🔎 NapolionGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6SubtractionAdditionFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision
The Emperor's Lost Laurel
A rogue officer has snatched Emperor Napoleon's golden laurel crown right before his grand coronation! The guards are in a frenzy, and France needs its top math detective. Examine the clues, solve the equations, and unmask the culprit before they escape across the border!
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 Tactic | Signature Gear | Handwriting | Hair Style | Secret Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Augereau | Artillery Barrage | Brass Compass | Right-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| General Mortier | Cavalry Charge | Silver Pocketwatch | Left-handed | Crimson Ribbon | Peppermint Tea |
| General Caulaincourt | Night March | Golden Monocle | Right-handed | Dark Curls | Sweet Crepes |
| General Grouchy | Artillery Barrage | Golden Monocle | Left-handed | Powdered Wig | Peppermint Tea |
| General Oudinot | Decoy Retreat | Velvet Cloak | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Strong Coffee |
| General Lefebvre | Flanking Maneuver | Silver Pocketwatch | Left-handed | Powdered Wig | Sweet Crepes |
| Marshal Davout | Artillery Barrage | Silver Pocketwatch | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| General Massena | Flanking Maneuver | Golden Monocle | Right-handed | Dark Curls | Sweet Crepes |
| Marshal Murat | Night March | Brass Compass | Right-handed | Dark Curls | Sweet Crepes |
| General Suchet | Cavalry Charge | Velvet Cloak | Left-handed | Powdered Wig | Sweet Crepes |
| General Victor | Decoy Retreat | Golden Monocle | Left-handed | Crimson Ribbon | Peppermint Tea |
| General Moncey | Flanking Maneuver | Velvet Cloak | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Sweet Crepes |
| Marshal Lannes | Flanking Maneuver | Silver Pocketwatch | Left-handed | Powdered Wig | Strong Coffee |
| General Macdonald | Night March | Velvet Cloak | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| General Duroc | Cavalry Charge | Brass Compass | Left-handed | Crimson Ribbon | Sweet Crepes |
| General Jourdan | Cavalry Charge | Silver Pocketwatch | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| General Marmont | Flanking Maneuver | Tricorner Hat | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| Marshal Berthier | Decoy Retreat | Brass Compass | Left-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| Marshal Soult | Cavalry Charge | Tricorner Hat | Right-handed | Dark Curls | Peppermint Tea |
| General Bessieres | Artillery Barrage | Silver Pocketwatch | Right-handed | Crimson Ribbon | Sweet Crepes |
| General Brune | Flanking Maneuver | Velvet Cloak | Left-handed | Crimson Ribbon | Sweet Crepes |
Clue 1
Subtraction
We count the Emperor's decorative gold bees. Subtracting the broken bees from the total reveals a clue about the thief's gear.
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
7616
2773
5045
T
7616
2773
6905
5045
8759
8913
2085
5045
1708
8333
2085
T
7616
8265
5045
7011
7609
7011
T
7616
7609
6905
3540
2085
7609
8333
5045
7609
2773
7011
T
7616
7663 - 47 =T
10280 - 2671 =R
6620 - 4535 =O
8926 - 3881 =E
11013 - 2680 =N
5609 - 2069 =C
2240 - 532 =S
12036 - 3277 =F
12829 - 4564 =W
11451 - 2538 =D
7059 - 4286 =H
9711 - 2700 =A
9088 - 2183 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Our scouts count the horses arriving at the northern gate. Adding the two main herds gives us the clue about their handwriting.
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
3426
8005
7575
3507
8521
T
3426
8587
7575
2417
2417
2417
5836
3507
2081
7575
4937
T
3426
8005
5836
8587
6046
7575
6046
3507
8256
8521
T
3426
8521
8587
3475
1712 + 1714 =T
1252 + 1165 =S
4071 + 1975 =D
3602 + 4654 =R
5257 + 3264 =I
3666 + 4339 =H
3265 + 5322 =N
1101 + 980 =L
4748 + 2827 =E
1704 + 1771 =G
2441 + 3395 =A
1847 + 3090 =F
1689 + 1818 =W
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
A messenger brings a map of the royal bakery. Finding a fraction of the total French crepes reveals the thief's favorite treat.
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
33
39
3
38
34
9
3
3
29
3
4
20
6
2
36
40
3
40
40
3
6
36
8
9
T
33
T
33
3
12
3/5 of 55 =T
2/8 of 160 =P
3/10 of 130 =H
3/6 of 58 =Z
1/4 of 36 =N
1/3 of 60 =F
2/3 of 6 =D
2/3 of 9 =R
4/10 of 5 =O
1/4 of 32 =I
2/4 of 68 =S
1/10 of 30 =E
2/6 of 36 =A
2/6 of 114 =Y
3/4 of 48 =M
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To crack the lock on the general's desk, we must solve a complex equation in the exact order of steps to find a hair sample.
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
19
45
40
66
52
79
S
19
15
71
79
66
40
12
56
18
40
47
8
63
66
64
40
7
74
40
74
71
15
18
52
79
3 + 4 × 4 =S
51 + 2 × 6 =H
4 + 8 × 6 =N
18 + 9 × 3 =T
46 + 2 × 5 =C
6 × 12 - 1 =F
1 + 3 × 2 =W
4 + 2 × 4 =K
37 + 3 × 9 =I
9 × 6 - 7 =L
9 × 10 - 24 =A
11 × 6 - 26 =R
2 × 12 - 16 =Y
12 × 8 - 22 =E
12 × 7 - 5 =D
6 + 3 × 4 =U
5 + 5 × 2 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The cadet divides the heavy brass buttons equally among the coats to find the thief's escape route.
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
108 ÷ 12 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain commands a silent night march, then winds a silver pocketwatch.
2.The villain orders a grand cavalry charge, then winds a silver pocketwatch.
3.The villain orders a grand cavalry charge, then adjusts a tricorner hat.
4.The villain orders a grand cavalry charge, then checks a brass compass.
5.The villain directs a clever flanking maneuver, then checks a brass compass.
6.The villain sets up a loud artillery barrage, then winds a silver pocketwatch.
7.The villain orders a grand cavalry charge, then swishes a velvet cloak.
8.The villain commands a silent night march, then checks a brass compass.
9.The villain commands a silent night march, then swishes a velvet cloak.
10.The villain leads a sneaky decoy retreat, then winds a silver pocketwatch.
11.The villain sets up a loud artillery barrage, then adjusts a tricorner hat.
12.The villain leads a sneaky decoy retreat, then checks a brass compass.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Emperor's Lost Laurel
Culprit: Marshal Berthier (Decoy Retreat · Brass Compass · Left-handed · Dark Curls · Peppermint Tea)
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A TRICORNER HAT"7663 - 47 = 7616 (T) · 10280 - 2671 = 7609 (R) · 6620 - 4535 = 2085 (O) · 8926 - 3881 = 5045 (E) · 11013 - 2680 = 8333 (N) · 5609 - 2069 = 3540 (C) · 2240 - 532 = 1708 (S) · 12036 - 3277 = 8759 (F) · 12829 - 4564 = 8265 (W) · 11451 - 2538 = 8913 (D) · 7059 - 4286 = 2773 (H) · 9711 - 2700 = 7011 (A) · 9088 - 2183 = 6905 (I)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE WITNESS SAW LEFT HANDED WRITING"1712 + 1714 = 3426 (T) · 1252 + 1165 = 2417 (S) · 4071 + 1975 = 6046 (D) · 3602 + 4654 = 8256 (R) · 5257 + 3264 = 8521 (I) · 3666 + 4339 = 8005 (H) · 3265 + 5322 = 8587 (N) · 1101 + 980 = 2081 (L) · 4748 + 2827 = 7575 (E) · 1704 + 1771 = 3475 (G) · 2441 + 3395 = 5836 (A) · 1847 + 3090 = 4937 (F) · 1689 + 1818 = 3507 (W)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THEY SNEEZED FROM PEPPERMINT TEA"3/5 of 55 = 33 (T) · 2/8 of 160 = 40 (P) · 3/10 of 130 = 39 (H) · 3/6 of 58 = 29 (Z) · 1/4 of 36 = 9 (N) · 1/3 of 60 = 20 (F) · 2/3 of 6 = 4 (D) · 2/3 of 9 = 6 (R) · 4/10 of 5 = 2 (O) · 1/4 of 32 = 8 (I) · 2/4 of 68 = 34 (S) · 1/10 of 30 = 3 (E) · 2/6 of 36 = 12 (A) · 2/6 of 114 = 38 (Y) · 3/4 of 48 = 36 (M)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "STRANDS OF DARK CURLY HAIR WERE FOUND"3 + 4 × 4 = 19 (S) · 51 + 2 × 6 = 63 (H) · 4 + 8 × 6 = 52 (N) · 18 + 9 × 3 = 45 (T) · 46 + 2 × 5 = 56 (C) · 6 × 12 - 1 = 71 (F) · 1 + 3 × 2 = 7 (W) · 4 + 2 × 4 = 12 (K) · 37 + 3 × 9 = 64 (I) · 9 × 6 - 7 = 47 (L) · 9 × 10 - 24 = 66 (A) · 11 × 6 - 26 = 40 (R) · 2 × 12 - 16 = 8 (Y) · 12 × 8 - 22 = 74 (E) · 12 × 7 - 5 = 79 (D) · 6 + 3 × 4 = 18 (U) · 5 + 5 × 2 = 15 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Marshal Berthier108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Addition, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Emperor's Lost Laurel — set in Tuileries Palace, Paris, 1804
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects