🔎 Tardigrade and FIFA World CuGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Case of the Micro Cup Mascot
During the Micro World Cup tournament, a sneaky water-bear sized villain snatched the golden trophy and hid it somewhere in the damp moss! Detectives must investigate the microscopic star players to find out who carried out the heist.
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 | Super Move | Survival Gear | Kicking Foot | Headband Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed | Bicycle Kick | Pressure Suit | Left Footed | Cobalt Blue | Crushed Moss |
| Manuel | Bicycle Kick | Radiation Shield | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Federico | Quantum Save | Freezing Armor | Left Footed | Neon Green | Magnifying Glass |
| Harry | Quantum Save | Pressure Suit | Right Footed | Solar Yellow | Salty Water |
| Lionel | Bicycle Kick | Heat Shield | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Jamal | Tardigrade Tackle | Radiation Shield | Right Footed | Cobalt Blue | Magnifying Glass |
| Cristiano | Bicycle Kick | Freezing Armor | Right Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Son | Micro Sprint | Freezing Armor | Left Footed | Solar Yellow | Salty Water |
| Vinicius | Water Blast | Tardigrade Shell | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Kevin | Bicycle Kick | Heat Shield | Left Footed | Cobalt Blue | Magnifying Glass |
| Erling | Quantum Save | Pressure Suit | Left Footed | Cobalt Blue | Crushed Moss |
| Bukayo | Micro Sprint | Tardigrade Shell | Left Footed | Solar Yellow | Salty Water |
| Kylian | Water Blast | Radiation Shield | Left Footed | Cobalt Blue | Crushed Moss |
| Antoine | Quantum Save | Freezing Armor | Right Footed | Neon Green | Magnifying Glass |
| Alisson | Bicycle Kick | Pressure Suit | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Pedri | Micro Sprint | Tardigrade Shell | Left Footed | Cobalt Blue | Crushed Moss |
| Gavi | Bicycle Kick | Pressure Suit | Right Footed | Cobalt Blue | Salty Water |
| Thibaut | Water Blast | Freezing Armor | Left Footed | Solar Yellow | Salty Water |
| Virgil | Quantum Save | Radiation Shield | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
| Luka | Bicycle Kick | Tardigrade Shell | Right Footed | Neon Green | Salty Water |
| Neymar | Micro Sprint | Tardigrade Shell | Left Footed | Neon Green | Crushed Moss |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The stadium security team tallied the mini flag displays set up in equal rows across the pitch.
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
90
96
3
27
21
27
81
3
36
T
90
15
50
3
27
55
50
T
90
14
3
56
99
56
T
90
56
99
15
11
66
99
56
15
3
27
96
3
4
4
9 × 10 =T
7 × 8 =A
4 × 9 =C
9 × 11 =R
10 × 5 =O
2 × 7 =W
5 × 11 =N
9 × 9 =P
11 × 6 =G
3 × 9 =S
8 × 12 =H
3 × 7 =U
3 × 5 =D
3 × 1 =E
1 × 11 =I
4 × 1 =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The tiny referee checked the fraction of water droplets remaining on the blade of grass.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
29
17
8
37
3
16
16
16
38
W
29
4
3
22
8
22
5
5
8
3
7
9
4
3
38
8
20
38
33
30
16
5
37
20
5
16
16
5/10 of 58 =W
5/10 of 66 =R
1/2 of 32 =S
4/6 of 33 =F
4/8 of 74 =N
5/6 of 6 =O
8/10 of 5 =L
2/8 of 68 =I
6/10 of 50 =K
1/6 of 54 =C
4/8 of 76 =A
3/5 of 5 =E
1/4 of 80 =M
1/4 of 28 =D
1/2 of 16 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The stadium announcer followed a strict set of step-by-step rules to calculate match statistics.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
53
77
35
9
9
71
55
35
41
79
78
15
20
31
55
49
21
35
20
20
20
9
35
59
59
55
49
9
31
55
20
39
55
A
53
75
11 × 6 - 13 =A
3 + 2 × 3 =T
65 + 5 × 2 =K
6 × 10 - 21 =N
9 × 11 - 20 =C
19 + 6 × 6 =E
9 × 10 - 13 =B
22 + 3 × 3 =H
9 × 6 - 19 =O
8 × 11 - 17 =L
4 + 2 × 8 =S
35 + 8 × 3 =P
11 × 2 - 7 =U
6 × 7 - 1 =F
11 + 2 × 5 =M
54 + 4 × 6 =R
7 × 8 - 7 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The microscopic stadium scoreboard only displays player speed estimates rounded to the nearest ten.
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
20
5000
9000
N
20
90
1700
5000
5000
N
20
3000
5000
1100
110
370
1100
N
20
110
4300
230
370
5000
1700
700
3700
5000
1700
5000
2000
5000
4300
30
370
5000
3000
230
N
20
110
Round 21 to the nearest tenN
Round 712 to the nearest hundredS
Round 232 to the nearest tenI
Round 367 to the nearest tenB
Round 8,507 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,328 to the nearest hundredF
Round 93 to the nearest tenG
Round 1,085 to the nearest hundredA
Round 4,601 to the nearest thousandE
Round 3,735 to the nearest hundredW
Round 2,784 to the nearest thousandH
Round 1,674 to the nearest hundredR
Round 29 to the nearest tenT
Round 1,887 to the nearest thousandL
Round 109 to the nearest tenD
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The equipment manager divided the miniature soccer balls equally among the micro teams.
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 ÷ 1 = ?
72 ÷ 8 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
48 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted a tiny jet of water, then pressurized their tiny suit.
2.The villain leaped for a quantum goalkeeper save, then activated a radiation shield.
3.The villain blasted a tiny jet of water, then donned freezing armor.
4.The villain executed a microscopic bicycle kick, then switched on a heat shield.
5.The villain leaped for a quantum goalkeeper save, then pressurized their tiny suit.
6.The villain sprinted across the damp moss, then donned freezing armor.
7.The villain sprinted across the damp moss, then switched on a heat shield.
8.The villain sprinted across the damp moss, then curled into a tardigrade shell.
9.The villain executed a microscopic bicycle kick, then activated a radiation shield.
10.The villain executed a microscopic bicycle kick, then pressurized their tiny suit.
11.The villain leaped for a quantum goalkeeper save, then donned freezing armor.
12.The villain executed a microscopic bicycle kick, then donned freezing armor.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Micro Cup Mascot
Culprit: Alisson (Bicycle Kick · Pressure Suit · Left Footed · Neon Green · Crushed Moss)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR A TARDIGRADE SHELL"9 × 10 = 90 (T) · 7 × 8 = 56 (A) · 4 × 9 = 36 (C) · 9 × 11 = 99 (R) · 10 × 5 = 50 (O) · 2 × 7 = 14 (W) · 5 × 11 = 55 (N) · 9 × 9 = 81 (P) · 11 × 6 = 66 (G) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 8 × 12 = 96 (H) · 3 × 7 = 21 (U) · 3 × 5 = 15 (D) · 3 × 1 = 3 (E) · 1 × 11 = 11 (I) · 4 × 1 = 4 (L)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "WITNESS SAW LEFT FOOTED CLEAT MARKS ON MOSS"5/10 of 58 = 29 (W) · 5/10 of 66 = 33 (R) · 1/2 of 32 = 16 (S) · 4/6 of 33 = 22 (F) · 4/8 of 74 = 37 (N) · 5/6 of 6 = 5 (O) · 8/10 of 5 = 4 (L) · 2/8 of 68 = 17 (I) · 6/10 of 50 = 30 (K) · 1/6 of 54 = 9 (C) · 4/8 of 76 = 38 (A) · 3/5 of 5 = 3 (E) · 1/4 of 80 = 20 (M) · 1/4 of 28 = 7 (D) · 1/2 of 16 = 8 (T)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A BOTTLE OF CRUSHED MOSS STOPPED THE SNEAK"11 × 6 - 13 = 53 (A) · 3 + 2 × 3 = 9 (T) · 65 + 5 × 2 = 75 (K) · 6 × 10 - 21 = 39 (N) · 9 × 11 - 20 = 79 (C) · 19 + 6 × 6 = 55 (E) · 9 × 10 - 13 = 77 (B) · 22 + 3 × 3 = 31 (H) · 9 × 6 - 19 = 35 (O) · 8 × 11 - 17 = 71 (L) · 4 + 2 × 8 = 20 (S) · 35 + 8 × 3 = 59 (P) · 11 × 2 - 7 = 15 (U) · 6 × 7 - 1 = 41 (F) · 11 + 2 × 5 = 21 (M) · 54 + 4 × 6 = 78 (R) · 7 × 8 - 7 = 49 (D)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "NEON GREEN HEADBAND FIBERS WERE LEFT BEHIND"Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 712 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (I) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (B) · Round 8,507 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 4,328 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (F) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (G) · Round 1,085 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (A) · Round 4,601 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 3,735 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (W) · Round 2,784 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 1,674 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (R) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (T) · Round 1,887 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Alisson2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Micro Cup Mascot — set in The Mossy Pitch at Oak Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects