🔎 Pittsburgh steelersGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Case of the Missing Terrible Towel
Right before the big game in Pittsburgh, the official lucky Terrible Towel went missing from the locker room! A sneaky stadium prankster slipped through the tunnel and took it. Solve the math clues around the stadium to uncover who did it and get the lucky towel back in time for kickoff!
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 | Favorite Play | Lucky Gear | Throwing Hand | Helmet Style | Stadium Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maurkice Pouncey | Blitz Defense | Steel Mask | Left Handed | White Helmet | Nachos |
| Joey Porter | Deep Post | Steel Mask | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Jack Lambert | Field Goal | Black Visor | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Najee Harris | Screen Pass | Yellow Gloves | Right Handed | White Helmet | Nachos |
| Jerome Bettis | Blitz Defense | Padded Armband | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Popcorn |
| Brett Keisel | Screen Pass | Steel Mask | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| John Stallworth | Field Goal | Yellow Gloves | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Terry Bradshaw | Deep Post | Padded Armband | Left Handed | Gold Helmet | Nachos |
| Alex Highsmith | QB Sneak | Black Visor | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Franco Harris | Blitz Defense | Padded Armband | Left Handed | White Helmet | Pretzels |
| Heath Miller | Blitz Defense | Yellow Gloves | Right Handed | White Helmet | Popcorn |
| Kenny Pickett | QB Sneak | Steel Mask | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| TJ Watt | Field Goal | Padded Armband | Right Handed | White Helmet | Nachos |
| Lynn Swann | Deep Post | Black Visor | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Minkah Fitzpatrick | QB Sneak | Black Visor | Right Handed | Black Helmet | Popcorn |
| Mel Blount | Field Goal | Steel Mask | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Nachos |
| Ben Roethlisberger | Screen Pass | Steel Mask | Left Handed | Gold Helmet | Pretzels |
| Rod Woodson | Deep Post | Yellow Gloves | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| James Harrison | Field Goal | Gold Cleats | Left Handed | Black Helmet | Pretzels |
| Hines Ward | Field Goal | Gold Cleats | Left Handed | White Helmet | Popcorn |
| Troy Polamalu | Deep Post | Padded Armband | Left Handed | White Helmet | Pretzels |
Clue 1
Place value
The coach looked at the giant digit board near the locker room to reveal the first secret.
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
2000
70
500
5000
900
900
90
5000
30
8000
20
70
6000
30
20
T
10
4000
70
90
50
100
70
900
900
20
4000
3000
900
20
500
70
6000
What is the value of the 1 in 8,418?T
What is the value of the 9 in 987?L
What is the value of the 5 in 9,512?V
What is the value of the 2 in 820?O
What is the value of the 5 in 9,053?R
What is the value of the 4 in 4,638?W
What is the value of the 2 in 2,954?H
What is the value of the 6 in 6,571?S
What is the value of the 3 in 4,630?N
What is the value of the 3 in 3,192?G
What is the value of the 5 in 85,487?I
What is the value of the 9 in 792?A
What is the value of the 8 in 8,462?D
What is the value of the 7 in 878?E
What is the value of the 1 in 159?Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The giant scoreboard screen rounded the crowd total to help narrow down the suspect list.
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
110
170
1700
200
20
290
A
110
2900
700
1700
700
500
4300
90
2900
20
900
A
110
370
2300
2900
20
290
1700
200
90
1700
170
700
Round 108 to the nearest tenA
Round 2,928 to the nearest hundredN
Round 696 to the nearest hundredD
Round 4,326 to the nearest hundredR
Round 202 to the nearest hundredF
Round 22 to the nearest tenT
Round 89 to the nearest tenI
Round 289 to the nearest tenH
Round 1,707 to the nearest hundredE
Round 369 to the nearest tenS
Round 530 to the nearest hundredP
Round 948 to the nearest hundredW
Round 168 to the nearest tenL
Round 2,255 to the nearest hundredO
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
The stat keeper added up all the practice play totals to find another hint.
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
5599
8318
8519
7487
2637
8519
7465
3252
9404
4636
7993
8449
8449
8519
9404
8449
4636
8519
T
5599
6267
8519
6688
7487
7993
2637
T
5599
8318
8519
T
5599
4384
4636
8032
2478 + 3121 =T
2431 + 3836 =Z
1481 + 1771 =K
2602 + 5716 =H
4301 + 3186 =S
3004 + 1380 =U
5349 + 4055 =D
3153 + 3535 =L
5035 + 2997 =F
5326 + 2667 =O
1876 + 2760 =R
4194 + 4325 =E
3119 + 5330 =P
3489 + 3976 =A
1193 + 1444 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The equipment crew subtracted the missing gear count to uncover what was taken.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
2926
6457
2494
1252
5941
6457
1828
8851
S
2926
S
2926
1828
8746
4963
1252
3911
7954
1252
6457
1784
1828
8851
7954
4961
8851
5941
4963
1252
S
2926
2442
S
2926
8851
2954
4938 - 2012 =S
9613 - 762 =E
5117 - 2623 =R
4418 - 3166 =A
7264 - 2301 =W
10750 - 2004 =O
3536 - 582 =D
6893 - 2982 =B
5512 - 3684 =H
6714 - 1753 =M
12257 - 4303 =L
6935 - 478 =C
6679 - 738 =T
2072 - 288 =K
5998 - 3556 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The captain divided the drill cones into equal groups to reveal the final answer.
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
15 ÷ 5 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain called a blitz defense, then adjusted a black visor.
2.The villain tried a qb sneak, then strapped a steel mask.
3.The villain threw a deep post, then adjusted a black visor.
4.The villain tried a qb sneak, then laced up gold cleats.
5.The villain ran a screen pass, then pulled on yellow gloves.
6.The villain called a blitz defense, then pulled on yellow gloves.
7.The villain called a blitz defense, then laced up gold cleats.
8.The villain tried a qb sneak, then adjusted a black visor.
9.The villain kicked a field goal, then adjusted a black visor.
10.The villain ran a screen pass, then strapped a steel mask.
11.The villain kicked a field goal, then pulled on yellow gloves.
12.The villain kicked a field goal, then laced up gold cleats.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Terrible Towel
Culprit: James Harrison (Field Goal · Gold Cleats · Left Handed · Black Helmet · Pretzels)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR YELLOW GLOVES"What is the value of the 1 in 8,418? = 10 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 987? = 900 (L) · What is the value of the 5 in 9,512? = 500 (V) · What is the value of the 2 in 820? = 20 (O) · What is the value of the 5 in 9,053? = 50 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 4,638? = 4000 (W) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,954? = 2000 (H) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,571? = 6000 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 4,630? = 30 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,192? = 3000 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 85,487? = 5000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 792? = 90 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 8,462? = 8000 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 878? = 70 (E) · What is the value of the 1 in 159? = 100 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "A LEFT HANDED PRINT WAS ON THE FIELD"Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (A) · Round 2,928 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (N) · Round 696 to the nearest hundred = 700 (D) · Round 4,326 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (R) · Round 202 to the nearest hundred = 200 (F) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (T) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (I) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (H) · Round 1,707 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (E) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (S) · Round 530 to the nearest hundred = 500 (P) · Round 948 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (L) · Round 2,255 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (O)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE SNEAK DROPPED PRETZELS ON THE TURF"2478 + 3121 = 5599 (T) · 2431 + 3836 = 6267 (Z) · 1481 + 1771 = 3252 (K) · 2602 + 5716 = 8318 (H) · 4301 + 3186 = 7487 (S) · 3004 + 1380 = 4384 (U) · 5349 + 4055 = 9404 (D) · 3153 + 3535 = 6688 (L) · 5035 + 2997 = 8032 (F) · 5326 + 2667 = 7993 (O) · 1876 + 2760 = 4636 (R) · 4194 + 4325 = 8519 (E) · 3119 + 5330 = 8449 (P) · 3489 + 3976 = 7465 (A) · 1193 + 1444 = 2637 (N)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "SCRATCHES SHOW A BLACK HELMET WAS USED"4938 - 2012 = 2926 (S) · 9613 - 762 = 8851 (E) · 5117 - 2623 = 2494 (R) · 4418 - 3166 = 1252 (A) · 7264 - 2301 = 4963 (W) · 10750 - 2004 = 8746 (O) · 3536 - 582 = 2954 (D) · 6893 - 2982 = 3911 (B) · 5512 - 3684 = 1828 (H) · 6714 - 1753 = 4961 (M) · 12257 - 4303 = 7954 (L) · 6935 - 478 = 6457 (C) · 6679 - 738 = 5941 (T) · 2072 - 288 = 1784 (K) · 5998 - 3556 = 2442 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → James Harrison15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Terrible Towel — set in Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects