🏀 Mermaids, Cats, BasketballGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9Fractions of a numberMulti-step word problemsMultiplicationIntegers
The Case of the Mer-Cat Hoops Swindler
The Championship Shell was stolen right off the Coral Court rim during the Mer-Cat Basketball Finals! Clues were left behind across the underwater stadium. Help Coach Barnacle analyze the evidence and unmask the culprit.
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 Paw | Fur Pattern | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elena Delle Donne | Whiskered Pass | Glitter Dunk | Right Pawed | Blue Mane | Catnip Flakes |
| Candace Parker | Hydro Shot | Seafoam Bounce | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Laser Pointers |
| Breanna Stewart | Coral Slam | Seafoam Bounce | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Maya Moore | Coral Slam | Kelp Sneaker | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Kahleah Copper | Hydro Shot | Seafoam Bounce | Left Pawed | Calico Fur | Catnip Flakes |
| Jonquel Jones | Coral Slam | Seafoam Bounce | Right Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Squeaky Fish |
| Tamika Catchings | Coral Slam | Seafoam Bounce | Left Pawed | Blue Mane | Catnip Flakes |
| Alyssa Thomas | Whiskered Pass | Siren Whistle | Left Pawed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Fish |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Whiskered Pass | Pearl Net | Right Pawed | Calico Fur | Catnip Flakes |
| Arike Ogunbowale | Tail Dribble | Glitter Dunk | Left Pawed | Blue Mane | Laser Pointers |
| Dawn Staley | Tail Dribble | Kelp Sneaker | Right Pawed | Calico Fur | Laser Pointers |
| Caitlin Clark | Hydro Shot | Pearl Net | Right Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Skylar Diggins | Coral Slam | Kelp Sneaker | Right Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Laser Pointers |
| Sheryl Swoopes | Bubble Shield | Glitter Dunk | Right Pawed | Blue Mane | Catnip Flakes |
| Aja Wilson | Coral Slam | Glitter Dunk | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Brittney Griner | Tail Dribble | Seafoam Bounce | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Nneka Ogwumike | Tail Dribble | Glitter Dunk | Right Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Kelsey Plum | Tail Dribble | Glitter Dunk | Right Pawed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Fish |
| Lisa Leslie | Hydro Shot | Siren Whistle | Left Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Catnip Flakes |
| Jewell Loyd | Hydro Shot | Glitter Dunk | Right Pawed | Blue Mane | Squeaky Fish |
| Napheesa Collier | Whiskered Pass | Kelp Sneaker | Right Pawed | Silver Whiskers | Squeaky Fish |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To narrow down the suspect list we calculated the fraction of team tickets sold in the upper arena
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
39
15
24
7
46
7
44
24
35
T
39
8
38
24
7
43
38
T
39
34
24
18
12
50
24
57
44
7
43
24
18
50
24
12
7
3/8 of 104 =T
3/6 of 86 =N
2/5 of 110 =P
1/2 of 92 =U
1/3 of 54 =A
3/6 of 48 =E
1/5 of 170 =W
1/8 of 120 =H
2/5 of 95 =O
1/2 of 70 =C
2/8 of 32 =D
6/10 of 20 =R
6/10 of 95 =L
4/10 of 125 =K
2/4 of 14 =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
Analyzing snack bar receipts and tail ribbon sales required a multi step calculation to locate the lost note
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
84
11
81
43
88
49
38
11
D
There were 712 squeaky fish toys in all. 40 squeaky fish toys were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Tidal Waves. How many squeaky fish toys did each get?L
There were 168 glitter basketballs in all. 4 Tidal Waves used 23 glitter basketballs each. The other 2 Tidal Waves shared the rest equally. How many glitter basketballs did each of the other Tidal Waves get?W
Coach Barnacle earned 2 glitter basketballs in each of 6 rounds, plus 12 bonus glitter basketballs. Then 13 glitter basketballs were lost. How many glitter basketballs are left?E
There were 348 glitter basketballs in all. 4 Tidal Waves used 6 glitter basketballs each. The other 4 Tidal Waves shared the rest equally. How many glitter basketballs did each of the other Tidal Waves get?F
Coach Barnacle filled 2 boxes with 9 squeaky fish toys each, then found 25 more squeaky fish toys. How many squeaky fish toys are there in all?T
Coach Barnacle filled 5 boxes with 6 squeaky fish toys each, then found 58 more squeaky fish toys. How many squeaky fish toys are there in all?P
There were 282 seafoam sponges in all. 37 seafoam sponges were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 Tidal Waves. How many seafoam sponges did each get?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We counted the total glitter pearls collected from equal rows of spectator clam shells
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
D
49
25
99
20
D
49
132
72
8
24
99
55
12
20
72
80
20
32
32
12
84
48
8
28
99
32
45
20
25
132
72
8
D
49
84
48
24
7 × 7 =D
5 × 5 =R
10 × 8 =V
4 × 2 =T
12 × 11 =C
9 × 11 =I
11 × 5 =P
4 × 7 =H
12 × 2 =N
12 × 1 =L
7 × 12 =O
4 × 5 =E
9 × 8 =A
12 × 4 =W
4 × 8 =S
5 × 9 =M
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Integers
Checking water temperature changes and depth gauge readings gave us the next set of coordinate clues
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
19
24
8
26
29
22
L
19
5
9
25
7
3
22
29
1
9
25
29
20
9
L
19
L
19
8
9
30
25
6
3
9
3
24
24
13
9 - (-10) =L
1 - (-2) =H
19 - (-1) =F
27 - (-3) =A
(-3) + 27 =O
2 - (-11) =P
(-6) + 12 =T
17 - (-8) =R
5 - (-4) =E
26 - (-3) =S
(-1) + 23 =I
(-10) + 11 =K
16 - (-10) =G
(-12) + 19 =W
(-8) + 13 =V
(-4) + 12 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
We figured out what fraction of the stadium lights were dimmed to decode the final message
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
2/10 of 40 = ?
5/10 of 14 = ?
1/2 of 18 = ?
3/6 of 2 = ?
3/6 of 22 = ?
1/6 of 36 = ?
3/10 of 10 = ?
2/8 of 8 = ?
3/6 of 8 = ?
1/2 of 10 = ?
2/8 of 48 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activates a bubble shield, then uses a seafoam bounce.
2.The villain makes a whiskered pass, then slips on a kelp sneaker.
3.The villain shoots a hydro shot, then slips on a kelp sneaker.
4.The villain dribbles with their tail, then blows a siren whistle.
5.The villain activates a bubble shield, then traps the ball in a pearl net.
6.The villain shoots a hydro shot, then uses a seafoam bounce.
7.The villain dribbles with their tail, then uses a seafoam bounce.
8.The villain executes a coral slam, then delivers a glitter dunk.
9.The villain shoots a hydro shot, then blows a siren whistle.
10.The villain executes a coral slam, then uses a seafoam bounce.
11.The villain dribbles with their tail, then slips on a kelp sneaker.
12.The villain shoots a hydro shot, then delivers a glitter dunk.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Mer-Cat Hoops Swindler
Culprit: Breanna Stewart (Coral Slam · Seafoam Bounce · Left Pawed · Silver Whiskers · Catnip Flakes)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR KELP SNEAKERS"3/8 of 104 = 39 (T) · 3/6 of 86 = 43 (N) · 2/5 of 110 = 44 (P) · 1/2 of 92 = 46 (U) · 1/3 of 54 = 18 (A) · 3/6 of 48 = 24 (E) · 1/5 of 170 = 34 (W) · 1/8 of 120 = 15 (H) · 2/5 of 95 = 38 (O) · 1/2 of 70 = 35 (C) · 2/8 of 32 = 8 (D) · 6/10 of 20 = 12 (R) · 6/10 of 95 = 57 (L) · 4/10 of 125 = 50 (K) · 2/4 of 14 = 7 (S)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "LEFT PAWED"There were 712 squeaky fish toys in all. 40 squeaky fish toys were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Tidal Waves. How many squeaky fish toys did each get? = 84 (L) · There were 168 glitter basketballs in all. 4 Tidal Waves used 23 glitter basketballs each. The other 2 Tidal Waves shared the rest equally. How many glitter basketballs did each of the other Tidal Waves get? = 38 (W) · Coach Barnacle earned 2 glitter basketballs in each of 6 rounds, plus 12 bonus glitter basketballs. Then 13 glitter basketballs were lost. How many glitter basketballs are left? = 11 (E) · There were 348 glitter basketballs in all. 4 Tidal Waves used 6 glitter basketballs each. The other 4 Tidal Waves shared the rest equally. How many glitter basketballs did each of the other Tidal Waves get? = 81 (F) · Coach Barnacle filled 2 boxes with 9 squeaky fish toys each, then found 25 more squeaky fish toys. How many squeaky fish toys are there in all? = 43 (T) · Coach Barnacle filled 5 boxes with 6 squeaky fish toys each, then found 58 more squeaky fish toys. How many squeaky fish toys are there in all? = 88 (P) · There were 282 seafoam sponges in all. 37 seafoam sponges were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 Tidal Waves. How many seafoam sponges did each get? = 49 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "DRIED CATNIP LEAVES SLOW THIS MERCAT DOWN"7 × 7 = 49 (D) · 5 × 5 = 25 (R) · 10 × 8 = 80 (V) · 4 × 2 = 8 (T) · 12 × 11 = 132 (C) · 9 × 11 = 99 (I) · 11 × 5 = 55 (P) · 4 × 7 = 28 (H) · 12 × 2 = 24 (N) · 12 × 1 = 12 (L) · 7 × 12 = 84 (O) · 4 × 5 = 20 (E) · 9 × 8 = 72 (A) · 12 × 4 = 48 (W) · 4 × 8 = 32 (S) · 5 × 9 = 45 (M)
- Clue 4 (Integers): "LONG SILVER WHISKERS FELL NEAR THE HOOP"9 - (-10) = 19 (L) · 1 - (-2) = 3 (H) · 19 - (-1) = 20 (F) · 27 - (-3) = 30 (A) · (-3) + 27 = 24 (O) · 2 - (-11) = 13 (P) · (-6) + 12 = 6 (T) · 17 - (-8) = 25 (R) · 5 - (-4) = 9 (E) · 26 - (-3) = 29 (S) · (-1) + 23 = 22 (I) · (-10) + 11 = 1 (K) · 16 - (-10) = 26 (G) · (-12) + 19 = 7 (W) · (-8) + 13 = 5 (V) · (-4) + 12 = 8 (N)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 10) → Breanna Stewart2/10 of 40 = 8 · 5/10 of 14 = 7 · 1/2 of 18 = 9 · 3/6 of 2 = 1 · 3/6 of 22 = 11 · 1/6 of 36 = 6 · 3/10 of 10 = 3 · 2/8 of 8 = 2 · 3/6 of 8 = 4 · 1/2 of 10 = 5 · 2/8 of 48 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Multi-step word problems, Multiplication, Integers
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Mer-Cat Hoops Swindler — set in The Coral Court Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects