Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Great Airship Compass Caper
Someone snuck aboard the Skystar Fleet and swiped the Golden Astrolabe. Detective, follow the flight logs and math clues to unmask the culprit.
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 | Special Gear | Flight Skill | Glove Hand | Goggle Color | Fear Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Earhart | Grapple Hook | Wind Reading | Right Handed | Brass Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Matthew Henson | Grapple Hook | Wind Reading | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Charles Lindbergh | Signal Flare | Night Flying | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Howard Hughes | Signal Flare | Wind Reading | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| James Cook | Signal Flare | Storm Riding | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Mae Jemison | Glider Wings | Wind Reading | Left Handed | Copper Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Yuri Gagarin | Smoke Pellets | Night Flying | Right Handed | Silver Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
| Leif Erikson | Smoke Pellets | Cloud Diving | Left Handed | Copper Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Sally Ride | Glider Wings | Cloud Diving | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
| Nellie Bly | Grapple Hook | Wind Reading | Left Handed | Brass Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
| Marco Polo | Signal Flare | Night Flying | Right Handed | Brass Goggles | High Winds |
| Ranulph Fiennes | Signal Flare | Thermal Soaring | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Bessie Coleman | Signal Flare | Cloud Diving | Left Handed | Brass Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Vasco da Gama | Smoke Pellets | Cloud Diving | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Wilbur Wright | Smoke Pellets | Storm Riding | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Sylvia Earle | Smoke Pellets | Cloud Diving | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
| Roald Amundsen | Glider Wings | Night Flying | Left Handed | Silver Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
| Orville Wright | Flash Beacon | Night Flying | Right Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Ibn Battuta | Grapple Hook | Night Flying | Left Handed | Copper Goggles | High Winds |
| Harriet Quimby | Grapple Hook | Thermal Soaring | Left Handed | Brass Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Ferdinand Magellan | Flash Beacon | Wind Reading | Right Handed | Silver Goggles | Bright Searchlights |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The lookout calculated a fraction of the fleet cargo to find where the thief dropped the first clue.
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
40
6
10
19
34
8
8
25
34
26
32
36
10
18
26
36
T
40
31
18
10
18
T
40
36
11
16
11
34
32
34
26
3
2/5 of 100 =T
1/8 of 144 =S
1/3 of 93 =U
2/4 of 68 =I
1/5 of 125 =A
1/4 of 32 =L
6/10 of 5 =G
1/3 of 18 =H
2/4 of 38 =V
1/3 of 33 =R
2/3 of 39 =N
8/10 of 40 =D
2/3 of 24 =M
2/10 of 50 =E
1/3 of 108 =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To decrypt the airship engine log, follow the proper order of operations on the altitude dial.
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
13
26
50
22
61
27
33
T
13
68
68
26
37
75
21
61
27
79
26
T
13
26
21
33
40
50
40
6
37
33
T
13
61
37
10
79
61
27
22
9 × 2 - 5 =T
10 × 7 - 20 =E
10 × 8 - 12 =S
11 + 2 × 5 =A
22 + 3 × 5 =O
7 × 9 - 2 =R
6 + 2 × 2 =L
6 × 5 - 24 =C
4 × 7 - 6 =P
9 × 11 - 20 =G
14 + 4 × 3 =H
23 + 5 × 2 =N
24 + 8 × 2 =D
8 × 4 - 5 =I
39 + 4 × 9 =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The navigator counted the total supply crates loaded across equal rows in the cargo hold.
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
16
44
28
9
1
64
54
28
63
45
84
84
T
16
1
108
108
28
18
81
20
44
10
64
44
63
10
132
18
84
45
60
1
40
T
16
2 × 8 =T
4 × 10 =F
5 × 12 =L
7 × 4 =E
8 × 8 =G
2 × 5 =I
9 × 6 =U
11 × 4 =H
3 × 3 =R
1 × 1 =O
9 × 9 =B
11 × 12 =N
6 × 3 =D
9 × 5 =A
12 × 9 =P
12 × 7 =S
9 × 7 =W
4 × 5 =Y
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The barometer scanner rounds the pressure reading to the nearest hundred to track the flight 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
90
3000
170
T
90
2300
370
700
2000
170
2300
3700
7000
130
50
1300
700
7000
4300
4300
170
2300
70
7000
70
70
9000
170
290
50
170
370
2300
5000
200
Round 90 to the nearest tenT
Round 2,203 to the nearest thousandK
Round 4,342 to the nearest hundredP
Round 7,379 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,765 to the nearest thousandB
Round 286 to the nearest tenS
Round 9,142 to the nearest thousandL
Round 2,276 to the nearest hundredR
Round 3,067 to the nearest thousandH
Round 666 to the nearest hundredC
Round 3,744 to the nearest hundredF
Round 1,305 to the nearest hundredD
Round 172 to the nearest hundredY
Round 54 to the nearest tenN
Round 367 to the nearest tenA
Round 174 to the nearest tenE
Round 66 to the nearest tenG
Round 129 to the nearest tenU
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The crew divided the remaining compass maps equally among the rescue airships to narrow down the search.
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
21 ÷ 7 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
2 ÷ 1 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain soared past using glider wings, then fled through storm riding.
2.The villain vanished behind smoke pellets, then dashed away using wind reading.
3.The villain signaled the crew with a signal flare, then pushed high with thermal soaring.
4.The villain vanished behind smoke pellets, then disappeared into night flying.
5.The villain swung down with a grapple hook, then escaped by cloud diving.
6.The villain soared past using glider wings, then dashed away using wind reading.
7.The villain swung down with a grapple hook, then disappeared into night flying.
8.The villain blinded the watch with a flash beacon, then disappeared into night flying.
9.The villain swung down with a grapple hook, then dashed away using wind reading.
10.The villain signaled the crew with a signal flare, then dashed away using wind reading.
11.The villain signaled the crew with a signal flare, then disappeared into night flying.
12.The villain vanished behind smoke pellets, then escaped by cloud diving.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Airship Compass Caper
Culprit: Orville Wright (Flash Beacon · Night Flying · Right Handed · Copper Goggles · High Winds)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE STORM RIDING"2/5 of 100 = 40 (T) · 1/8 of 144 = 18 (S) · 1/3 of 93 = 31 (U) · 2/4 of 68 = 34 (I) · 1/5 of 125 = 25 (A) · 1/4 of 32 = 8 (L) · 6/10 of 5 = 3 (G) · 1/3 of 18 = 6 (H) · 2/4 of 38 = 19 (V) · 1/3 of 33 = 11 (R) · 2/3 of 39 = 26 (N) · 8/10 of 40 = 32 (D) · 2/3 of 24 = 16 (M) · 2/10 of 50 = 10 (E) · 1/3 of 108 = 36 (O)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE PRINTS SHOW A RIGHT HANDED CONTROL GRIP"9 × 2 - 5 = 13 (T) · 10 × 7 - 20 = 50 (E) · 10 × 8 - 12 = 68 (S) · 11 + 2 × 5 = 21 (A) · 22 + 3 × 5 = 37 (O) · 7 × 9 - 2 = 61 (R) · 6 + 2 × 2 = 10 (L) · 6 × 5 - 24 = 6 (C) · 4 × 7 - 6 = 22 (P) · 9 × 11 - 20 = 79 (G) · 14 + 4 × 3 = 26 (H) · 23 + 5 × 2 = 33 (N) · 24 + 8 × 2 = 40 (D) · 8 × 4 - 5 = 27 (I) · 39 + 4 × 9 = 75 (W)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE ROGUE WAS STOPPED BY HIGH WINDS ALOFT"2 × 8 = 16 (T) · 4 × 10 = 40 (F) · 5 × 12 = 60 (L) · 7 × 4 = 28 (E) · 8 × 8 = 64 (G) · 2 × 5 = 10 (I) · 9 × 6 = 54 (U) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 3 × 3 = 9 (R) · 1 × 1 = 1 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (B) · 11 × 12 = 132 (N) · 6 × 3 = 18 (D) · 9 × 5 = 45 (A) · 12 × 9 = 108 (P) · 12 × 7 = 84 (S) · 9 × 7 = 63 (W) · 4 × 5 = 20 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE TRACKER FOUND COPPER GOGGLES NEARBY"Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 2,203 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (K) · Round 4,342 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (P) · Round 7,379 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (O) · Round 4,765 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B) · Round 286 to the nearest ten = 290 (S) · Round 9,142 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 2,276 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (R) · Round 3,067 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 666 to the nearest hundred = 700 (C) · Round 3,744 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (F) · Round 1,305 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (D) · Round 172 to the nearest hundred = 200 (Y) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (N) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (A) · Round 174 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (G) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Orville Wright21 ÷ 7 = 3 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Great Airship Compass Caper — set in The Skystar Navigator Dock
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects