🏀 BasketballGrade 9Reading: grades 5-6Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers
The Championship Trophy Caper
Right before the final buzzer of the state tournament, someone swiped the golden championship trophy from center court! The detective team must analyze player stats, match gear, and solve court clues to find the bandit.
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 | Gear Item | Dominant Hand | Headwear | Game Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | Windmill Dunk | Ankle Braces | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Anthony Davis | Sky Hook | Glow Wristband | Left Handed | Gold Visor | Bad Free Throws |
| Maya Moore | No Look Pass | Padded Sleeve | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Breanna Stewart | Windmill Dunk | Ankle Braces | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bad Free Throws |
| Magic Johnson | Fadeaway Jumper | High Top Sneakers | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Strict Foot Faults |
| Steph Curry | Sky Hook | Neon Headband | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Chris Paul | Crossover Dribble | High Top Sneakers | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Bad Free Throws |
| Steve Nash | Windmill Dunk | High Top Sneakers | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Nikola Jokic | Crossover Dribble | Ankle Braces | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Bad Free Throws |
| Diana Taurasi | Crossover Dribble | Ankle Braces | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Aja Wilson | Crossover Dribble | Padded Sleeve | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Frequent Travels |
| Lisa Leslie | Windmill Dunk | Ankle Braces | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Bad Free Throws |
| Luka Doncic | No Look Pass | Neon Headband | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bad Free Throws |
| Kelsey Plum | Crossover Dribble | High Top Sneakers | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Elena Delle Donne | No Look Pass | Ankle Braces | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Shaquille ONeal | No Look Pass | Glow Wristband | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Bad Free Throws |
| LeBron James | No Look Pass | Ankle Braces | Left Handed | Black Bandana | Bad Free Throws |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Windmill Dunk | Padded Sleeve | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bad Free Throws |
| Sue Bird | Sky Hook | Neon Headband | Right Handed | Red Cap | Strict Foot Faults |
| Devin Booker | Crossover Dribble | Glow Wristband | Right Handed | Black Bandana | Strict Foot Faults |
| Dirk Nowitzki | Windmill Dunk | Padded Sleeve | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Strict Foot Faults |
Clue 1
Two-step equations
Coach Mia balanced the team points setup to crack open the locker code.
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
21
22
7
17
12
17
2
7
8
T
21
16
14
7
17
18
14
T
21
5
7
6
10
6
9
4
14
5
5
10
13
17
T
21
15
6
18
16
4x + 2 = 86, x =T
7x + 11 = 137, x =N
9x + 4 = 148, x =D
4x + 9 = 65, x =O
8x + 6 = 70, x =C
9x + 7 = 52, x =W
6x + 11 = 71, x =R
5x + 3 = 23, x =L
6x + 2 = 44, x =E
3x + 10 = 76, x =H
7x + 6 = 20, x =P
8x + 9 = 129, x =B
7x + 3 = 66, x =G
8x + 10 = 58, x =A
8x + 4 = 108, x =I
7x + 3 = 122, x =S
3x + 9 = 45, x =U
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Exponents
The arena stadium lights multiplied in power levels across the scoreboard grid.
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
512
324
25
8
343
121
121
121
361
W
512
361
225
324
256
125
25
125
361
8
729
343
729
121
125
27
27
25
343
225
2^9 =W
19^2 =A
11^2 =S
5^2 =T
18^2 =I
2^3 =N
15^2 =R
5^3 =H
3^3 =O
2^8 =G
7^3 =E
9^3 =D
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
The stat tracker calculated the exact square dimensions of the court logo.
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
25
20
4
5
4
22
12
9
19
19
4
18
11
T
25
5
3
12
T
25
22
6
6
T
25
22
9
16
19
T
25
11
sqrt(625) =T
sqrt(121) =S
sqrt(400) =H
sqrt(81) =A
sqrt(484) =F
sqrt(9) =I
sqrt(36) =O
sqrt(144) =C
sqrt(16) =E
sqrt(256) =U
sqrt(25) =R
sqrt(361) =L
sqrt(324) =D
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Integers
The referee logged the gained points and point penalties on score sheets.
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
2
21
20
A
2
24
26
21
A
2
33
1
A
2
33
A
2
7
A
2
10
37
19
22
33
1
38
33
20
19
24
26
34
13
(-9) + 11 =A
12 - (-7) =O
(-15) + 53 =I
6 - (-14) =L
(-10) + 31 =B
(-10) + 32 =U
26 - (-7) =N
(-13) + 23 =S
(-4) + 17 =R
36 - (-1) =F
(-8) + 34 =K
(-13) + 14 =D
27 - (-7) =E
11 - (-13) =C
(-14) + 21 =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The head scout solved two equipment equations to unlock the video vault.
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
9x + 12 = 30, x = ?
6x + 12 = 18, x = ?
6x + 3 = 63, x = ?
7x + 8 = 64, x = ?
5x + 7 = 27, x = ?
3x + 5 = 23, x = ?
4x + 12 = 60, x = ?
8x + 11 = 67, x = ?
8x + 10 = 34, x = ?
4x + 6 = 26, x = ?
3x + 4 = 37, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain dazzled with a crossover dribble, then strapped on ankle braces.
2.The villain rocked a windmill dunk, then strapped on ankle braces.
3.The villain drained a fadeaway jumper, then pulled up a padded sleeve.
4.The villain snuck a no look pass, then adjusted their neon headband.
5.The villain snuck a no look pass, then flashed a glow wristband.
6.The villain dazzled with a crossover dribble, then pulled up a padded sleeve.
7.The villain executed a sky hook, then laced up high top sneakers.
8.The villain snuck a no look pass, then laced up high top sneakers.
9.The villain executed a sky hook, then adjusted their neon headband.
10.The villain snuck a no look pass, then strapped on ankle braces.
11.The villain executed a sky hook, then pulled up a padded sleeve.
12.The villain rocked a windmill dunk, then adjusted their neon headband.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Trophy Caper
Culprit: Steph Curry (Sky Hook · Neon Headband · Right Handed · Black Bandana · Strict Foot Faults)
- Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR A GLOW WRISTBAND"4x + 2 = 86, x = 21 (T) · 7x + 11 = 137, x = 18 (N) · 9x + 4 = 148, x = 16 (D) · 4x + 9 = 65, x = 14 (O) · 8x + 6 = 70, x = 8 (C) · 9x + 7 = 52, x = 5 (W) · 6x + 11 = 71, x = 10 (R) · 5x + 3 = 23, x = 4 (L) · 6x + 2 = 44, x = 7 (E) · 3x + 10 = 76, x = 22 (H) · 7x + 6 = 20, x = 2 (P) · 8x + 9 = 129, x = 15 (B) · 7x + 3 = 66, x = 9 (G) · 8x + 10 = 58, x = 6 (A) · 8x + 4 = 108, x = 13 (I) · 7x + 3 = 122, x = 17 (S) · 3x + 9 = 45, x = 12 (U)
- Clue 2 (Exponents): "WITNESS SAW A RIGHT HANDED SHOOTER"2^9 = 512 (W) · 19^2 = 361 (A) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 5^2 = 25 (T) · 18^2 = 324 (I) · 2^3 = 8 (N) · 15^2 = 225 (R) · 5^3 = 125 (H) · 3^3 = 27 (O) · 2^8 = 256 (G) · 7^3 = 343 (E) · 9^3 = 729 (D)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE REF CALLED STRICT FOOT FAULTS"sqrt(625) = 25 (T) · sqrt(121) = 11 (S) · sqrt(400) = 20 (H) · sqrt(81) = 9 (A) · sqrt(484) = 22 (F) · sqrt(9) = 3 (I) · sqrt(36) = 6 (O) · sqrt(144) = 12 (C) · sqrt(16) = 4 (E) · sqrt(256) = 16 (U) · sqrt(25) = 5 (R) · sqrt(361) = 19 (L) · sqrt(324) = 18 (D)
- Clue 4 (Integers): "A BLACK BANDANA WAS FOUND IN LOCKER"(-9) + 11 = 2 (A) · 12 - (-7) = 19 (O) · (-15) + 53 = 38 (I) · 6 - (-14) = 20 (L) · (-10) + 31 = 21 (B) · (-10) + 32 = 22 (U) · 26 - (-7) = 33 (N) · (-13) + 23 = 10 (S) · (-4) + 17 = 13 (R) · 36 - (-1) = 37 (F) · (-8) + 34 = 26 (K) · (-13) + 14 = 1 (D) · 27 - (-7) = 34 (E) · 11 - (-13) = 24 (C) · (-14) + 21 = 7 (W)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Steph Curry9x + 12 = 30, x = 2 · 6x + 12 = 18, x = 1 · 6x + 3 = 63, x = 10 · 7x + 8 = 64, x = 8 · 5x + 7 = 27, x = 4 · 3x + 5 = 23, x = 6 · 4x + 12 = 60, x = 12 · 8x + 11 = 67, x = 7 · 8x + 10 = 34, x = 3 · 4x + 6 = 26, x = 5 · 3x + 4 = 37, x = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 9 math
- Math topics
- Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Championship Trophy Caper — set in The Grand Hoop Center
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects