🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueMultiplicationRoundingAdditionDivision
The Golden Basketball Mystery
The championship buzzer sounded, but the legendary golden basketball was gone! The Court Crasher swiped it right off the trophy stand. Coach Barnes needs the Hoop Stars to solve the math puzzles, find the clues, and save the big game!
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 | Shoe Tech | Shooting Hand | Hair Style | Game Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi | Half Court Buzz | Hover Mesh | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Dame | Ankle Breaker Cross | Hover Mesh | Right Handed Shooter | Hot Pink Buzzcut | Loud Referee Whistle |
| LaMelo | Triple Pump Fake | Rocket Laces | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Steph | Half Court Buzz | Springboard Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Bright Blue Mohawk | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| Giannis | Triple Pump Fake | Hover Mesh | Left Handed Shooter | Hot Pink Buzzcut | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| Nikola | Triple Pump Fake | LED Glow Trim | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Loud Referee Whistle |
| Kyrie | No Look Pass | Hover Mesh | Left Handed Shooter | Bright Blue Mohawk | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Jayson | Ankle Breaker Cross | Springboard Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Klay | Skyhook Dunk | Springboard Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| Ja | Triple Pump Fake | Rocket Laces | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Luka | Triple Pump Fake | Springboard Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Russell | Skyhook Dunk | Hover Mesh | Right Handed Shooter | Bright Blue Mohawk | Loud Referee Whistle |
| Joel | No Look Pass | Springboard Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| Jimmy | Half Court Buzz | Rocket Laces | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| James | Triple Pump Fake | LED Glow Trim | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Paul | Half Court Buzz | Springboard Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Hot Pink Buzzcut | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
| Anthony | Skyhook Dunk | Springboard Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Hot Pink Buzzcut | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Zion | Half Court Buzz | Rocket Laces | Left Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Devin | Half Court Buzz | Springboard Soles | Left Handed Shooter | Bright Blue Mohawk | Glaring Shiny Trophy |
| Kevin | Skyhook Dunk | Springboard Soles | Right Handed Shooter | Hot Pink Buzzcut | Loud Referee Whistle |
| Dearron | Half Court Buzz | Grip Pads | Right Handed Shooter | Neon Green Afro | Squeaky Sneaker Sound |
Clue 1
Place value
To find the first clue we need to read the broken digital scoreboard. The Court Crasher scrambled the digits. Look closely at the hundreds place to unlock the 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
60
30
3000
600
6000
3000
900
10
3000
300
600
200
50
6000
50
T
60
30
900
8000
3000
80
3000
200
20
80
50
4000
T
60
300
5000
700
What is the value of the 6 in 363?T
What is the value of the 5 in 85,130?I
What is the value of the 1 in 6,310?K
What is the value of the 9 in 4,980?A
What is the value of the 6 in 7,633?S
What is the value of the 3 in 939?H
What is the value of the 6 in 6,174?N
What is the value of the 7 in 4,769?M
What is the value of the 8 in 38,370?V
What is the value of the 3 in 3,472?E
What is the value of the 2 in 4,027?G
What is the value of the 5 in 9,351?O
What is the value of the 8 in 7,083?L
What is the value of the 2 in 4,244?D
What is the value of the 3 in 8,395?R
What is the value of the 4 in 64,580?W
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The gym floor is covered in messy footprints. They are in equal rows and columns. Multiply the rows of prints to find where the suspect ran.
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
56
20
28
18
22
36
36
54
22
15
60
20
45
T
56
T
56
20
28
49
54
36
36
99
22
T
56
20
T
56
20
28
22
120
36
28
48
T
56
20
54
15
7
8 × 7 =T
10 × 6 =S
4 × 5 =H
12 × 4 =F
3 × 6 =V
7 × 1 =D
7 × 7 =B
5 × 3 =N
4 × 7 =E
9 × 11 =W
9 × 6 =A
9 × 5 =O
11 × 2 =I
3 × 12 =L
12 × 10 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The arena radar tracked the runaway thief. The radar sensor only displays numbers rounded to the nearest ten. Round the speed to trace the path.
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
2900
7000
3000
1300
7000
4300
30
3000
290
3700
T
2900
7000
3000
T
2900
70
290
90
7000
20
170
9000
4300
30
50
3000
50
T
2900
7000
3000
110
4300
9000
9000
700
4300
30
Round 2,907 to the nearest hundredT
Round 112 to the nearest tenV
Round 170 to the nearest tenB
Round 2,817 to the nearest thousandE
Round 92 to the nearest tenP
Round 8,851 to the nearest thousandL
Round 287 to the nearest tenO
Round 70 to the nearest tenR
Round 1,342 to the nearest hundredS
Round 6,564 to the nearest thousandH
Round 662 to the nearest hundredA
Round 33 to the nearest tenN
Round 4,294 to the nearest hundredI
Round 53 to the nearest tenD
Round 3,707 to the nearest hundredF
Round 23 to the nearest tenY
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
We found a pile of dropped sports gear in the hallway. Add up all the basketballs and practice jerseys to count the evidence and reveal another secret.
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
6050
8358
2455
7077
4646
3497
7172
8206
9264
8358
8358
3497
6800
2455
9264
7077
2062
8173
9264
6800
3497
7172
2062
7077
3497
8173
4809
8358
4809
7077
7077
7793
3748 + 2302 =W
2905 + 4267 =D
2437 + 2372 =H
4677 + 2123 =A
714 + 1348 =S
4196 + 2881 =O
2315 + 2331 =U
1097 + 1358 =F
5662 + 2511 =T
2778 + 5015 =P
2392 + 1105 =N
3768 + 5496 =R
2780 + 5578 =E
2631 + 5575 =G
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team has a box of sports drinks to share equally among the players. Divide the drinks to find the last clue before the Court Crasher gets away.
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
12 ÷ 4 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain baffled the goalie with a triple pump fake, then bounced away on springboard soles.
2.The villain pulled off an ankle breaker cross, then zipped across the court with grip pads.
3.The villain baffled the goalie with a triple pump fake, then zoomed off using rocket laces.
4.The villain baffled the goalie with a triple pump fake, then escaped with flashing LED glow trim.
5.The villain used a skyhook dunk on the defense, then zipped across the court with grip pads.
6.The villain tricked everyone with a no look pass, then zipped across the court with grip pads.
7.The villain used a skyhook dunk on the defense, then zoomed off using rocket laces.
8.The villain tricked everyone with a no look pass, then escaped with flashing LED glow trim.
9.The villain shot a half court buzz shot, then zoomed off using rocket laces.
10.The villain shot a half court buzz shot, then escaped with flashing LED glow trim.
11.The villain tricked everyone with a no look pass, then floated out of the gym on hover mesh.
12.The villain pulled off an ankle breaker cross, then bounced away on springboard soles.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Basketball Mystery
Culprit: Jayson (Ankle Breaker Cross · Springboard Soles · Left Handed Shooter · Neon Green Afro · Glaring Shiny Trophy)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAKERS DO NOT HAVE LED GLOW TRIM"What is the value of the 6 in 363? = 60 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 85,130? = 5000 (I) · What is the value of the 1 in 6,310? = 10 (K) · What is the value of the 9 in 4,980? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 7,633? = 600 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 939? = 30 (H) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,174? = 6000 (N) · What is the value of the 7 in 4,769? = 700 (M) · What is the value of the 8 in 38,370? = 8000 (V) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,472? = 3000 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 4,027? = 20 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 9,351? = 50 (O) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,083? = 80 (L) · What is the value of the 2 in 4,244? = 200 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 8,395? = 300 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 64,580? = 4000 (W)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN SHOT THE BALL WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"8 × 7 = 56 (T) · 10 × 6 = 60 (S) · 4 × 5 = 20 (H) · 12 × 4 = 48 (F) · 3 × 6 = 18 (V) · 7 × 1 = 7 (D) · 7 × 7 = 49 (B) · 5 × 3 = 15 (N) · 4 × 7 = 28 (E) · 9 × 11 = 99 (W) · 9 × 6 = 54 (A) · 9 × 5 = 45 (O) · 11 × 2 = 22 (I) · 3 × 12 = 36 (L) · 12 × 10 = 120 (R)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE SHINE OF THE TROPHY BLINDED THE VILLAIN"Round 2,907 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (T) · Round 112 to the nearest ten = 110 (V) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (B) · Round 2,817 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (P) · Round 8,851 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (O) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (R) · Round 1,342 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (S) · Round 6,564 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 662 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 4,294 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (I) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 3,707 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (F) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "WE FOUND GREEN AFRO STRANDS ON THE HOOP"3748 + 2302 = 6050 (W) · 2905 + 4267 = 7172 (D) · 2437 + 2372 = 4809 (H) · 4677 + 2123 = 6800 (A) · 714 + 1348 = 2062 (S) · 4196 + 2881 = 7077 (O) · 2315 + 2331 = 4646 (U) · 1097 + 1358 = 2455 (F) · 5662 + 2511 = 8173 (T) · 2778 + 5015 = 7793 (P) · 2392 + 1105 = 3497 (N) · 3768 + 5496 = 9264 (R) · 2780 + 5578 = 8358 (E) · 2631 + 5575 = 8206 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Jayson12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Basketball Mystery — set in The National Championship Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects