🏀 BasketballGrade 10Reading: grades 5-6Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Championship Game Ball Caper
Minutes before the final buzzer of the championship, someone swapped the official game ball with a heavy lead replica!
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 | Play Style | Gear Choice | Dominant Hand | Hairstyle | Dropped Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | Three Point Sniper | Finger Tape | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| James Harden | Dunk Specialist | Finger Tape | Right Handed | Curly Afro | Loud Whistle |
| Jayson Tatum | Ankle Breaker | Custom Sneaker | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Bright Towel |
| Devin Booker | Lockdown Defender | Custom Sneaker | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Michael Jordan | Dunk Specialist | Grip Powder | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Squeaky Shoes |
| Larry Bird | Lockdown Defender | Finger Tape | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Kobe Bryant | Ankle Breaker | Custom Sneaker | Right Handed | Braided Hair | Bright Towel |
| Anthony Davis | Fast Break Leader | Grip Powder | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Allen Iverson | Lockdown Defender | Headband | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Bright Towel |
| Tim Duncan | Dunk Specialist | Wristband | Left Handed | Curly Afro | Squeaky Shoes |
| Kawhi Leonard | Three Point Sniper | Finger Tape | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Chris Paul | Fast Break Leader | Custom Sneaker | Right Handed | Curly Afro | Loud Whistle |
| Russell Westbrook | Dunk Specialist | Wristband | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Steph Curry | Ankle Breaker | Wristband | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Loud Whistle |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Lockdown Defender | Wristband | Right Handed | Braided Hair | Bright Towel |
| Kevin Durant | Ankle Breaker | Wristband | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Nikola Jokic | Fast Break Leader | Wristband | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Bright Towel |
| Damian Lillard | Lockdown Defender | Headband | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Squeaky Shoes |
| Charles Barkley | Fast Break Leader | Wristband | Left Handed | Curly Afro | Squeaky Shoes |
| Magic Johnson | Fast Break Leader | Grip Powder | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Loud Whistle |
| Dwyane Wade | Three Point Sniper | Headband | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Bright Towel |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To find the diagonal path the thief ran across the court, solve for the missing hypotenuse distance.
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
111
85
50
85
29
29
13
T
111
85
30
50
39
65
30
65
82
29
T
111
37
50
75
68
75
85
50
75
65
116
75
82
65
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =T
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =A
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =F
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =E
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =P
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =O
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =R
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =W
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =H
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =N
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =B
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The court security tile layout forms a perfect square, so find the side length using a square root.
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
19
11
18
4
9
12
12
7
9
23
24
21
9
25
25
12
18
24
20
9
T
19
11
T
19
11
18
9
21
12
18
6
T
19
11
7
23
24
sqrt(361) =T
sqrt(529) =N
sqrt(121) =H
sqrt(36) =F
sqrt(81) =I
sqrt(324) =E
sqrt(400) =W
sqrt(441) =R
sqrt(625) =B
sqrt(144) =L
sqrt(16) =V
sqrt(49) =A
sqrt(576) =D
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The arena crowd noise doubles with every second, so compute the total energy using exponents.
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
121
256
289
8
400
8
32
289
144
T
121
243
289
100
T
121
484
289
256
64
625
36
8
361
400
289
343
128
9
8
256
216
289
8
11^2 =T
10^2 =F
20^2 =U
5^4 =N
6^2 =D
6^3 =O
17^2 =E
3^2 =Y
4^3 =I
12^2 =C
2^3 =S
19^2 =Q
4^4 =H
7^3 =A
3^5 =L
2^5 =P
2^7 =K
22^2 =B
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The referee score board uses a set formula, so follow the order of operations to decode it.
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
70
7
31
87
92
31
58
31
7
46
6
46
60
44
21
21
92
44
T
70
7
46
106
12
87
T
70
12
46
58
6
22 + 6 × 8 =T
4 × 7 - 7 =Z
10 × 9 - 30 =B
34 + 5 × 2 =U
4 × 4 - 9 =H
61 + 5 × 9 =I
11 × 2 - 16 =D
68 + 6 × 4 =C
8 × 11 - 1 =S
2 × 10 - 8 =R
11 × 6 - 20 =A
42 + 8 × 2 =N
5 × 12 - 29 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The team locker layout is an equal square grid, so compute the square root to clear the zone.
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
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain threw a fast break pass, then spilled grip powder.
2.The villain dunked over defender, then snapped a wristband.
3.The villain dunked over defender, then dropped a headband.
4.The villain stole the basketball, then dropped a headband.
5.The villain stole the basketball, then unraveled finger tape.
6.The villain dribbled down court, then snapped a wristband.
7.The villain dribbled down court, then unraveled finger tape.
8.The villain sank a long three pointer, then snapped a wristband.
9.The villain sank a long three pointer, then dropped a headband.
10.The villain stole the basketball, then left a custom sneaker.
11.The villain threw a fast break pass, then dropped a headband.
12.The villain sank a long three pointer, then unraveled finger tape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Game Ball Caper
Culprit: Larry Bird (Lockdown Defender · Finger Tape · Left Handed · Buzz Cut · Squeaky Shoes)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE HOOP THIEF DID NOT WEAR A HEADBAND"legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (T) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (A) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (D) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (F) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (E) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (P) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (O) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (R) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (W) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (H) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (N) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (I) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (B)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE VILLAIN DRIBBLED WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"sqrt(361) = 19 (T) · sqrt(529) = 23 (N) · sqrt(121) = 11 (H) · sqrt(36) = 6 (F) · sqrt(81) = 9 (I) · sqrt(324) = 18 (E) · sqrt(400) = 20 (W) · sqrt(441) = 21 (R) · sqrt(625) = 25 (B) · sqrt(144) = 12 (L) · sqrt(16) = 4 (V) · sqrt(49) = 7 (A) · sqrt(576) = 24 (D)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT LEFT BEHIND SQUEAKY SHOES"11^2 = 121 (T) · 10^2 = 100 (F) · 20^2 = 400 (U) · 5^4 = 625 (N) · 6^2 = 36 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (O) · 17^2 = 289 (E) · 3^2 = 9 (Y) · 4^3 = 64 (I) · 12^2 = 144 (C) · 2^3 = 8 (S) · 19^2 = 361 (Q) · 4^4 = 256 (H) · 7^3 = 343 (A) · 3^5 = 243 (L) · 2^5 = 32 (P) · 2^7 = 128 (K) · 22^2 = 484 (B)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE SCENE HAD A BUZZ CUT HAIR STRAND"22 + 6 × 8 = 70 (T) · 4 × 7 - 7 = 21 (Z) · 10 × 9 - 30 = 60 (B) · 34 + 5 × 2 = 44 (U) · 4 × 4 - 9 = 7 (H) · 61 + 5 × 9 = 106 (I) · 11 × 2 - 16 = 6 (D) · 68 + 6 × 4 = 92 (C) · 8 × 11 - 1 = 87 (S) · 2 × 10 - 8 = 12 (R) · 11 × 6 - 20 = 46 (A) · 42 + 8 × 2 = 58 (N) · 5 × 12 - 29 = 31 (E)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 5) → Larry Birdsqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(49) = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Championship Game Ball Caper — set in The Metro Arena Basketball Court
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects