🔎 The missing Halloween micropGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionFractions of a numberSubtractionMissing addends

The Case of the Missing Halloween Microphone

Minutes before the Halloween Bash concert, DJ Pumpkinhead went to grab the glowing skull microphone, but the stand was empty! Solve the math clues to find out who snatched the mic and saved the show.

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	Stage Trick	Sound Effect	Mic Grip	Wig Color	Distraction
Clef Chloe	Bat Swarm	Wolf Howl	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Bright Flashlights
Melody Pumpkin	Confetti Pop	Wolf Howl	Left Handed	Neon Orange Wig	Garlic Snacks
Chord Charlie	Laser Lights	Monster Growl	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Garlic Snacks
Synth Seth	Laser Lights	Creepy Giggle	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Garlic Snacks
Octave Olivia	Confetti Pop	Witch Cackle	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Garlic Snacks
Harmony Haunt	Laser Lights	Wolf Howl	Left Handed	Neon Orange Wig	Loud Whistles
Ghostly Gabe	Laser Lights	Witch Cackle	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Loud Whistles
Vampy Veda	Confetti Pop	Owl Hoot	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Bright Flashlights
Pitch Pete	Fog Blast	Monster Growl	Left Handed	Neon Orange Wig	Loud Whistles
Riff Ricky	Bat Swarm	Owl Hoot	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Loud Whistles
Treble Tim	Ghost Echo	Wolf Howl	Right Handed	Slime Green Wig	Garlic Snacks
Solo Sarah	Ghost Echo	Witch Cackle	Left Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Bright Flashlights
Piper Spell	Confetti Pop	Creepy Giggle	Right Handed	Slime Green Wig	Loud Whistles
Track Maya	Ghost Echo	Wolf Howl	Left Handed	Neon Orange Wig	Loud Whistles
Rhythm Ruby	Bat Swarm	Witch Cackle	Right Handed	Midnight Black Wig	Loud Whistles
Frankie Beat	Fog Blast	Owl Hoot	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights
DJ Jack	Bat Swarm	Owl Hoot	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights
Echo Ava	Confetti Pop	Witch Cackle	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights
Tempo Tom	Ghost Echo	Witch Cackle	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights
Mummy Max	Ghost Echo	Monster Growl	Left Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights
Siren Sam	Ghost Echo	Witch Cackle	Right Handed	Slime Green Wig	Bright Flashlights

Clue 1

Place value

To decode the soundboard readout, check the digit in the tens place on the audio panel.

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

2000

900

800

400

200

7000

900

700

7000

2000

700

900

500

7000

700

2000

900

1000

7000

4000

400

What is the value of the 2 in 2,364?T

What is the value of the 2 in 427?U

What is the value of the 4 in 452?L

What is the value of the 4 in 4,025?W

What is the value of the 7 in 6,470?N

What is the value of the 2 in 5,283?D

What is the value of the 8 in 6,899?V

What is the value of the 7 in 722?S

What is the value of the 3 in 137?A

What is the value of the 7 in 7,064?O

What is the value of the 8 in 7,280?R

What is the value of the 1 in 816?I

What is the value of the 1 in 31,803?G

What is the value of the 9 in 8,965?E

What is the value of the 4 in 2,948?H

What is the value of the 5 in 521?M

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

Add up all the audio cables gathered from the green room to unlock the stage door.

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

3516

3178

8812

7040

4146

7812

6157

3516

7812

7040

4146

6157

6490

6014

9877

6157

2584

3516

3178

8812

5323

2467

4146

5403

8812

5323

6157

7040

6314

1282 + 2234 =W

4761 + 3051 =S

5741 + 4136 =R

1815 + 2331 =E

1516 + 1068 =B

5055 + 3757 =T

3624 + 2866 =K

4450 + 2590 =N

1602 + 3721 =H

3400 + 2003 =F

1242 + 1225 =L

1532 + 1646 =I

3968 + 2046 =G

2950 + 3207 =A

2052 + 4262 =D

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Fractions of a number

Find the fraction of illuminated stage lights that are flashing purple to track the thief.

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

2/10 of 160 =T

2/4 of 16 =R

2/6 of 111 =A

1/4 of 112 =K

2/8 of 144 =O

3/5 of 35 =E

1/8 of 40 =F

1/2 of 60 =B

1/5 of 200 =M

1/2 of 52 =N

1/5 of 125 =S

2/8 of 80 =H

5/10 of 36 =G

1/4 of 76 =I

2/3 of 18 =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

Subtract the broken glow sticks from the total batch to see how many were used.

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

6412

6443

2315

2711

6002

2488

2711

4959

6589

2315

4959

7404

1074

5927

7404

1486

2315

6443

6002

4550

2315

5927

4959

2559

2711

6002

4959

4067

6412

2315

7058 - 646 =G

9485 - 2081 =I

5815 - 4741 =C

2541 - 53 =Y

7033 - 4474 =O

4153 - 2667 =B

10530 - 4603 =F

7901 - 2942 =T

4305 - 1594 =N

5076 - 1009 =A

2881 - 566 =E

10753 - 4164 =H

7347 - 904 =R

4633 - 83 =L

10669 - 4667 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Missing addends — the last clue

Figure out the missing power level needed to fully boost the sound system.

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

16 + ___ = 28

10 + ___ = 16

35 + ___ = 40

1 + ___ = 9

21 + ___ = 32

6 + ___ = 16

33 + ___ = 36

19 + ___ = 21

24 + ___ = 31

23 + ___ = 24

8 + ___ = 17

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain popped confetti cannons, then played a wolf howl.

2.The villain summoned harmless bats, then played a monster growl.

3.The villain flashed neon lasers, then played a creepy giggle.

4.The villain created ghost echoes, then played a witch cackle.

5.The villain blasted spooky fog, then played an owl hoot.

6.The villain summoned harmless bats, then played an owl hoot.

7.The villain created ghost echoes, then played a monster growl.

8.The villain blasted spooky fog, then played a witch cackle.

9.The villain blasted spooky fog, then played a wolf howl.

10.The villain created ghost echoes, then played an owl hoot.

11.The villain created ghost echoes, then played a creepy giggle.

12.The villain popped confetti cannons, then played a witch cackle.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Halloween Microphone

Culprit: Tempo Tom (Ghost Echo · Witch Cackle · Left Handed · Slime Green Wig · Bright Flashlights)

Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE MONSTER GROWL"
What is the value of the 2 in 2,364? = 2000 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 427? = 20 (U) · What is the value of the 4 in 452? = 400 (L) · What is the value of the 4 in 4,025? = 4000 (W) · What is the value of the 7 in 6,470? = 70 (N) · What is the value of the 2 in 5,283? = 200 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 6,899? = 800 (V) · What is the value of the 7 in 722? = 700 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 137? = 30 (A) · What is the value of the 7 in 7,064? = 7000 (O) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,280? = 80 (R) · What is the value of the 1 in 816? = 10 (I) · What is the value of the 1 in 31,803? = 1000 (G) · What is the value of the 9 in 8,965? = 900 (E) · What is the value of the 4 in 2,948? = 40 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 521? = 500 (M)
Clue 2 (Addition): "WITNESS SAW SNEAK GRAB WITH LEFT HAND"
1282 + 2234 = 3516 (W) · 4761 + 3051 = 7812 (S) · 5741 + 4136 = 9877 (R) · 1815 + 2331 = 4146 (E) · 1516 + 1068 = 2584 (B) · 5055 + 3757 = 8812 (T) · 3624 + 2866 = 6490 (K) · 4450 + 2590 = 7040 (N) · 1602 + 3721 = 5323 (H) · 3400 + 2003 = 5403 (F) · 1242 + 1225 = 2467 (L) · 1532 + 1646 = 3178 (I) · 3968 + 2046 = 6014 (G) · 2950 + 3207 = 6157 (A) · 2052 + 4262 = 6314 (D)
Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THE SNEAK RAN FROM BRIGHT FLASHLIGHTS"
2/10 of 160 = 32 (T) · 2/4 of 16 = 8 (R) · 2/6 of 111 = 37 (A) · 1/4 of 112 = 28 (K) · 2/8 of 144 = 36 (O) · 3/5 of 35 = 21 (E) · 1/8 of 40 = 5 (F) · 1/2 of 60 = 30 (B) · 1/5 of 200 = 40 (M) · 1/2 of 52 = 26 (N) · 1/5 of 125 = 25 (S) · 2/8 of 80 = 20 (H) · 5/10 of 36 = 18 (G) · 1/4 of 76 = 19 (I) · 2/3 of 18 = 12 (L)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "GREEN SYNTHETIC FIBERS LEFT ON STAGE"
7058 - 646 = 6412 (G) · 9485 - 2081 = 7404 (I) · 5815 - 4741 = 1074 (C) · 2541 - 53 = 2488 (Y) · 7033 - 4474 = 2559 (O) · 4153 - 2667 = 1486 (B) · 10530 - 4603 = 5927 (F) · 7901 - 2942 = 4959 (T) · 4305 - 1594 = 2711 (N) · 5076 - 1009 = 4067 (A) · 2881 - 566 = 2315 (E) · 10753 - 4164 = 6589 (H) · 7347 - 904 = 6443 (R) · 4633 - 83 = 4550 (L) · 10669 - 4667 = 6002 (S)
Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 4) → Tempo Tom
16 + ___ = 28 = 12 · 10 + ___ = 16 = 6 · 35 + ___ = 40 = 5 · 1 + ___ = 9 = 8 · 21 + ___ = 32 = 11 · 6 + ___ = 16 = 10 · 33 + ___ = 36 = 3 · 19 + ___ = 21 = 2 · 24 + ___ = 31 = 7 · 23 + ___ = 24 = 1 · 8 + ___ = 17 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Place value, Addition, Fractions of a number, Subtraction, Missing addends
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Halloween Microphone — set in Spooky Beat Music Studio
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math cases

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Place value worksheets Missing addends worksheets Fractions of a number worksheets All worksheets →

The Starlight Base Mystery

Grade 4

The Starlight Station Sabotage

Grade 4

The Mystery of Crafting Peak

Grade 4

The Great Block Heist

Grade 4