🤖 Robots, UnicornsGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Cyber-Unicorn Syndicate
A high-tech cyber-unicorn has breached the central server meadow and scrambled the star-crystal core. Detective, gather evidence from the security nodes to identify the culprit before the whole digital meadow goes dark.
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 | Main Module | Auxiliary Gear | Dominant Hand | Mane Wires | Defense Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor Spark | Gear Clockwork Drive | Rainbow Dash | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Unit Unicorn | Laser Horn Beam | Prismatic Laser | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | EMP Pulse Blast |
| Robo Realm | Neon Mane Pulse | Rainbow Dash | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Glitter Gear | Neon Mane Pulse | Hyper Drive | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Sparkle Bot | Titanium Trotting | Rainbow Dash | Left Handed | Rainbow Fiber Optics | Rusting Water Spray |
| Circuit Spark | Neon Mane Pulse | Glitter Blast | Left Handed | Silver Metallic Mane | Rusting Water Spray |
| Laser Hoof | Laser Horn Beam | Prismatic Laser | Left Handed | Silver Metallic Mane | Magnet Harvester |
| Matrix Mare | Laser Horn Beam | Plasma Shield | Right Handed | Silver Metallic Mane | EMP Pulse Blast |
| Chrome Mane | Titanium Trotting | Rainbow Dash | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Rusting Water Spray |
| Flux Fantasy | Neon Mane Pulse | Glitter Blast | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Rusting Water Spray |
| Titanium Tail | Magical Overdrive | Glitter Blast | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Cyber Starlight | Laser Horn Beam | Prismatic Laser | Left Handed | Rainbow Fiber Optics | Magnet Harvester |
| Optic Orbit | Magical Overdrive | Rainbow Dash | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Bolt Beauty | Laser Horn Beam | Prismatic Laser | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Neon Trotter | Neon Mane Pulse | Hyper Drive | Right Handed | Silver Metallic Mane | EMP Pulse Blast |
| Alloy Aura | Titanium Trotting | Hyper Drive | Left Handed | Silver Metallic Mane | Rusting Water Spray |
| Steel Twinkle | Magical Overdrive | Plasma Shield | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Magnet Harvester |
| Byte Pegasus | Neon Mane Pulse | Glitter Blast | Left Handed | Neon Pink Wires | EMP Pulse Blast |
| Dazzle Drive | Magical Overdrive | Hyper Drive | Right Handed | Rainbow Fiber Optics | Magnet Harvester |
| Starlight Core | Titanium Trotting | Prismatic Laser | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | Rusting Water Spray |
| Prism Mecha | Neon Mane Pulse | Prismatic Laser | Right Handed | Neon Pink Wires | EMP Pulse Blast |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To calculate the direct distance along the security laser diagonal, analyze the right triangle coordinates.
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
34
111
123
29
5
68
68
25
5
52
87
17
123
75
52
17
T
34
30
75
123
25
51
68
25
75
26
25
75
111
5
123
68
87
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =T
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =S
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =H
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =L
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =N
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =V
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =O
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =M
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =A
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =I
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =E
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =P
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =D
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =U
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
To decode the power core area into exact side length dimensions, solve the square root readout.
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
21
22
17
11
4
7
7
7
19
W
21
10
4
13
17
8
19
11
5
4
5
7
17
4
4
9
22
11
15
sqrt(441) =W
sqrt(16) =E
sqrt(169) =F
sqrt(25) =D
sqrt(100) =L
sqrt(121) =N
sqrt(81) =R
sqrt(64) =H
sqrt(225) =G
sqrt(49) =S
sqrt(289) =T
sqrt(484) =I
sqrt(361) =A
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
To calculate the rapid growth rate of the rogue glitter code across servers, evaluate the exponential expansion.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
D
121
512
216
512
196
D
121
512
400
36
4
512
D
121
32
25
169
196
512
361
144
25
400
625
512
4
361
512
400
11^2 =D
5^4 =V
2^5 =M
19^2 =T
12^2 =H
13^2 =G
8^3 =E
5^2 =A
20^2 =R
14^2 =N
2^2 =S
6^3 =F
6^2 =U
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To restore the command grid, evaluate the multi step system override code using proper order of operations.
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
92
88
24
56
24
19
80
83
56
24
86
56
78
113
56
87
22
113
23
24
S
92
9 × 12 - 16 =S
11 × 8 - 8 =A
7 × 9 - 7 =N
10 × 10 - 14 =O
51 + 9 × 3 =P
6 × 4 - 1 =R
60 + 9 × 3 =K
57 + 8 × 7 =I
58 + 5 × 5 =D
14 + 5 × 2 =E
5 × 8 - 21 =H
6 × 4 - 2 =W
53 + 7 × 5 =C
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
To determine the precise grid boundary radius, solve the square root formula from the sensor node.
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(1) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain emitted a neon mane pulse, then executed a rainbow dash.
2.The villain fired a laser horn beam, then blasted glitter canisters.
3.The villain activated titanium trotting, then fired a prismatic laser.
4.The villain engaged gear clockwork drive, then executed a rainbow dash.
5.The villain triggered magical overdrive, then executed a rainbow dash.
6.The villain emitted a neon mane pulse, then fired a prismatic laser.
7.The villain triggered magical overdrive, then raised a plasma shield.
8.The villain engaged gear clockwork drive, then blasted glitter canisters.
9.The villain emitted a neon mane pulse, then engaged the hyper drive.
10.The villain engaged gear clockwork drive, then engaged the hyper drive.
11.The villain fired a laser horn beam, then fired a prismatic laser.
12.The villain activated titanium trotting, then blasted glitter canisters.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cyber-Unicorn Syndicate
Culprit: Glitter Gear (Neon Mane Pulse · Hyper Drive · Left Handed · Neon Pink Wires · Magnet Harvester)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A PLASMA SHIELD"legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (T) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (S) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (H) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (L) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (N) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (V) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (O) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (M) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (A) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (I) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (E) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (P) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (D) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (U)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "WITNESS SAW LEFT HANDED STEERING"sqrt(441) = 21 (W) · sqrt(16) = 4 (E) · sqrt(169) = 13 (F) · sqrt(25) = 5 (D) · sqrt(100) = 10 (L) · sqrt(121) = 11 (N) · sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(64) = 8 (H) · sqrt(225) = 15 (G) · sqrt(49) = 7 (S) · sqrt(289) = 17 (T) · sqrt(484) = 22 (I) · sqrt(361) = 19 (A)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "DEFENDER USED MAGNET HARVESTER"11^2 = 121 (D) · 5^4 = 625 (V) · 2^5 = 32 (M) · 19^2 = 361 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (H) · 13^2 = 169 (G) · 8^3 = 512 (E) · 5^2 = 25 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (R) · 14^2 = 196 (N) · 2^2 = 4 (S) · 6^3 = 216 (F) · 6^2 = 36 (U)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "SCENE HAD NEON PINK WIRES"9 × 12 - 16 = 92 (S) · 11 × 8 - 8 = 80 (A) · 7 × 9 - 7 = 56 (N) · 10 × 10 - 14 = 86 (O) · 51 + 9 × 3 = 78 (P) · 6 × 4 - 1 = 23 (R) · 60 + 9 × 3 = 87 (K) · 57 + 8 × 7 = 113 (I) · 58 + 5 × 5 = 83 (D) · 14 + 5 × 2 = 24 (E) · 5 × 8 - 21 = 19 (H) · 6 × 4 - 2 = 22 (W) · 53 + 7 × 5 = 88 (C)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 9) → Glitter Gearsqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(36) = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Cyber-Unicorn Syndicate — set in Starlight Cyber-Meadow
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects