Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Case of the Missing Golden Sun Disk
During a midnight storm at the Crestwood Citadel, an unknown intruder broke into the main vault and vanished with the priceless Golden Sun Disk. Cryptic field logs and equipment clues were left scattered along the escape trail.
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 | Specialist Gear | Secondary Tool | Dominant Hand | Hairstyle | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacques Cousteau | sonic whistle | decoy flare | left handed | braid hairstyle | loud sound |
| Howard Carter | night goggles | climbing pick | left handed | short crop hair | bright light |
| Cruz Coronado | grappling hook | torch light | right handed | short crop hair | water spray |
| Evie Carnahan | grappling hook | decoy flare | right handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Thor Heyerdahl | grappling hook | climbing pick | right handed | ponytail hair | loud sound |
| Nathan Drake | grappling hook | torch light | left handed | braid hairstyle | loud sound |
| Lara Stone | night goggles | torch light | left handed | braid hairstyle | water spray |
| Sylvia Earle | zipline kit | map compass | left handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Rex Conquest | zipline kit | climbing pick | right handed | short crop hair | water spray |
| Roy Chapman | zipline kit | decoy flare | left handed | short crop hair | bright light |
| Maya Lin | sonic whistle | decoy flare | left handed | short crop hair | water spray |
| Carter Kane | grappling hook | climbing pick | left handed | braid hairstyle | loud sound |
| Ruby Roundhouse | night goggles | torch light | right handed | braid hairstyle | water spray |
| Sam Swift | sonic whistle | decoy flare | right handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Amelia Gear | smoke bomb | climbing pick | right handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Percy Fawcett | grappling hook | climbing pick | right handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Charles Darwin | sonic whistle | decoy flare | right handed | ponytail hair | bright light |
| Gertrude Bell | grappling hook | torch light | left handed | short crop hair | bright light |
| Mary Leakey | smoke bomb | portable winch | right handed | ponytail hair | water spray |
| Rick Oconnell | grappling hook | portable winch | right handed | short crop hair | bright light |
| Henry Jones | grappling hook | climbing pick | right handed | braid hairstyle | bright light |
Clue 1
Exponents
The vault door is secured with a digital keypad that evaluates power levels using exponential growth patterns to verify override codes.
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
729
216
256
484
343
T
729
243
64
121
256
243
121
484
121
343
25
T
729
64
125
256
9
144
25
243
T
729
9
128
441
256
27
484
343
625
216
9^3 =T
4^3 =U
3^2 =A
5^2 =O
3^3 =W
12^2 =P
6^3 =H
11^2 =D
21^2 =L
22^2 =I
2^7 =B
7^3 =N
5^4 =C
3^5 =R
5^3 =S
4^4 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
To determine the precise dimensions of the breached stone wall, the field team uses grid measurements requiring square roots.
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
10
9
2
14
5
22
22
20
24
11
T
10
20
12
22
25
22
21
12
14
T
10
22
11
25
18
19
17
9
24
3
9
23
19
20
T
10
20
2
18
15
sqrt(100) =T
sqrt(529) =I
sqrt(625) =U
sqrt(196) =C
sqrt(144) =E
sqrt(289) =F
sqrt(361) =G
sqrt(4) =A
sqrt(9) =M
sqrt(225) =D
sqrt(400) =H
sqrt(576) =O
sqrt(324) =N
sqrt(121) =W
sqrt(484) =S
sqrt(81) =R
sqrt(25) =K
sqrt(441) =P
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The escape path cuts directly across a right-angled ravine, requiring you to compute the diagonal distance using the Pythagorean theorem.
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
75
51
26
5
10
20
85
50
17
5
51
25
51
58
17
65
51
39
A
75
85
17
40
58
30
17
5
15
20
A
75
29
A
75
25
58
30
10
17
74
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =A
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =M
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =O
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =Y
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =D
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =P
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =F
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =L
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =I
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =U
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =N
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =T
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =K
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =W
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =S
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =R
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =H
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
A damaged expedition log recovered from the campsite must be decrypted by solving numeric expressions in the correct order of operations.
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
115
71
41
36
36
107
71
36
A
115
103
77
59
30
71
45
30
103
54
35
A
115
48
98
17
A
115
48
71
104
A
115
73
98
107
59
35
11 × 12 - 17 =A
5 × 12 - 6 =Y
8 × 10 - 7 =S
10 × 6 - 19 =U
12 × 5 - 12 =I
9 × 12 - 5 =N
12 × 9 - 4 =W
22 + 2 × 7 =B
11 + 6 × 4 =T
59 + 6 × 2 =R
12 × 9 - 1 =E
86 + 6 × 2 =L
31 + 7 × 4 =F
10 × 9 - 13 =D
35 + 5 × 2 =P
13 + 2 × 2 =H
4 × 9 - 6 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Tracking the suspect's remaining fuel supply requires solving balanced two-step equations to reveal the exact distance traveled.
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
5x + 3 = 38, x = ?
4x + 10 = 22, x = ?
5x + 5 = 45, x = ?
6x + 3 = 63, x = ?
5x + 12 = 42, x = ?
4x + 10 = 30, x = ?
2x + 6 = 14, x = ?
6x + 4 = 58, x = ?
5x + 9 = 69, x = ?
3x + 2 = 35, x = ?
5x + 9 = 14, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain zipped down the cable, then swung a climbing pick.
2.The villain threw a smoke bomb, then swung a climbing pick.
3.The villain swung across the chasm, then swung a climbing pick.
4.The villain put on night goggles, then cranked a portable winch.
5.The villain blew a sonic whistle, then swung a climbing pick.
6.The villain swung across the chasm, then lit up a torch light.
7.The villain swung across the chasm, then launched a decoy flare.
8.The villain blew a sonic whistle, then launched a decoy flare.
9.The villain zipped down the cable, then launched a decoy flare.
10.The villain blew a sonic whistle, then cranked a portable winch.
11.The villain swung across the chasm, then cranked a portable winch.
12.The villain zipped down the cable, then cranked a portable winch.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Sun Disk
Culprit: Amelia Gear (smoke bomb · climbing pick · right handed · ponytail hair · water spray)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE INTRUDER DID NOT USE A PORTABLE WINCH"9^3 = 729 (T) · 4^3 = 64 (U) · 3^2 = 9 (A) · 5^2 = 25 (O) · 3^3 = 27 (W) · 12^2 = 144 (P) · 6^3 = 216 (H) · 11^2 = 121 (D) · 21^2 = 441 (L) · 22^2 = 484 (I) · 2^7 = 128 (B) · 7^3 = 343 (N) · 5^4 = 625 (C) · 3^5 = 243 (R) · 5^3 = 125 (S) · 4^4 = 256 (E)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "TRACKS SHOW THE SUSPECT SWUNG FROM RIGHT HAND"sqrt(100) = 10 (T) · sqrt(529) = 23 (I) · sqrt(625) = 25 (U) · sqrt(196) = 14 (C) · sqrt(144) = 12 (E) · sqrt(289) = 17 (F) · sqrt(361) = 19 (G) · sqrt(4) = 2 (A) · sqrt(9) = 3 (M) · sqrt(225) = 15 (D) · sqrt(400) = 20 (H) · sqrt(576) = 24 (O) · sqrt(324) = 18 (N) · sqrt(121) = 11 (W) · sqrt(484) = 22 (S) · sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(25) = 5 (K) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "A SPRINKLER SYSTEM SOAKED THE RUNAWAY THIEF"legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (A) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (M) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (O) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (Y) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (D) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (P) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (F) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (L) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (I) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (U) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (N) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (E) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (T) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (K) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (W) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (S) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (R) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (H)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A RUBBER BAND FOR PONYTAIL HAIR WAS LEFT"11 × 12 - 17 = 115 (A) · 5 × 12 - 6 = 54 (Y) · 8 × 10 - 7 = 73 (S) · 10 × 6 - 19 = 41 (U) · 12 × 5 - 12 = 48 (I) · 9 × 12 - 5 = 103 (N) · 12 × 9 - 4 = 104 (W) · 22 + 2 × 7 = 36 (B) · 11 + 6 × 4 = 35 (T) · 59 + 6 × 2 = 71 (R) · 12 × 9 - 1 = 107 (E) · 86 + 6 × 2 = 98 (L) · 31 + 7 × 4 = 59 (F) · 10 × 9 - 13 = 77 (D) · 35 + 5 × 2 = 45 (P) · 13 + 2 × 2 = 17 (H) · 4 × 9 - 6 = 30 (O)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 2) → Amelia Gear5x + 3 = 38, x = 7 · 4x + 10 = 22, x = 3 · 5x + 5 = 45, x = 8 · 6x + 3 = 63, x = 10 · 5x + 12 = 42, x = 6 · 4x + 10 = 30, x = 5 · 2x + 6 = 14, x = 4 · 6x + 4 = 58, x = 9 · 5x + 9 = 69, x = 12 · 3x + 2 = 35, x = 11 · 5x + 9 = 14, x = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Sun Disk — set in The Sunken Citadel of Crestwood
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects