⚽ SoccerGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Case of the Missing Golden Cup
Just hours before the Starlight Cup final, someone broke into the trophy vault and swapped the championship trophy with a deflated practice ball! Track down the clues across the stadium to 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 | Favorite Gear | Dominant Foot | Hairstyle | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Van Dijk | Power Header | Grip Gloves | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Declan Rice | Knuckleball | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Erling Haaland | Knuckleball | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Braided Top | Bright Floodlight |
| Antoine Griezmann | Knuckleball | Taping Straps | Right Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Bukayo Saka | Power Header | Neon Headband | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Bright Floodlight |
| Kylian Mbappe | Bicycle Shot | Taping Straps | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Alex Morgan | Bicycle Shot | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Spiky Cut | Bright Floodlight |
| Lautaro Martinez | Curve Kick | Padded Sleeves | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Rodri Hernandez | Rocket Strike | Padded Sleeves | Right Footed | Spiky Cut | Bright Floodlight |
| Alphonso Davies | Power Header | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Spiky Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Sam Kerr | Bicycle Shot | Neon Headband | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Pitch |
| Cole Palmer | Bicycle Shot | Padded Sleeves | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Trent Alexander Arnold | Bicycle Shot | Grip Gloves | Right Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Jamal Musiala | Bicycle Shot | Grip Gloves | Right Footed | Spiky Cut | Squeaky Pitch |
| Jude Bellingham | Knuckleball | Padded Sleeves | Right Footed | Braided Top | Squeaky Pitch |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Knuckleball | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Buzz Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Federico Valverde | Knuckleball | Padded Sleeves | Right Footed | Buzz Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Son Heung Min | Knuckleball | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Spiky Cut | Squeaky Pitch |
| Phil Foden | Bicycle Shot | Taping Straps | Left Footed | Buzz Cut | Bright Floodlight |
| Victor Osimhen | Knuckleball | Taping Straps | Left Footed | Braided Top | Loud Whistle |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Bicycle Shot | Tinted Visor | Left Footed | Braided Top | Squeaky Pitch |
Clue 1
Integers
Analyzing the net gain and loss of turf yards on the practice field reveals an integer pattern leading to our 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.
V
1
12
24
24
22
12
10
21
20
16
7
10
20
23
14
16
22
8
17
22
21
21
16
21
7
24
16
16
V
1
16
7
(-1) + 2 =V
(-4) + 24 =O
(-2) + 24 =A
(-4) + 28 =L
(-6) + 18 =I
(-3) + 20 =P
(-7) + 14 =S
(-11) + 21 =N
13 - (-8) =D
(-10) + 33 =T
(-8) + 16 =R
(-5) + 19 =W
(-13) + 29 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
Calculating the possession percentages from the stadium tracking system narrows down the suspicious activity.
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
19
14
43
17
56
25
25
25
29
W
19
29
48
56
26
43
26
4
4
43
56
5
50
48
29
16
56
11
48
56
29
33
56
25
59
56
17
56
10% of 190 =W
50% of 22 =R
10% of 160 =Y
25% of 16 =O
50% of 96 =L
20% of 295 =C
10% of 140 =I
40% of 140 =E
5% of 580 =A
25% of 104 =F
50% of 100 =P
5% of 500 =S
25% of 20 =D
75% of 44 =V
5% of 860 =T
5% of 340 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Evaluating the complex tournament scoring equation using proper order of operations unlocks the encrypted locker camera footage.
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
64
89
32
81
95
42
119
30
29
T
64
52
42
29
54
81
89
32
35
120
T
64
120
42
73
95
35
38
89
29
51
T
64
42
32
52 + 4 × 3 =T
10 × 6 - 30 =R
10 × 7 - 19 =S
12 × 12 - 25 =P
9 × 11 - 10 =H
14 + 2 × 9 =E
9 × 5 - 3 =L
5 × 6 - 1 =I
24 + 7 × 2 =W
6 × 11 - 14 =F
52 + 7 × 3 =O
7 × 8 - 2 =N
92 + 7 × 4 =A
7 × 12 - 3 =C
10 × 11 - 15 =U
8 + 3 × 9 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Computing the exponential increase in spectator ticket sales pinpointed the precise moment the security system was bypassed.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
64
225
144
343
8
36
8
9
144
343
225
243
4
144
216
216
36
8
324
4
128
9
36
128
225
324
32
9
25
16
144
243
36
2^6 =B
2^2 =N
7^3 =I
2^7 =T
15^2 =R
2^4 =C
3^2 =H
2^3 =D
6^3 =G
12^2 =A
6^2 =E
2^5 =P
18^2 =O
5^2 =Y
3^5 =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Solving a two step algebra equation based on drill times reveals the final hidden 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
6x + 8 = 38, x = ?
3x + 4 = 34, x = ?
3x + 1 = 37, x = ?
6x + 8 = 26, x = ?
4x + 5 = 41, x = ?
2x + 10 = 24, x = ?
2x + 11 = 23, x = ?
3x + 5 = 29, x = ?
4x + 11 = 19, x = ?
2x + 3 = 25, x = ?
4x + 11 = 15, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swerved a knuckleball through the laser grid, then adjusted a neon headband during the escape.
2.The villain leapt high for a power header to smash the latch, then wrapped taping straps before running away.
3.The villain executed a bicycle shot to reach the shelf, then tightened grip gloves while grabbing the prize.
4.The villain swerved a knuckleball through the laser grid, then wrapped taping straps before running away.
5.The villain swerved a knuckleball through the laser grid, then adjusted a tinted visor in the dark tunnel.
6.The villain executed a bicycle shot to reach the shelf, then adjusted a neon headband during the escape.
7.The villain fired a rocket strike at the lock, then adjusted a neon headband during the escape.
8.The villain leapt high for a power header to smash the latch, then pulled up padded sleeves in the hallway.
9.The villain executed a bicycle shot to reach the shelf, then pulled up padded sleeves in the hallway.
10.The villain leapt high for a power header to smash the latch, then tightened grip gloves while grabbing the prize.
11.The villain fired a rocket strike at the lock, then adjusted a tinted visor in the dark tunnel.
12.The villain executed a bicycle shot to reach the shelf, then wrapped taping straps before running away.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Cup
Culprit: Victor Osimhen (Knuckleball · Taping Straps · Left Footed · Braided Top · Loud Whistle)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR PADDED SLEEVES"(-1) + 2 = 1 (V) · (-4) + 24 = 20 (O) · (-2) + 24 = 22 (A) · (-4) + 28 = 24 (L) · (-6) + 18 = 12 (I) · (-3) + 20 = 17 (P) · (-7) + 14 = 7 (S) · (-11) + 21 = 10 (N) · 13 - (-8) = 21 (D) · (-10) + 33 = 23 (T) · (-8) + 16 = 8 (R) · (-5) + 19 = 14 (W) · (-13) + 29 = 16 (E)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "WITNESS SAW A LEFT FOOTED PLAYER LEAVE SCENE"10% of 190 = 19 (W) · 50% of 22 = 11 (R) · 10% of 160 = 16 (Y) · 25% of 16 = 4 (O) · 50% of 96 = 48 (L) · 20% of 295 = 59 (C) · 10% of 140 = 14 (I) · 40% of 140 = 56 (E) · 5% of 580 = 29 (A) · 25% of 104 = 26 (F) · 50% of 100 = 50 (P) · 5% of 500 = 25 (S) · 25% of 20 = 5 (D) · 75% of 44 = 33 (V) · 5% of 860 = 43 (T) · 5% of 340 = 17 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE CULPRIT FLINCHED AT A LOUD WHISTLE"52 + 4 × 3 = 64 (T) · 10 × 6 - 30 = 30 (R) · 10 × 7 - 19 = 51 (S) · 12 × 12 - 25 = 119 (P) · 9 × 11 - 10 = 89 (H) · 14 + 2 × 9 = 32 (E) · 9 × 5 - 3 = 42 (L) · 5 × 6 - 1 = 29 (I) · 24 + 7 × 2 = 38 (W) · 6 × 11 - 14 = 52 (F) · 52 + 7 × 3 = 73 (O) · 7 × 8 - 2 = 54 (N) · 92 + 7 × 4 = 120 (A) · 7 × 12 - 3 = 81 (C) · 10 × 11 - 15 = 95 (U) · 8 + 3 × 9 = 35 (D)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "BRAIDED HAIR SNAGGED ON THE TROPHY CASE"2^6 = 64 (B) · 2^2 = 4 (N) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 2^7 = 128 (T) · 15^2 = 225 (R) · 2^4 = 16 (C) · 3^2 = 9 (H) · 2^3 = 8 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (G) · 12^2 = 144 (A) · 6^2 = 36 (E) · 2^5 = 32 (P) · 18^2 = 324 (O) · 5^2 = 25 (Y) · 3^5 = 243 (S)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 4) → Victor Osimhen6x + 8 = 38, x = 5 · 3x + 4 = 34, x = 10 · 3x + 1 = 37, x = 12 · 6x + 8 = 26, x = 3 · 4x + 5 = 41, x = 9 · 2x + 10 = 24, x = 7 · 2x + 11 = 23, x = 6 · 3x + 5 = 29, x = 8 · 4x + 11 = 19, x = 2 · 2x + 3 = 25, x = 11 · 4x + 11 = 15, x = 1
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 Missing Golden Cup — set in Starlight Arena Grand Tournament
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects