🔎 The final bossGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision

The Glitch in the Citadel

The arcade machine in the back of the shop is glowing. The final boss of Mega Quest Omega has broken out of the code and trapped the Lead Programmer inside the mainframe. Only one of the twenty-four virtual boss avatars in the game database is the real glitched villain. You must use the combat logs and code files to identify the culprit before the game deletes its own save files.

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	Ultimate Attack	Loot Drop	Input Hand	Glow Effect	Exploit Patch
Ganondorf	Gravity Vortex	Shield Potion	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Ice Strike
Grigori	Glitch Wave	Speed Ring	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Water Attack
Kefka	Laser Barrage	Spike Boots	Left Handed	Neon Red Spark	Water Attack
M Bison	Thunder Smash	Shield Potion	Left Handed	Neon Green Aura	Ice Strike
Ridley	Thunder Smash	Golden Key	Right Handed	Neon Green Aura	Fire Charge
Grandy	Gravity Vortex	Shield Potion	Right Handed	Neon Red Spark	Water Attack
Dr Eggman	Thunder Smash	Spike Boots	Left Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Mecha Sonic	Gravity Vortex	Pixel Sword	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Dr Neo Cortex	Glitch Wave	Speed Ring	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Ice Strike
Andross	Laser Barrage	Golden Key	Left Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Water Attack
Dracula	Gravity Vortex	Shield Potion	Left Handed	Neon Red Spark	Ice Strike
Sigma	Meteor Rain	Speed Ring	Left Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Albert Wesker	Laser Barrage	Golden Key	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Giga Bowser	Meteor Rain	Spike Boots	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
King K Rool	Meteor Rain	Pixel Sword	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Alduin	Thunder Smash	Golden Key	Right Handed	Neon Red Spark	Water Attack
Sephiroth	Gravity Vortex	Golden Key	Right Handed	Neon Green Aura	Fire Charge
Malos	Laser Barrage	Speed Ring	Left Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Ganon	Gravity Vortex	Shield Potion	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Fire Charge
Shao Kahn	Meteor Rain	Golden Key	Right Handed	Neon Red Spark	Fire Charge
Tabuu	Gravity Vortex	Pixel Sword	Right Handed	Neon Blue Flame	Ice Strike

Clue 1

Addition

To unlock the secure system log, we must add up the total experience points dropped by the minibosses in the first stage. Once we combine these numbers, the code unlocks our first hint.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

6892

8433

3039

8896

3891

6325

2096

3891

7940

6618

8774

3039

6227

7940

8774

6892

6618

5507

8774

5339

6892

8433

3039

6227

8433

3891

3039

6325

6618

5339

8774

6892

3891

8774

7940

4807 + 2085 =T

2612 + 2727 =P

2718 + 5715 =H

1968 + 3539 =R

3167 + 5607 =O

4283 + 2335 =D

1748 + 1291 =E

3316 + 5580 =V

3335 + 2990 =L

1264 + 2627 =I

3790 + 4150 =N

4198 + 2029 =S

690 + 1406 =A

0/13 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

The boss has massive health. If we subtract the damage from our hero's critical strike from the total boss health bar, we can calculate the remaining energy and read the combat log.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4655

8019

4808

6573

4808

1277

4193

8019

5551

5817

4852

7609

4655

8019

4808

7609

8990

5551

4202

4852

7586

6573

4655

8019

4808

4202

7586

4424

8019

4655

8019

6706

6573

4852

5764 - 1109 =T

5853 - 1045 =E

8238 - 219 =H

9429 - 3612 =L

11166 - 3557 =S

7426 - 1875 =O

10108 - 3402 =A

1759 - 482 =M

10137 - 2551 =I

5357 - 933 =G

9051 - 61 =W

5992 - 1799 =Y

6470 - 1618 =D

6586 - 13 =N

4567 - 365 =R

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Fractions of a number

The portal runs on a mana battery. We need to charge exactly three-fifths of the battery's total storage to activate the console and see which pixels are glitched.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

6/8 of 4 =T

4/6 of 48 =A

1/2 of 12 =I

2/10 of 170 =O

4/8 of 30 =M

1/4 of 80 =H

2/6 of 12 =U

2/10 of 155 =X

1/3 of 42 =R

4/8 of 38 =N

6/8 of 24 =S

3/8 of 32 =K

1/5 of 145 =G

2/10 of 105 =D

1/5 of 120 =E

1/3 of 105 =F

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Order of operations

We found a complex combat combo formula. To solve the sequence of multipliers, we must use the correct order of operations to crack the cipher on the final boss'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.

8 × 10 - 22 =W

7 × 7 - 29 =F

11 × 7 - 15 =X

5 × 7 - 19 =T

16 + 2 × 9 =E

2 × 10 - 5 =B

27 + 9 × 2 =P

3 + 3 × 3 =N

4 + 5 × 2 =U

15 + 5 × 2 =S

7 × 8 - 2 =G

10 × 5 - 24 =L

10 + 5 × 4 =D

18 + 8 × 3 =I

7 × 11 - 17 =H

8 × 10 - 10 =O

6 × 8 - 24 =A

4 × 12 - 17 =C

0/18 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The developer left behind a supply of energy crystals. If we divide the crystals equally among our five party members, the leftover energy highlights the boss's main vulnerability.

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

2 ÷ 2 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

96 ÷ 8 = ?

63 ÷ 7 = ?

45 ÷ 9 = ?

110 ÷ 11 = ?

28 ÷ 4 = ?

24 ÷ 6 = ?

18 ÷ 3 = ?

66 ÷ 6 = ?

36 ÷ 12 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain fires a massive laser barrage, then drops a golden key.

2.The villain summons a heavy gravity vortex, then flees with a pixel sword.

3.The villain slams down with a thunder smash, then escapes with a speed ring.

4.The villain fires a massive laser barrage, then flees with a pixel sword.

5.The villain unleashes a corrupted glitch wave, then leaves behind a shield potion.

6.The villain fires a massive laser barrage, then leaves behind a shield potion.

7.The villain unleashes a corrupted glitch wave, then flees with a pixel sword.

8.The villain casts meteor rain across the screen, then flees with a pixel sword.

9.The villain summons a heavy gravity vortex, then leaves behind a shield potion.

10.The villain summons a heavy gravity vortex, then stomps away in spike boots.

11.The villain casts meteor rain across the screen, then leaves behind a shield potion.

12.The villain casts meteor rain across the screen, then stomps away in spike boots.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Glitch in the Citadel

Culprit: King K Rool (Meteor Rain · Pixel Sword · Right Handed · Neon Blue Flame · Fire Charge)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT DROP THE SHIELD POTION"
4807 + 2085 = 6892 (T) · 2612 + 2727 = 5339 (P) · 2718 + 5715 = 8433 (H) · 1968 + 3539 = 5507 (R) · 3167 + 5607 = 8774 (O) · 4283 + 2335 = 6618 (D) · 1748 + 1291 = 3039 (E) · 3316 + 5580 = 8896 (V) · 3335 + 2990 = 6325 (L) · 1264 + 2627 = 3891 (I) · 3790 + 4150 = 7940 (N) · 4198 + 2029 = 6227 (S) · 690 + 1406 = 2096 (A)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE ENEMY HOLDS THE SWORD IN THE RIGHT HAND"
5764 - 1109 = 4655 (T) · 5853 - 1045 = 4808 (E) · 8238 - 219 = 8019 (H) · 9429 - 3612 = 5817 (L) · 11166 - 3557 = 7609 (S) · 7426 - 1875 = 5551 (O) · 10108 - 3402 = 6706 (A) · 1759 - 482 = 1277 (M) · 10137 - 2551 = 7586 (I) · 5357 - 933 = 4424 (G) · 9051 - 61 = 8990 (W) · 5992 - 1799 = 4193 (Y) · 6470 - 1618 = 4852 (D) · 6586 - 13 = 6573 (N) · 4567 - 365 = 4202 (R)
Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THE MONSTER TAKES MAXIMUM DAMAGE FROM FIRE"
6/8 of 4 = 3 (T) · 4/6 of 48 = 32 (A) · 1/2 of 12 = 6 (I) · 2/10 of 170 = 34 (O) · 4/8 of 30 = 15 (M) · 1/4 of 80 = 20 (H) · 2/6 of 12 = 4 (U) · 2/10 of 155 = 31 (X) · 1/3 of 42 = 14 (R) · 4/8 of 38 = 19 (N) · 6/8 of 24 = 18 (S) · 3/8 of 32 = 12 (K) · 1/5 of 145 = 29 (G) · 2/10 of 105 = 21 (D) · 1/5 of 120 = 24 (E) · 1/3 of 105 = 35 (F)
Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND GLOWING BLUE PIXELS AT THE SCENE"
8 × 10 - 22 = 58 (W) · 7 × 7 - 29 = 20 (F) · 11 × 7 - 15 = 62 (X) · 5 × 7 - 19 = 16 (T) · 16 + 2 × 9 = 34 (E) · 2 × 10 - 5 = 15 (B) · 27 + 9 × 2 = 45 (P) · 3 + 3 × 3 = 12 (N) · 4 + 5 × 2 = 14 (U) · 15 + 5 × 2 = 25 (S) · 7 × 8 - 2 = 54 (G) · 10 × 5 - 24 = 26 (L) · 10 + 5 × 4 = 30 (D) · 18 + 8 × 3 = 42 (I) · 7 × 11 - 17 = 60 (H) · 8 × 10 - 10 = 70 (O) · 6 × 8 - 24 = 24 (A) · 4 × 12 - 17 = 31 (C)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → King K Rool
2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Glitch in the Citadel — set in The Neon Glitch Citadel inside the arcade mainframe
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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