crossed Swords | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Loud Foghorns |
| Zheng Yi Sao | Flintlock Pistol | Sea Serpent | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Francois l Olonnais | Flintlock Pistol | Sea Serpent | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Loud Foghorns |
| Samuel Bellamy | Hook Hand | Sea Serpent | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Loud Foghorns |
| Captain Kidd | Throwing Daggers | Sea Serpent | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Anne Bonny | Cutlass | Golden Anchor | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Searchlights |
| Charlotte de Berry | Boarding Axe | Sea Serpent | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Bright Searchlights |
| Edward Low | Throwing Daggers | Golden Anchor | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Squeaking Mice |
| Henry Morgan | Cutlass | Jolly Roger | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Bright Searchlights |
| Jean Lafitte | Flintlock Pistol | Sea Serpent | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Bright Searchlights |
Clue 1
Percentages
The quartermaster calculated the percentage of stolen gold coins stored in each chest to find a lead.
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
7
14
13
29
32
1
1
42
32
28
9
45
13
33
28
45
T
7
2
1
24
6
34
45
33
33
13
9
33
23
45
34
9
33
20% of 35 =T
10% of 230 =W
5% of 660 =S
25% of 128 =I
10% of 290 =V
50% of 28 =H
40% of 85 =R
5% of 840 =A
50% of 4 =F
25% of 180 =O
20% of 5 =L
10% of 60 =C
40% of 60 =Y
50% of 18 =D
20% of 140 =N
5% of 260 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Exponents
The navigator used powers of two to chart the expanding area of the search grid across the bay.
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
243
324
400
27
125
64
T
243
125
256
121
49
169
400
128
T
243
324
400
256
289
289
256
225
324
T
243
324
125
121
128
T
243
4
T
243
256
400
25
121
4
T
243
169
3^5 =T
7^2 =U
20^2 =E
18^2 =H
2^2 =O
2^8 =I
2^7 =D
15^2 =G
17^2 =R
2^6 =P
5^2 =K
13^2 =S
11^2 =N
3^3 =C
5^3 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The deckhand solved the step by step ship inventory formula to unlock the captains sealed ledger.
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
55
42
33
24
66
54
54
59
35
23
75
76
79
57
32
19
33
19
76
25
23
76
66
57
58
42
T
55
79
57
58
42
T
55
15 + 5 × 8 =T
2 + 6 × 5 =N
21 + 3 × 4 =E
9 + 4 × 4 =Y
6 × 11 - 7 =K
70 + 3 × 3 =L
10 + 2 × 7 =C
19 + 5 × 7 =O
8 × 12 - 20 =B
5 + 7 × 2 =D
38 + 4 × 7 =R
20 + 3 × 5 =W
11 × 6 - 9 =I
48 + 2 × 5 =G
40 + 7 × 5 =S
15 + 9 × 3 =H
7 × 7 - 26 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The lookout counted total cannonballs by multiplying the rows packed in the hold.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
N
35
11
3
90
63
49
60
36
63
50
49
24
63
88
100
11
27
N
35
60
63
16
16
36
90
88
8
90
N
35
90
7 × 5 =N
5 × 10 =I
4 × 9 =H
7 × 7 =R
8 × 1 =C
6 × 4 =W
8 × 11 =S
3 × 1 =B
10 × 9 =E
12 × 5 =D
10 × 10 =F
9 × 3 =U
8 × 2 =T
1 × 11 =O
7 × 9 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The purser divided the remaining food rations equally among the boat crews to calculate supplies.
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
12 ÷ 2 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
2 ÷ 1 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired a warning shot with a flintlock, then hoisted a jolly roger flag.
2.The villain slashed the sail with a cutlass, then raised a kraken emblem banner.
3.The villain pried open the chest with a hook, then unfurled a golden anchor flag.
4.The villain stuck a note using throwing daggers, then hoisted a jolly roger flag.
5.The villain stuck a note using throwing daggers, then raised a kraken emblem banner.
6.The villain pried open the chest with a hook, then hoisted a jolly roger flag.
7.The villain chopped the latch with a boarding axe, then flew a sea serpent pennant.
8.The villain pried open the chest with a hook, then raised a kraken emblem banner.
9.The villain chopped the latch with a boarding axe, then unfurled a golden anchor flag.
10.The villain fired a warning shot with a flintlock, then displayed a crossed swords crest.
11.The villain pried open the chest with a hook, then displayed a crossed swords crest.
12.The villain stuck a note using throwing daggers, then flew a sea serpent pennant.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Captain Kidd (Throwing Daggers · Sea Serpent · Right Handed · Clean Shaven · Bright Searchlights)
- Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT FLY CROSSED SWORDS"20% of 35 = 7 (T) · 10% of 230 = 23 (W) · 5% of 660 = 33 (S) · 25% of 128 = 32 (I) · 10% of 290 = 29 (V) · 50% of 28 = 14 (H) · 40% of 85 = 34 (R) · 5% of 840 = 42 (A) · 50% of 4 = 2 (F) · 25% of 180 = 45 (O) · 20% of 5 = 1 (L) · 10% of 60 = 6 (C) · 40% of 60 = 24 (Y) · 50% of 18 = 9 (D) · 20% of 140 = 28 (N) · 5% of 260 = 13 (E)
- Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE CAPTAIN USED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO TIE KNOTS"3^5 = 243 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (U) · 20^2 = 400 (E) · 18^2 = 324 (H) · 2^2 = 4 (O) · 2^8 = 256 (I) · 2^7 = 128 (D) · 15^2 = 225 (G) · 17^2 = 289 (R) · 2^6 = 64 (P) · 5^2 = 25 (K) · 13^2 = 169 (S) · 11^2 = 121 (N) · 3^3 = 27 (C) · 5^3 = 125 (A)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE CROOK WAS BLINDED BY A BRIGHT LIGHT"15 + 5 × 8 = 55 (T) · 2 + 6 × 5 = 32 (N) · 21 + 3 × 4 = 33 (E) · 9 + 4 × 4 = 25 (Y) · 6 × 11 - 7 = 59 (K) · 70 + 3 × 3 = 79 (L) · 10 + 2 × 7 = 24 (C) · 19 + 5 × 7 = 54 (O) · 8 × 12 - 20 = 76 (B) · 5 + 7 × 2 = 19 (D) · 38 + 4 × 7 = 66 (R) · 20 + 3 × 5 = 35 (W) · 11 × 6 - 9 = 57 (I) · 48 + 2 × 5 = 58 (G) · 40 + 7 × 5 = 75 (S) · 15 + 9 × 3 = 42 (H) · 7 × 7 - 26 = 23 (A)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "NO BEARD HAIR WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE"7 × 5 = 35 (N) · 5 × 10 = 50 (I) · 4 × 9 = 36 (H) · 7 × 7 = 49 (R) · 8 × 1 = 8 (C) · 6 × 4 = 24 (W) · 8 × 11 = 88 (S) · 3 × 1 = 3 (B) · 10 × 9 = 90 (E) · 12 × 5 = 60 (D) · 10 × 10 = 100 (F) · 9 × 3 = 27 (U) · 8 × 2 = 16 (T) · 1 × 11 = 11 (O) · 7 × 9 = 63 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Captain Kidd12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Compass — set in Salty Cut Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects