🏀 Basketball, baseball, food, Grade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Case of the Mid-Air Stadium Sabotage

A mystery culprit is disrupting the championship game by hijacking equipment trucks and candy supply flights! The Head Logistics Coordinator needs your math expertise to analyze transport logs, track down clues, and unmask the stadium saboteur before kickoff.

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	Escape Vehicle	Dominant Hand	Cap Color	Favorite Snack
Serena Williams	Long Drive	Big Rig	Left Handed	Gold Cap	Licorice
Sue Bird	Slam Dunk	Delivery Van	Left Handed	Blue Cap	Gummy Bears
A'ja Wilson	Long Drive	Freight Plane	Left Handed	Blue Cap	Gummy Bears
Derek Jeter	Sky Hook	Semi Truck	Left Handed	Blue Cap	Gummy Bears
Giannis Antetokounmpo	Curveball	Semi Truck	Right Handed	Blue Cap	Licorice
Shaquille O'Neal	Curveball	Semi Truck	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum
Patrick Mahomes	Curveball	Semi Truck	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Licorice
Aaron Judge	Sky Hook	Delivery Van	Left Handed	Gold Cap	Licorice
Travis Kelce	Long Drive	Semi Truck	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum
Shohei Ohtani	Fastball	Semi Truck	Left Handed	Blue Cap	Gummy Bears
Hank Aaron	Fastball	Freight Plane	Left Handed	Red Cap	Bubblegum
LeBron James	Slam Dunk	Delivery Van	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Gummy Bears
Angel Reese	Long Drive	Delivery Van	Right Handed	Red Cap	Licorice
Mike Trout	Long Drive	Big Rig	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Licorice
Mookie Betts	Long Drive	Cargo Jet	Left Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum
Sabrina Ionescu	Sky Hook	Semi Truck	Left Handed	Blue Cap	Bubblegum
Steph Curry	Curveball	Delivery Van	Left Handed	Red Cap	Licorice
Candace Parker	Sky Hook	Delivery Van	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum
Michael Jordan	Fastball	Freight Plane	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum
Ken Griffey Jr	Long Drive	Semi Truck	Right Handed	Red Cap	Bubblegum
Caitlin Clark	Slam Dunk	Cargo Jet	Right Handed	Gold Cap	Bubblegum

Clue 1

Integers

The stadium scoreboard recorded temperature shifts and gain-loss yardage in the storage hangar. You balance the negative and positive integer logs to decode the first 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.

(-8) + 15 =T

(-13) + 19 =L

3 - (-11) =A

10 - (-3) =I

(-1) + 20 =N

29 - (-1) =E

(-11) + 26 =D

18 - (-8) =O

3 - (-2) =S

3 - (-7) =F

(-6) + 33 =R

(-14) + 37 =G

4 - (-13) =H

7 - (-15) =P

(-6) + 8 =B

21 - (-7) =U

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

Concession stands logged target candy sales versus actual deliveries across the arena. You calculate the percentage discounts 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.

50% of 62 =S

40% of 35 =W

20% of 30 =Y

25% of 188 =G

60% of 5 =H

5% of 820 =M

25% of 88 =I

75% of 60 =D

60% of 15 =T

10% of 230 =E

5% of 20 =O

20% of 270 =A

25% of 112 =N

10% of 190 =U

60% of 65 =R

50% of 20 =C

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The stadium cargo crane follows a strict protocol sequence for lifting heavy semi-truck crates. You solve the order of operations code on the dispatch console to read the log.

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

113

10 × 10 - 17 =S

5 × 10 - 3 =A

7 × 12 - 11 =U

48 + 2 × 9 =B

7 + 5 × 5 =P

10 × 11 - 22 =E

9 × 7 - 10 =G

12 × 10 - 7 =M

4 + 9 × 3 =R

46 + 5 × 9 =T

11 × 3 - 16 =L

47 + 8 × 5 =O

2 + 4 × 2 =D

6 × 12 - 8 =F

5 × 7 - 11 =I

12 × 8 - 3 =C

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The runway radar tower calculates radio signal power increases using exponential growth patterns. Computing the exponent power values reveals the jet flight path.

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

289

361

256

121

243

128

196

289

343

289

128

361

243

343

400

128

324

400

289

361

121

400

121

17^2 =A

3^5 =O

4^2 =H

18^2 =N

2^7 =D

2^2 =S

19^2 =R

4^4 =I

8^2 =L

7^2 =G

11^2 =T

6^2 =J

2^5 =W

14^2 =C

7^3 =P

20^2 =E

3^3 =B

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The stadium fueling terminal balances truck fuel capacities against weight distribution equations. Solving the two-step equation gives you the final suspect coordinates.

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

3x + 6 = 18, x = ?

6x + 1 = 61, x = ?

3x + 1 = 4, x = ?

5x + 7 = 32, x = ?

2x + 3 = 7, x = ?

4x + 9 = 57, x = ?

4x + 9 = 53, x = ?

4x + 11 = 43, x = ?

2x + 9 = 23, x = ?

2x + 12 = 24, x = ?

5x + 11 = 26, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain snaps a curveball, then speeds away in a semi truck.

2.The villain smashes a slam dunk, then boards a freight plane.

3.The villain smashes a slam dunk, then speeds away in a semi truck.

4.The villain smashes a slam dunk, then escapes in a cargo jet.

5.The villain smashes a slam dunk, then drives off in a big rig.

6.The villain smashes a slam dunk, then vanishes in a delivery van.

7.The villain sinks a sky hook, then speeds away in a semi truck.

8.The villain launches a long drive, then vanishes in a delivery van.

9.The villain launches a long drive, then speeds away in a semi truck.

10.The villain sinks a sky hook, then vanishes in a delivery van.

11.The villain sinks a sky hook, then drives off in a big rig.

12.The villain hurls a fastball, then boards a freight plane.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Mid-Air Stadium Sabotage

Culprit: Travis Kelce (Long Drive · Semi Truck · Right Handed · Gold Cap · Bubblegum)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE A FREIGHT PLANE"
(-8) + 15 = 7 (T) · (-13) + 19 = 6 (L) · 3 - (-11) = 14 (A) · 10 - (-3) = 13 (I) · (-1) + 20 = 19 (N) · 29 - (-1) = 30 (E) · (-11) + 26 = 15 (D) · 18 - (-8) = 26 (O) · 3 - (-2) = 5 (S) · 3 - (-7) = 10 (F) · (-6) + 33 = 27 (R) · (-14) + 37 = 23 (G) · 4 - (-13) = 17 (H) · 7 - (-15) = 22 (P) · (-6) + 8 = 2 (B) · 21 - (-7) = 28 (U)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "SECURITY CAM SHOWS RIGHT HANDED TOSS"
50% of 62 = 31 (S) · 40% of 35 = 14 (W) · 20% of 30 = 6 (Y) · 25% of 188 = 47 (G) · 60% of 5 = 3 (H) · 5% of 820 = 41 (M) · 25% of 88 = 22 (I) · 75% of 60 = 45 (D) · 60% of 15 = 9 (T) · 10% of 230 = 23 (E) · 5% of 20 = 1 (O) · 20% of 270 = 54 (A) · 25% of 112 = 28 (N) · 10% of 190 = 19 (U) · 60% of 65 = 39 (R) · 50% of 20 = 10 (C)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "SUSPECT DROPPED A PIECE OF BUBBLEGUM"
10 × 10 - 17 = 83 (S) · 5 × 10 - 3 = 47 (A) · 7 × 12 - 11 = 73 (U) · 48 + 2 × 9 = 66 (B) · 7 + 5 × 5 = 32 (P) · 10 × 11 - 22 = 88 (E) · 9 × 7 - 10 = 53 (G) · 12 × 10 - 7 = 113 (M) · 4 + 9 × 3 = 31 (R) · 46 + 5 × 9 = 91 (T) · 11 × 3 - 16 = 17 (L) · 47 + 8 × 5 = 87 (O) · 2 + 4 × 2 = 10 (D) · 6 × 12 - 8 = 64 (F) · 5 × 7 - 11 = 24 (I) · 12 × 8 - 3 = 93 (C)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "A BRIGHT GOLD CAP WAS DROPPED NEAR THE JET"
17^2 = 289 (A) · 3^5 = 243 (O) · 4^2 = 16 (H) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 2^7 = 128 (D) · 2^2 = 4 (S) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 4^4 = 256 (I) · 8^2 = 64 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (G) · 11^2 = 121 (T) · 6^2 = 36 (J) · 2^5 = 32 (W) · 14^2 = 196 (C) · 7^3 = 343 (P) · 20^2 = 400 (E) · 3^3 = 27 (B)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Travis Kelce
3x + 6 = 18, x = 4 · 6x + 1 = 61, x = 10 · 3x + 1 = 4, x = 1 · 5x + 7 = 32, x = 5 · 2x + 3 = 7, x = 2 · 4x + 9 = 57, x = 12 · 4x + 9 = 53, x = 11 · 4x + 11 = 43, x = 8 · 2x + 9 = 23, x = 7 · 2x + 12 = 24, x = 6 · 5x + 11 = 26, x = 3

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Case of the Mid-Air Stadium Sabotage — set in The Grand National Sports Dome and Cargo Hub
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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