🤖 RobotsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationSubtractionAdditionPlace valueDivision

The Case of the Mischievous Mech

Someone scrambled the blueprints at Cyber City Bot Works! Detective, gather clues from the factory logs to find the rogue bot before the grand unveiling.

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	Primary Tool	Gadget	Indicator Light	Antenna Style	System Glitch
Piston	plasma welder	shield generator	flashing green light	spiral antenna	magnet fields
Circuit	hydraulic lift	magnet beam	flashing green light	dish antenna	water splashes
Bolt	plasma welder	stealth cloak	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Vector	sonic drill	magnet beam	steady red light	dish antenna	water splashes
Gearhead	sonic drill	shield generator	flashing green light	twin antennas	loud noises
Sprocket	plasma welder	magnet beam	flashing green light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Giga	hydraulic lift	stealth cloak	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Matrix	sonic drill	tracker ray	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Sparky	sonic drill	shield generator	steady red light	spiral antenna	magnet fields
Data	rivet gun	shield generator	steady red light	spiral antenna	water splashes
Echo	sonic drill	turbo booster	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Radar	sonic drill	turbo booster	steady red light	twin antennas	water splashes
Chip	laser cutter	stealth cloak	flashing green light	spiral antenna	water splashes
Gizmo	plasma welder	shield generator	steady red light	twin antennas	loud noises
Nano	plasma welder	tracker ray	steady red light	dish antenna	loud noises
Turbo	laser cutter	tracker ray	steady red light	dish antenna	water splashes
Tracker	sonic drill	shield generator	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Rust E	plasma welder	stealth cloak	steady red light	twin antennas	magnet fields
Volt	laser cutter	shield generator	steady red light	spiral antenna	magnet fields
Beacon	hydraulic lift	magnet beam	steady red light	spiral antenna	loud noises
Widget	plasma welder	shield generator	flashing green light	dish antenna	water splashes

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

To read the security log, you must calculate the total crates arranged in equal rows on the loading dock.

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

121

132

121

132

11 × 11 =T

8 × 8 =S

12 × 7 =A

10 × 6 =D

11 × 12 =O

11 × 5 =K

1 × 3 =H

3 × 7 =N

7 × 1 =L

11 × 6 =U

8 × 6 =E

9 × 11 =V

11 × 4 =I

4 × 10 =C

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

You find a torn blueprint page. Subtract the missing parts to reveal the secret code.

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

870

732

738

627

616

715

738

425

616

143

125

337

870

738

173

616

143

870

738

616

173

279

425

738

173

598

172

821

732

870

1048 - 178 =T

880 - 165 =M

272 - 99 =D

362 - 25 =O

396 - 253 =S

1132 - 311 =G

905 - 173 =H

845 - 229 =A

197 - 72 =P

398 - 226 =I

657 - 59 =L

389 - 110 =Y

819 - 81 =E

994 - 367 =C

810 - 385 =R

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Adding up the energy cell counts across all storage bins unlocks the next data file.

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

359

426

469

803

521

426

234

869

569

869

850

986

469

869

569

803

767

343

569

940

426

767

426

869

767

986

359

189 + 170 =L

334 + 516 =C

205 + 138 =H

438 + 329 =T

335 + 468 =D

588 + 281 =S

280 + 146 =O

101 + 133 =I

212 + 257 =U

626 + 360 =A

266 + 255 =N

316 + 624 =B

255 + 314 =E

0/13 letters found

Clue 4

Place value

The central computer locks its vault using a three digit place value code.

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

3000

9000

800

7000

6000

8000

300

800

200

9000

6000

2000

700

300

5000

6000

9000

6000

What is the value of the 3 in 3,455?W

What is the value of the 8 in 8,300?D

What is the value of the 8 in 843?O

What is the value of the 2 in 1,324?A

What is the value of the 2 in 230?K

What is the value of the 5 in 95,269?L

What is the value of the 9 in 9,521?E

What is the value of the 3 in 1,307?R

What is the value of the 8 in 380?I

What is the value of the 4 in 345?B

What is the value of the 2 in 12,004?S

What is the value of the 7 in 17,351?U

What is the value of the 3 in 9,031?T

What is the value of the 7 in 2,718?P

What is the value of the 5 in 653?F

What is the value of the 6 in 16,902?N

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

Sharing the power grid equally among the factory rooms helps decrypt 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

30 ÷ 10 = ?

45 ÷ 9 = ?

42 ÷ 6 = ?

110 ÷ 11 = ?

9 ÷ 1 = ?

16 ÷ 4 = ?

10 ÷ 10 = ?

32 ÷ 4 = ?

48 ÷ 4 = ?

16 ÷ 8 = ?

24 ÷ 4 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain lit a plasma welder, then engaged a turbo booster.

2.The villain used a laser cutter, then engaged a turbo booster.

3.The villain spun a sonic drill, then beamed a tracker ray.

4.The villain fired a rivet gun, then beamed a tracker ray.

5.The villain cranked a hydraulic lift, then fired a magnet beam.

6.The villain lit a plasma welder, then raised a shield generator.

7.The villain spun a sonic drill, then engaged a turbo booster.

8.The villain lit a plasma welder, then beamed a tracker ray.

9.The villain fired a rivet gun, then activated a stealth cloak.

10.The villain spun a sonic drill, then activated a stealth cloak.

11.The villain spun a sonic drill, then raised a shield generator.

12.The villain lit a plasma welder, then activated a stealth cloak.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Mischievous Mech

Culprit: Tracker (sonic drill · shield generator · steady red light · spiral antenna · loud noises)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A STEALTH CLOAK"
11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 8 × 8 = 64 (S) · 12 × 7 = 84 (A) · 10 × 6 = 60 (D) · 11 × 12 = 132 (O) · 11 × 5 = 55 (K) · 1 × 3 = 3 (H) · 3 × 7 = 21 (N) · 7 × 1 = 7 (L) · 11 × 6 = 66 (U) · 8 × 6 = 48 (E) · 9 × 11 = 99 (V) · 11 × 4 = 44 (I) · 4 × 10 = 40 (C)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE CAMERA SPOTTED A STEADY RED LIGHT"
1048 - 178 = 870 (T) · 880 - 165 = 715 (M) · 272 - 99 = 173 (D) · 362 - 25 = 337 (O) · 396 - 253 = 143 (S) · 1132 - 311 = 821 (G) · 905 - 173 = 732 (H) · 845 - 229 = 616 (A) · 197 - 72 = 125 (P) · 398 - 226 = 172 (I) · 657 - 59 = 598 (L) · 389 - 110 = 279 (Y) · 819 - 81 = 738 (E) · 994 - 367 = 627 (C) · 810 - 385 = 425 (R)
Clue 3 (Addition): "LOUD NOISES CAUSED THE BOT TO STALL"
189 + 170 = 359 (L) · 334 + 516 = 850 (C) · 205 + 138 = 343 (H) · 438 + 329 = 767 (T) · 335 + 468 = 803 (D) · 588 + 281 = 869 (S) · 280 + 146 = 426 (O) · 101 + 133 = 234 (I) · 212 + 257 = 469 (U) · 626 + 360 = 986 (A) · 266 + 255 = 521 (N) · 316 + 624 = 940 (B) · 255 + 314 = 569 (E)
Clue 4 (Place value): "WE FOUND A BROKEN SPIRAL ANTENNA"
What is the value of the 3 in 3,455? = 3000 (W) · What is the value of the 8 in 8,300? = 8000 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 843? = 800 (O) · What is the value of the 2 in 1,324? = 20 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 230? = 200 (K) · What is the value of the 5 in 95,269? = 5000 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 9,521? = 9000 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 1,307? = 300 (R) · What is the value of the 8 in 380? = 80 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 345? = 40 (B) · What is the value of the 2 in 12,004? = 2000 (S) · What is the value of the 7 in 17,351? = 7000 (U) · What is the value of the 3 in 9,031? = 30 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 2,718? = 700 (P) · What is the value of the 5 in 653? = 50 (F) · What is the value of the 6 in 16,902? = 6000 (N)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Tracker
30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Subtraction, Addition, Place value, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Mischievous Mech — set in Cyber City Bot Works
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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