🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision

The Case of the Golden Game Ball

The championship game is tonight! But right before tip-off, someone snatched the Golden Game Ball from the Head Coach's locker. The arena is locked down, and the suspect is still inside. We need your math skills to help the Hoop City Police find the thief!

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	Special Gear	Shooting Arm	Sweatband Color	Court Hazard
Devin Booker	lightning crossover	magnetic wristband	wears a right sleeve	lime green sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Anthony Davis	unblockable fadeaway	glowing sneakers	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Shai Gilgeous Alexander	no look alley oop	glowing sneakers	wears a left sleeve	lime green sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
LaMelo Ball	no look alley oop	super grip socks	wears a left sleeve	lime green sweatband	loud whistle blow
Nikola Jokic	unblockable fadeaway	spring loaded insoles	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	sticky soda spill
Ja Morant	gravity defying dunk	super grip socks	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
LeBron James	no look alley oop	glowing sneakers	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Damian Lillard	no look alley oop	bouncing headband	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Donovan Mitchell	lightning crossover	spring loaded insoles	wears a right sleeve	lime green sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Kyrie Irving	no look alley oop	bouncing headband	wears a left sleeve	neon orange sweatband	sticky soda spill
Jayson Tatum	unblockable fadeaway	super grip socks	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Chris Paul	gravity defying dunk	bouncing headband	wears a left sleeve	bright blue sweatband	sticky soda spill
Giannis Antetokounmpo	half court buzzer beater	spring loaded insoles	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Kevin Durant	no look alley oop	magnetic wristband	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	loud whistle blow
Jimmy Butler	gravity defying dunk	glowing sneakers	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	loud whistle blow
Stephen Curry	gravity defying dunk	magnetic wristband	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
DeAaron Fox	unblockable fadeaway	magnetic wristband	wears a left sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Luka Doncic	lightning crossover	glowing sneakers	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
Zion Williamson	no look alley oop	super grip socks	wears a right sleeve	neon orange sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors
James Harden	no look alley oop	magnetic wristband	wears a right sleeve	bright blue sweatband	sticky soda spill
Paul George	unblockable fadeaway	glowing sneakers	wears a left sleeve	lime green sweatband	squeaky hardwood floors

Clue 1

Rounding

The laser security scanner on the vault only shows rounded numbers for weight. Let us round these fan attendance numbers to find 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.

2000

4300

430

3700

370

200

1700

370

300

290

230

430

700

300

230

2000

430

1700

1100

2000

4300

430

4300

430

1700

290

170

1700

300

290

Round 1,664 to the nearest thousandT

Round 369 to the nearest tenI

Round 290 to the nearest tenD

Round 278 to the nearest hundredN

Round 3,723 to the nearest hundredV

Round 193 to the nearest hundredL

Round 676 to the nearest hundredS

Round 4,290 to the nearest hundredH

Round 173 to the nearest tenB

Round 229 to the nearest tenO

Round 433 to the nearest tenE

Round 1,664 to the nearest hundredA

Round 1,074 to the nearest hundredR

Round 69 to the nearest tenW

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

We need to tally up all the basketballs left in the storage racks. Add these practice balls together to unlock the next 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.

2566

6672

6427

9670

4122

9670

9188

6427

9177

2566

6353

9841

3419

6427

3432

3419

5189

4419

6672

2566

3432

3419

2915

9670

9786

6427

6147

6427

994 + 1572 =T

5019 + 4651 =S

3425 + 1764 =I

3195 + 3158 =W

2934 + 6243 =C

3168 + 2979 =V

4350 + 5491 =O

3239 + 6547 =L

940 + 1975 =M

6093 + 3095 =P

1869 + 1563 =A

3914 + 2758 =H

2059 + 2063 =U

1958 + 1461 =R

1961 + 2458 =G

3858 + 2569 =E

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

The team jersey inventory is missing some jerseys. Subtract the dirty laundry from the total to see what the suspect dropped.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4327

3974

5481

3886

5277

4600

5481

2554

6245

1434

5560

2948

5484

6469

3886

2948

5484

3333

5481

8406

4327

3974

5481

2363

8406

5484

3333

8154

8332 - 4005 =T

8283 - 2799 =O

4028 - 142 =S

3288 - 925 =M

5857 - 376 =E

3319 - 371 =L

6576 - 107 =R

7034 - 789 =K

10844 - 2690 =N

4308 - 334 =H

4051 - 2617 =Y

10247 - 4970 =Q

6608 - 4054 =A

7945 - 4612 =W

7666 - 3066 =U

9274 - 868 =D

5798 - 238 =F

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

There are several rows of stadium seats where the thief was spotted. Multiply the rows by the seats to count the witnesses!

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

120

2 × 2 =W

4 × 10 =G

3 × 7 =N

9 × 9 =O

8 × 4 =T

7 × 12 =B

10 × 12 =D

7 × 7 =S

12 × 8 =U

5 × 1 =E

5 × 4 =R

6 × 8 =A

3 × 1 =F

0/13 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The coach wants to share the remaining sports drinks equally among the players. Divide the bottles to get the final clue!

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

24 ÷ 4 = ?

42 ÷ 6 = ?

81 ÷ 9 = ?

7 ÷ 7 = ?

24 ÷ 6 = ?

99 ÷ 9 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

15 ÷ 5 = ?

24 ÷ 2 = ?

32 ÷ 4 = ?

40 ÷ 4 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain shot a half court buzzer beater, then sprinted away in super grip socks.

2.The villain tossed a no look alley oop, then sprinted away in super grip socks.

3.The villain shot a half court buzzer beater, then leaped away on spring loaded insoles.

4.The villain made a lightning crossover, then leaped away on spring loaded insoles.

5.The villain tossed a no look alley oop, then dashed off in glowing sneakers.

6.The villain slammed a gravity defying dunk, then sprinted away in super grip socks.

7.The villain slammed a gravity defying dunk, then escaped using a magnetic wristband.

8.The villain drained an unblockable fadeaway, then dashed off in glowing sneakers.

9.The villain drained an unblockable fadeaway, then sprinted away in super grip socks.

10.The villain made a lightning crossover, then dashed off in glowing sneakers.

11.The villain tossed a no look alley oop, then zoomed off wearing a bouncing headband.

12.The villain slammed a gravity defying dunk, then leaped away on spring loaded insoles.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Game Ball

Culprit: Zion Williamson (no look alley oop · super grip socks · wears a right sleeve · neon orange sweatband · squeaky hardwood floors)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR THE HEADBAND"
Round 1,664 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (T) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (I) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (D) · Round 278 to the nearest hundred = 300 (N) · Round 3,723 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (V) · Round 193 to the nearest hundred = 200 (L) · Round 676 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S) · Round 4,290 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (H) · Round 173 to the nearest ten = 170 (B) · Round 229 to the nearest ten = 230 (O) · Round 433 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 1,664 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 1,074 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (R) · Round 69 to the nearest ten = 70 (W)
Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT WORE A RIGHT ARM SLEEVE"
994 + 1572 = 2566 (T) · 5019 + 4651 = 9670 (S) · 3425 + 1764 = 5189 (I) · 3195 + 3158 = 6353 (W) · 2934 + 6243 = 9177 (C) · 3168 + 2979 = 6147 (V) · 4350 + 5491 = 9841 (O) · 3239 + 6547 = 9786 (L) · 940 + 1975 = 2915 (M) · 6093 + 3095 = 9188 (P) · 1869 + 1563 = 3432 (A) · 3914 + 2758 = 6672 (H) · 2059 + 2063 = 4122 (U) · 1958 + 1461 = 3419 (R) · 1961 + 2458 = 4419 (G) · 3858 + 2569 = 6427 (E)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SQUEAKY FLOORS SLOWED THEM DOWN"
8332 - 4005 = 4327 (T) · 8283 - 2799 = 5484 (O) · 4028 - 142 = 3886 (S) · 3288 - 925 = 2363 (M) · 5857 - 376 = 5481 (E) · 3319 - 371 = 2948 (L) · 6576 - 107 = 6469 (R) · 7034 - 789 = 6245 (K) · 10844 - 2690 = 8154 (N) · 4308 - 334 = 3974 (H) · 4051 - 2617 = 1434 (Y) · 10247 - 4970 = 5277 (Q) · 6608 - 4054 = 2554 (A) · 7945 - 4612 = 3333 (W) · 7666 - 3066 = 4600 (U) · 9274 - 868 = 8406 (D) · 5798 - 238 = 5560 (F)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A NEON ORANGE SWEATBAND"
2 × 2 = 4 (W) · 4 × 10 = 40 (G) · 3 × 7 = 21 (N) · 9 × 9 = 81 (O) · 8 × 4 = 32 (T) · 7 × 12 = 84 (B) · 10 × 12 = 120 (D) · 7 × 7 = 49 (S) · 12 × 8 = 96 (U) · 5 × 1 = 5 (E) · 5 × 4 = 20 (R) · 6 × 8 = 48 (A) · 3 × 1 = 3 (F)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Zion Williamson
24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Golden Game Ball — set in Hoop City Arena
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math cases

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Mystery of the Glitch Bot

Grade 4

The Great Fossil Mystery

Grade 4

The Mystery of the Rogue Dragon

Grade 4

The Mystery of the Missing Golden Fish

Grade 4