Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Someone snuck into the expedition tent and snatched the Golden Compass! Solve the clues to identify the rogue explorer before the ship sails.
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 Gear | Side Item | Dominant Hand | Headwear | Fear Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuri Gagarin | Grappling Hook | Torch | Left Handed | Bandana | Loud Whistles |
| Thor Heyerdahl | Brass Telescope | Torch | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Sacagawea | Grappling Hook | Golden Compass | Left Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Leif Erikson | Grappling Hook | Torch | Right Handed | Bandana | Loud Whistles |
| Ranulph Fiennes | Rope Launcher | Golden Compass | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Nellie Bly | Smoke Bomb | Torch | Left Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Ibn Battuta | Rope Launcher | Canteen | Right Handed | Bandana | Loud Whistles |
| Steve Irwin | Brass Telescope | Canteen | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Indiana Jones | Rope Launcher | Canteen | Left Handed | Captain Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Edmund Hillary | Signal Flare | Machete | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Loud Whistles |
| James Cook | Rope Launcher | Decoder Ring | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Amelia Earhart | Brass Telescope | Canteen | Right Handed | Bandana | Squeaking Bats |
| Bear Grylls | Grappling Hook | Golden Compass | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Squeaking Bats |
| Jacques Cousteau | Smoke Bomb | Golden Compass | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Sylvia Earle | Smoke Bomb | Canteen | Right Handed | Captain Cap | Squeaking Bats |
| Jeanne Baret | Signal Flare | Torch | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Squeaking Bats |
| Jack Sparrow | Smoke Bomb | Torch | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Bright Flash |
| Hernan Cortes | Smoke Bomb | Decoder Ring | Right Handed | Bandana | Loud Whistles |
| Matthew Henson | Signal Flare | Golden Compass | Right Handed | Bandana | Bright Flash |
| David Livingstone | Grappling Hook | Canteen | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Bright Flash |
| Marco Polo | Rope Launcher | Machete | Left Handed | Bandana | Loud Whistles |
Clue 1
Rounding
The camp radar only shows rounded distance numbers, but rounding to the nearest ten reveals the first clue.
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
300
7000
4300
110
170
4300
1700
70
500
2900
230
3700
3700
1700
230
170
2300
30
4300
110
170
30
T
300
9000
110
4300
1700
2300
4300
90
30
2300
4300
200
200
230
170
900
Round 318 to the nearest hundredT
Round 28 to the nearest tenO
Round 3,707 to the nearest hundredL
Round 245 to the nearest hundredR
Round 8,972 to the nearest thousandU
Round 7,354 to the nearest thousandH
Round 170 to the nearest tenN
Round 2,856 to the nearest hundredV
Round 230 to the nearest tenI
Round 896 to the nearest hundredG
Round 108 to the nearest tenS
Round 1,743 to the nearest hundredA
Round 489 to the nearest hundredY
Round 2,314 to the nearest hundredD
Round 92 to the nearest tenC
Round 4,293 to the nearest hundredE
Round 69 to the nearest tenK
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We gathered all the trail maps found in the jungle camp and added them up to find the next clue.
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
8558
2039
6015
2866
5954
6015
9694
7892
2370
3115
5637
T
8558
6015
2866
5954
8069
T
8558
6015
2866
2370
5637
T
8558
2039
9694
3115
5637
3290
2039
T
8558
2039
9694
5954
8697
3441 + 5117 =T
2756 + 3198 =N
3914 + 1723 =I
1220 + 819 =H
1578 + 792 =W
4469 + 4228 =D
4192 + 1823 =E
5223 + 2669 =K
1576 + 1714 =G
1016 + 1850 =S
2840 + 5229 =O
1011 + 2104 =R
6051 + 3643 =A
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The crew checked how many supplies were left after subtracting lost gear, which led to a new clue.
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
2765
8450
7165
4970
8838
4970
5946
6999
5783
1082
3187
7165
N
2765
3447
4203
1082
2875
4970
8523
6231
8450
1226
5783
2875
7625
5783
4970
N
2765
5783
1082
3187
1082
5243
1082
8838
3090 - 325 =N
6814 - 3627 =K
1913 - 687 =V
10997 - 2474 =D
6102 - 3227 =T
7981 - 982 =U
12036 - 4411 =H
10570 - 1732 =Y
9976 - 4030 =Q
4986 - 783 =B
8703 - 253 =O
7803 - 1572 =R
1597 - 515 =A
5310 - 340 =S
9673 - 3890 =E
8043 - 878 =I
8046 - 2803 =W
4245 - 798 =G
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We counted the total supplies packed in equal crates, using multiplication to uncover the clue.
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
132
49
36
10
16
25
88
A
132
22
70
A
132
10
16
88
A
132
22
63
A
132
49
99
2
110
16
108
2
16
A
132
11
8
A
132
16
88
36
12 × 11 =A
2 × 11 =P
1 × 8 =R
7 × 7 =S
5 × 5 =Y
9 × 11 =F
11 × 1 =B
8 × 2 =N
8 × 11 =C
9 × 7 =W
1 × 10 =I
2 × 1 =O
10 × 7 =T
12 × 3 =H
11 × 10 =U
12 × 9 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team split the total gold coins equally among the search squads, using division to unlock the last clue.
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
40 ÷ 8 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
5 ÷ 5 = ?
22 ÷ 2 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired a rope launcher, then unlocked a secret code.
2.The villain threw a sudden smoke bomb, then lit the path with a torch.
3.The villain threw a sudden smoke bomb, then took a drink from a canteen.
4.The villain spotted clues with a brass telescope, then checked the golden compass.
5.The villain spotted clues with a brass telescope, then took a drink from a canteen.
6.The villain fired a rope launcher, then checked the golden compass.
7.The villain swung across with a grappling hook, then took a drink from a canteen.
8.The villain swung across with a grappling hook, then lit the path with a torch.
9.The villain threw a sudden smoke bomb, then checked the golden compass.
10.The villain spotted clues with a brass telescope, then lit the path with a torch.
11.The villain threw a sudden smoke bomb, then unlocked a secret code.
12.The villain fired a rope launcher, then took a drink from a canteen.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Culprit: Jacques Cousteau (Smoke Bomb · Golden Compass · Right Handed · Captain Cap · Squeaking Bats)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A DECODER RING"Round 318 to the nearest hundred = 300 (T) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 3,707 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (L) · Round 245 to the nearest hundred = 200 (R) · Round 8,972 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (U) · Round 7,354 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (N) · Round 2,856 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (V) · Round 230 to the nearest ten = 230 (I) · Round 896 to the nearest hundred = 900 (G) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (S) · Round 1,743 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 489 to the nearest hundred = 500 (Y) · Round 2,314 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (D) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (C) · Round 4,293 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 69 to the nearest ten = 70 (K)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SNEAK WRITES NOTES WITH A RIGHT HAND"3441 + 5117 = 8558 (T) · 2756 + 3198 = 5954 (N) · 3914 + 1723 = 5637 (I) · 1220 + 819 = 2039 (H) · 1578 + 792 = 2370 (W) · 4469 + 4228 = 8697 (D) · 4192 + 1823 = 6015 (E) · 5223 + 2669 = 7892 (K) · 1576 + 1714 = 3290 (G) · 1016 + 1850 = 2866 (S) · 2840 + 5229 = 8069 (O) · 1011 + 2104 = 3115 (R) · 6051 + 3643 = 9694 (A)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "NOISY SQUEAKING BATS DROVE THE SNEAK AWAY"3090 - 325 = 2765 (N) · 6814 - 3627 = 3187 (K) · 1913 - 687 = 1226 (V) · 10997 - 2474 = 8523 (D) · 6102 - 3227 = 2875 (T) · 7981 - 982 = 6999 (U) · 12036 - 4411 = 7625 (H) · 10570 - 1732 = 8838 (Y) · 9976 - 4030 = 5946 (Q) · 4986 - 783 = 4203 (B) · 8703 - 253 = 8450 (O) · 7803 - 1572 = 6231 (R) · 1597 - 515 = 1082 (A) · 5310 - 340 = 4970 (S) · 9673 - 3890 = 5783 (E) · 8043 - 878 = 7165 (I) · 8046 - 2803 = 5243 (W) · 4245 - 798 = 3447 (G)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A SHINY CAPTAIN CAP WAS FOUND ON A BRANCH"12 × 11 = 132 (A) · 2 × 11 = 22 (P) · 1 × 8 = 8 (R) · 7 × 7 = 49 (S) · 5 × 5 = 25 (Y) · 9 × 11 = 99 (F) · 11 × 1 = 11 (B) · 8 × 2 = 16 (N) · 8 × 11 = 88 (C) · 9 × 7 = 63 (W) · 1 × 10 = 10 (I) · 2 × 1 = 2 (O) · 10 × 7 = 70 (T) · 12 × 3 = 36 (H) · 11 × 10 = 110 (U) · 12 × 9 = 108 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Jacques Cousteau40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Compass — set in Sunken Cove Jungle
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects