🔎 Make this with 645hfnuyrhjguGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationRoundingPlace valueFractions of a numberDivision
The Cipher Syndicate Mystery
A high-tech break-in at Intelligence Headquarters has locked down the central vault! A mystery hacker breached the security grid, leaving encrypted clues behind. Use your detective skills and mathematical logic to crack the case and identify the suspect.
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 | Primary Gadget | Secondary Tool | Note Style | Wig Color | System Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent Grid | Holographic Visor | Micro Spy Drone | Right Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Cobalt | Pulse Scanner | EMP Blaster | Left Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Flare | Thermal Scanner | Data Keycard | Right Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Beacon | Signal Disruptor | EMP Blaster | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Echo | Pulse Scanner | EMP Blaster | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Sector | Signal Disruptor | Stealth Cloak | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Cipher Nine | Signal Disruptor | Laser Decoder | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Magnet Trap |
| Agent Sterling | Signal Disruptor | Stealth Cloak | Left Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Overload Beam |
| Agent Helix | Pulse Scanner | Stealth Cloak | Right Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Zenith | Sonic Jammer | Laser Decoder | Right Handed Script | Crimson Red Wig | Magnet Trap |
| Agent Prism | Holographic Visor | Stealth Cloak | Right Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Overload Beam |
| Agent Orbit | Thermal Scanner | Laser Decoder | Right Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Vector | Signal Disruptor | Data Keycard | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Nova | Holographic Visor | Stealth Cloak | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Overload Beam |
| Agent Nexus | Signal Disruptor | Micro Spy Drone | Right Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Magnet Trap |
| Agent Quartz | Holographic Visor | Data Keycard | Right Handed Script | Crimson Red Wig | Magnet Trap |
| Agent Vance | Signal Disruptor | Data Keycard | Left Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Magnet Trap |
| Agent Pixel | Pulse Scanner | EMP Blaster | Right Handed Script | Neon Blue Wig | Static Field |
| Agent Matrix | Signal Disruptor | Data Keycard | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Overload Beam |
| Agent Static | Signal Disruptor | EMP Blaster | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Overload Beam |
| Agent Shadow | Pulse Scanner | Laser Decoder | Left Handed Script | Silver Metallic Wig | Static Field |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To decrypt the first scrambled server log, you tally grid rows of encrypted code blocks.
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
77
2
12
60
25
81
81
100
25
8
1
44
12
120
8
44
T
77
66
120
12
100
1
100
T
77
100
24
12
55
50
100
72
1
7 × 11 =T
2 × 6 =E
4 × 11 =O
2 × 4 =N
5 × 5 =I
2 × 12 =K
9 × 9 =L
5 × 11 =Y
10 × 12 =S
8 × 9 =R
6 × 10 =V
2 × 1 =H
10 × 5 =C
10 × 10 =A
1 × 1 =D
11 × 6 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The central radar scanner displays raw frequency numbers that must be rounded to estimate signal strength.
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
3000
130
900
50
30
2000
700
110
50
50
30
130
2000
110
50
1300
300
30
200
50
1300
A
3000
130
70
30
70
4300
2300
700
110
230
50
2000
A
3000
4300
200
900
20
130
70
Round 2,687 to the nearest thousandA
Round 129 to the nearest tenN
Round 49 to the nearest tenT
Round 19 to the nearest tenU
Round 173 to the nearest hundredF
Round 109 to the nearest tenI
Round 664 to the nearest hundredR
Round 941 to the nearest hundredO
Round 227 to the nearest tenP
Round 27 to the nearest tenE
Round 339 to the nearest hundredL
Round 2,407 to the nearest thousandW
Round 2,335 to the nearest hundredC
Round 4,303 to the nearest hundredS
Round 66 to the nearest tenD
Round 1,344 to the nearest hundredH
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
Analyzing the vault security pin requires inspecting specific digit values in the code sequence.
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
80
10
9000
70
40
8000
8000
50
40
5000
1000
50
900
30
9000
300
9000
8000
8000
9000
800
4000
3000
50
900
T
80
50
T
80
40
6000
90
40
9000
8000
800
What is the value of the 8 in 444,784?T
What is the value of the 3 in 68,935?R
What is the value of the 3 in 51,376?P
What is the value of the 9 in 19,747?E
What is the value of the 9 in 25,691?F
What is the value of the 5 in 685,791?N
What is the value of the 1 in 70,318?H
What is the value of the 8 in 365,856?D
What is the value of the 4 in 298,943?I
What is the value of the 9 in 804,950?S
What is the value of the 3 in 73,948?Y
What is the value of the 1 in 71,247?W
What is the value of the 5 in 80,953?A
What is the value of the 7 in 929,370?V
What is the value of the 4 in 14,525?B
What is the value of the 8 in 98,994?L
What is the value of the 6 in 86,372?C
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
You calculate a fractional portion of rescued data drives to restore system memory.
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
19
36
39
17
4
27
29
28
27
30
A
19
17
17
39
32
12
39
14
36
30
29
A
19
35
24
12
A
19
36
17
27
13
30
16
27
10
39
35
24
1/4 of 76 =A
1/2 of 72 =S
5/10 of 20 =H
2/8 of 16 =V
8/10 of 40 =C
2/3 of 45 =T
6/10 of 40 =D
4/8 of 54 =E
3/6 of 34 =L
1/3 of 42 =G
1/4 of 52 =F
3/4 of 52 =I
1/10 of 160 =B
1/3 of 84 =M
1/2 of 70 =N
2/6 of 87 =R
3/4 of 16 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To balance network load across defense nodes, you divide remaining bandwidth equally.
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
42 ÷ 7 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activated a holographic visor, then disabled the cameras using an emp blaster.
2.The villain triggered a signal disruptor, then disabled the cameras using an emp blaster.
3.The villain scanned with thermal goggles, then bypassed security with a data keycard.
4.The villain scanned with thermal goggles, then scouted the hallway using a micro spy drone.
5.The villain scanned with thermal goggles, then unlocked the vault with a laser decoder.
6.The villain swept the room with a pulse scanner, then unlocked the vault with a laser decoder.
7.The villain triggered a signal disruptor, then scouted the hallway using a micro spy drone.
8.The villain swept the room with a pulse scanner, then disabled the cameras using an emp blaster.
9.The villain activated a holographic visor, then scouted the hallway using a micro spy drone.
10.The villain swept the room with a pulse scanner, then scouted the hallway using a micro spy drone.
11.The villain fired a sonic jammer, then disabled the cameras using an emp blaster.
12.The villain triggered a signal disruptor, then vanished into shadows with a stealth cloak.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cipher Syndicate Mystery
Culprit: Agent Echo (Pulse Scanner · EMP Blaster · Left Handed Script · Silver Metallic Wig · Static Field)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A DATA KEYCARD"7 × 11 = 77 (T) · 2 × 6 = 12 (E) · 4 × 11 = 44 (O) · 2 × 4 = 8 (N) · 5 × 5 = 25 (I) · 2 × 12 = 24 (K) · 9 × 9 = 81 (L) · 5 × 11 = 55 (Y) · 10 × 12 = 120 (S) · 8 × 9 = 72 (R) · 6 × 10 = 60 (V) · 2 × 1 = 2 (H) · 10 × 5 = 50 (C) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 1 × 1 = 1 (D) · 11 × 6 = 66 (U)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "A NOTE WRITTEN WITH LEFT HANDED SCRIPT WAS FOUND"Round 2,687 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (N) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (U) · Round 173 to the nearest hundred = 200 (F) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (I) · Round 664 to the nearest hundred = 700 (R) · Round 941 to the nearest hundred = 900 (O) · Round 227 to the nearest ten = 230 (P) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (E) · Round 339 to the nearest hundred = 300 (L) · Round 2,407 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (W) · Round 2,335 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (C) · Round 4,303 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (S) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (D) · Round 1,344 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (H)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN WAS REPELLED BY A STATIC FIELD"What is the value of the 8 in 444,784? = 80 (T) · What is the value of the 3 in 68,935? = 30 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 51,376? = 300 (P) · What is the value of the 9 in 19,747? = 9000 (E) · What is the value of the 9 in 25,691? = 90 (F) · What is the value of the 5 in 685,791? = 5000 (N) · What is the value of the 1 in 70,318? = 10 (H) · What is the value of the 8 in 365,856? = 800 (D) · What is the value of the 4 in 298,943? = 40 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 804,950? = 900 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 73,948? = 3000 (Y) · What is the value of the 1 in 71,247? = 1000 (W) · What is the value of the 5 in 80,953? = 50 (A) · What is the value of the 7 in 929,370? = 70 (V) · What is the value of the 4 in 14,525? = 4000 (B) · What is the value of the 8 in 98,994? = 8000 (L) · What is the value of the 6 in 86,372? = 6000 (C)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "A SILVER METALLIC WIG STRAND WAS LEFT BEHIND"1/4 of 76 = 19 (A) · 1/2 of 72 = 36 (S) · 5/10 of 20 = 10 (H) · 2/8 of 16 = 4 (V) · 8/10 of 40 = 32 (C) · 2/3 of 45 = 30 (T) · 6/10 of 40 = 24 (D) · 4/8 of 54 = 27 (E) · 3/6 of 34 = 17 (L) · 1/3 of 42 = 14 (G) · 1/4 of 52 = 13 (F) · 3/4 of 52 = 39 (I) · 1/10 of 160 = 16 (B) · 1/3 of 84 = 28 (M) · 1/2 of 70 = 35 (N) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (R) · 3/4 of 16 = 12 (W)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Agent Echo42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Place value, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Cipher Syndicate Mystery — set in The High-Tech Intelligence Headquarters
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects