🔎 The atisin at the kid poliseGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationFractions of a number

The Case of the Kid Station's Rogue Artisan

At the Precinct 9 Kid Police Station, Chief Joshua Dax Zeno has a major crisis. The station's master Artisan, who helps the junior deputies craft high-tech chalk gear and clay gadgets, has gone rogue! The suspect stole the golden badge mold and painted graffiti all over the chief's desk. Junior detectives need to analyze the clues, solve the math puzzles, and find the Rogue Artisan.

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	creative specialty	tactical skill	holding grip	hair style	capture device
Officer Jax	neon laser sketching	sonic canvas blasting	left-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	water gun wash
Officer Sam	graffiti teleportation	sonic canvas blasting	right-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	water gun wash
Sgt Emma	3D paint creation	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	soap bubble blast
Cadet Max	clay molding mimicry	sonic canvas blasting	left-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	bright camera flash
Deputy Zoe	clay molding mimicry	sculpture shield block	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast
Deputy Lily	clay molding mimicry	sculpture shield block	left-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast
Officer Ryan	3D paint creation	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	bright camera flash
Sgt Ava	3D paint creation	sculpture shield block	left-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	water gun wash
Officer Jack	neon laser sketching	glow ink blinding	right-handed grip	pastel pink chalk dust	water gun wash
Deputy Maya	clay molding mimicry	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	water gun wash
Sgt Chloe	neon laser sketching	sonic canvas blasting	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast
Officer Leo	neon laser sketching	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast
Cadet Owen	graffiti teleportation	color mixing camouflage	left-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	water gun wash
Cadet Luke	neon laser sketching	quick dry freezing	left-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	water gun wash
Cadet Toby	graffiti teleportation	sonic canvas blasting	left-handed grip	pastel pink chalk dust	soap bubble blast
Sgt Nora	graffiti teleportation	sculpture shield block	right-handed grip	neon blue paint splatter	bright camera flash
Deputy Ella	graffiti teleportation	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast
Deputy Mia	origami folding flight	color mixing camouflage	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	bright camera flash
Cadet Eli	clay molding mimicry	glow ink blinding	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	bright camera flash
Sgt Ruby	graffiti teleportation	sculpture shield block	right-handed grip	pastel pink chalk dust	soap bubble blast
Deputy Anna	3D paint creation	quick dry freezing	right-handed grip	bright gold glitter dye	soap bubble blast

Clue 1

Addition

Chief Joshua Dax Zeno asks you to count the total number of paint cans left behind. Adding the red cans and the blue cans gives us the first clue to rule out a major power.

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

3002

8172

9847

3801

6787

3002

6838

4931

3002

2678

3801

2921

7693

3002

5052

4931

9847

4931

7693

2921

6838

2678

3801

2921

7213

3801

4931

8329

3254

3801

4931

3002

6838

2921

5652

1462 + 1540 =T

3730 + 3108 =I

3278 + 4894 =H

4901 + 4946 =E

3874 + 3339 =V

1074 + 2180 =L

1609 + 1069 =C

2500 + 1301 =A

3546 + 2106 =G

3307 + 4386 =O

2981 + 5348 =B

3245 + 3542 =R

2047 + 3005 =U

1994 + 927 =N

3227 + 1704 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

The thief snatched some brushes from the supply closet. Subtracting the remaining brushes from the starting total reveals a secret note about the suspect's grip.

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

6546

2161

1947

5448

1214

8652

3067

1947

8736

5448

1947

7724

1947

2161

2374

8736

2374

1214

8652

3947

2161

6546

2161

2374

7724

6209

1947

6209

3947

1214

8652

3274

10876 - 4330 =T

5243 - 2869 =A

4806 - 1532 =P

4867 - 2706 =H

8327 - 2879 =C

12094 - 4370 =N

5939 - 3992 =E

9399 - 3190 =D

7521 - 3574 =G

11788 - 3136 =I

5722 - 2655 =M

11469 - 2733 =S

4496 - 3282 =R

0/13 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

You find rows of clay jars stacked in the artisan's workshop. Multiplying the rows by the jars in each row unlocks a locked safe containing a weakness report.

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

108

144

110

144

7 × 6 =A

4 × 2 =P

12 × 12 =T

12 × 9 =S

3 × 7 =H

5 × 9 =O

7 × 7 =R

11 × 10 =W

10 × 6 =M

7 × 12 =B

8 × 8 =L

8 × 3 =U

12 × 1 =E

3 × 9 =I

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Fractions of a number

A spilled box of colored chalk contains several broken pieces. Finding a fraction of the total pieces helps us analyze the hair dust left on the ceiling.

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

4/10 of 65 =T

1/3 of 9 =B

3/4 of 36 =S

1/5 of 165 =G

1/2 of 38 =L

3/4 of 28 =R

5/6 of 18 =E

1/5 of 20 =I

1/2 of 62 =A

5/10 of 12 =D

2/6 of 66 =Y

1/4 of 44 =F

3/4 of 32 =O

2/6 of 36 =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Fractions of a number — the last clue

The junior deputies recover a portion of the stolen badges. Calculating this fraction of the stash points to the final clue hidden inside the station's art locker.

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

3/5 of 15 = ?

3/8 of 16 = ?

2/8 of 44 = ?

1/10 of 40 = ?

6/8 of 4 = ?

1/6 of 60 = ?

2/8 of 8 = ?

1/3 of 36 = ?

2/10 of 40 = ?

2/6 of 21 = ?

5/6 of 6 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain sketches a secret escape route on the wall, then blocks the hallway with a solid stone statue.

2.The villain sketches a secret escape route on the wall, then disappears into a colorful smoke cloud.

3.The villain molds a fake clay double of the evidence vault key, then blinds the security cameras with wet paint.

4.The villain molds a fake clay double of the evidence vault key, then freezes the pursuing officers in drying plaster.

5.The villain mixes a blinding splash of glowing paint, then blocks the hallway with a solid stone statue.

6.The villain sprays neon graffiti over the precinct lockers, then freezes the pursuing officers in drying plaster.

7.The villain mixes a blinding splash of glowing paint, then disappears into a colorful smoke cloud.

8.The villain sprays neon graffiti over the precinct lockers, then blocks the hallway with a solid stone statue.

9.The villain folds a giant paper glider to escape the window, then disappears into a colorful smoke cloud.

10.The villain folds a giant paper glider to escape the window, then blasts high-volume static from a megaphone.

11.The villain molds a fake clay double of the evidence vault key, then disappears into a colorful smoke cloud.

12.The villain mixes a blinding splash of glowing paint, then blasts high-volume static from a megaphone.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Kid Station's Rogue Artisan

Culprit: Deputy Zoe (clay molding mimicry · sculpture shield block · right-handed grip · bright gold glitter dye · soap bubble blast)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE ARTIST CANNOT USE SONIC CANVAS BLASTING"
1462 + 1540 = 3002 (T) · 3730 + 3108 = 6838 (I) · 3278 + 4894 = 8172 (H) · 4901 + 4946 = 9847 (E) · 3874 + 3339 = 7213 (V) · 1074 + 2180 = 3254 (L) · 1609 + 1069 = 2678 (C) · 2500 + 1301 = 3801 (A) · 3546 + 2106 = 5652 (G) · 3307 + 4386 = 7693 (O) · 2981 + 5348 = 8329 (B) · 3245 + 3542 = 6787 (R) · 2047 + 3005 = 5052 (U) · 1994 + 927 = 2921 (N) · 3227 + 1704 = 4931 (S)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE CRIME SCENE HAS A RIGHT HANDED GRIP"
10876 - 4330 = 6546 (T) · 5243 - 2869 = 2374 (A) · 4806 - 1532 = 3274 (P) · 4867 - 2706 = 2161 (H) · 8327 - 2879 = 5448 (C) · 12094 - 4370 = 7724 (N) · 5939 - 3992 = 1947 (E) · 9399 - 3190 = 6209 (D) · 7521 - 3574 = 3947 (G) · 11788 - 3136 = 8652 (I) · 5722 - 2655 = 3067 (M) · 11469 - 2733 = 8736 (S) · 4496 - 3282 = 1214 (R)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A SOAP BUBBLE BLAST WILL TRAP THEM"
7 × 6 = 42 (A) · 4 × 2 = 8 (P) · 12 × 12 = 144 (T) · 12 × 9 = 108 (S) · 3 × 7 = 21 (H) · 5 × 9 = 45 (O) · 7 × 7 = 49 (R) · 11 × 10 = 110 (W) · 10 × 6 = 60 (M) · 7 × 12 = 84 (B) · 8 × 8 = 64 (L) · 8 × 3 = 24 (U) · 12 × 1 = 12 (E) · 3 × 9 = 27 (I)
Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "THE FLOOR HAS BRIGHT GOLD GLITTER DYE"
4/10 of 65 = 26 (T) · 1/3 of 9 = 3 (B) · 3/4 of 36 = 27 (S) · 1/5 of 165 = 33 (G) · 1/2 of 38 = 19 (L) · 3/4 of 28 = 21 (R) · 5/6 of 18 = 15 (E) · 1/5 of 20 = 4 (I) · 1/2 of 62 = 31 (A) · 5/10 of 12 = 6 (D) · 2/6 of 66 = 22 (Y) · 1/4 of 44 = 11 (F) · 3/4 of 32 = 24 (O) · 2/6 of 36 = 12 (H)
Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 1) → Deputy Zoe
3/5 of 15 = 9 · 3/8 of 16 = 6 · 2/8 of 44 = 11 · 1/10 of 40 = 4 · 6/8 of 4 = 3 · 1/6 of 60 = 10 · 2/8 of 8 = 2 · 1/3 of 36 = 12 · 2/10 of 40 = 8 · 2/6 of 21 = 7 · 5/6 of 6 = 5

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Case of the Kid Station's Rogue Artisan — set in The Precinct 9 Kid Police Station
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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