🔎 PunsGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Great Golden Groaner Heist
The Golden Groaner trophy has been swiped right before the annual pun championship. The culprit left a trail of terrible wordplay. We need to crack the clues, solve the equations, and find the real comic genius who turned criminal!
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 | Comedy Style | Stage Prop | Dominant Hand | Wig Style | Kryptonite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anita Bath | Double Entendre | Whoopee Cushion | Right-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Literal Explanations |
| Luke Warm | Double Entendre | Chattering Teeth | Left-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Paige Turner | Double Entendre | Chattering Teeth | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Tim Ber | Sarcasm Blast | Chattering Teeth | Left-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Literal Explanations |
| Holly Wood | Irony Shield | Squirting Flower | Right-handed writer | Bright Blue Afro | Literal Explanations |
| Warren Peace | Spoonerism Spell | Whoopee Cushion | Right-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Awkward Hecklers |
| Manny Kinn | Sarcasm Blast | Chattering Teeth | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Carrie Oakey | Irony Shield | Squirting Flower | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Penny Wise | Irony Shield | Laugh Track | Left-handed writer | Bright Blue Afro | Total Silence |
| Artie Choke | Groan Generator | Laugh Track | Left-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Awkward Hecklers |
| Barb Dwyer | Sarcasm Blast | Laugh Track | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Ray Sun | Sarcasm Blast | Helium Mic | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Literal Explanations |
| Jack Pott | Double Entendre | Helium Mic | Left-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Literal Explanations |
| Barry Cade | Double Entendre | Whoopee Cushion | Right-handed writer | Bright Blue Afro | Total Silence |
| Herb Garden | Double Entendre | Squirting Flower | Left-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Total Silence |
| Gale Force | Irony Shield | Chattering Teeth | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Robin Banks | Irony Shield | Laugh Track | Left-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Literal Explanations |
| Ella Vator | Spoonerism Spell | Helium Mic | Left-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Awkward Hecklers |
| Otto Mobile | Spoonerism Spell | Chattering Teeth | Right-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Awkward Hecklers |
| Doug Deep | Sarcasm Blast | Helium Mic | Right-handed writer | Lime Green Mullet | Literal Explanations |
| Sharon Whiplash | Sarcasm Blast | Helium Mic | Right-handed writer | Neon Pink Mohawk | Total Silence |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To catch the thief's path across the courtyard, we must find the direct diagonal distance between the joke vault and the punchline gate.
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
100
87
40
26
30
26
37
40
15
T
100
87
5
26
50
25
26
68
30
75
74
T
100
75
50
20
58
13
25
41
40
74
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =T
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =L
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =H
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =G
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =A
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =Q
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =E
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =C
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =I
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =W
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =R
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =O
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =N
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =F
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =S
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =P
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =U
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The thief dropped a grid of joke-cards on a perfectly square stage. We can find the stage side length by finding the square root of the total area.
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
20
16
17
13
21
22
T
20
22
12
14
13
3
24
21
22
14
16
T
20
16
3
12
2
17
2
sqrt(400) =T
sqrt(289) =E
sqrt(169) =W
sqrt(576) =S
sqrt(196) =G
sqrt(484) =I
sqrt(256) =H
sqrt(144) =N
sqrt(4) =D
sqrt(9) =A
sqrt(441) =R
0/11 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The groan-worthy puns are multiplying exponentially! If we calculate the power of their growth over time, we can pinpoint the exact moment of the heist.
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
121
25
441
324
196
128
16
225
361
169
441
144
16
484
144
441
128
361
125
144
25
441
196
729
169
256
484
243
11^2 =T
18^2 =Y
3^6 =K
4^2 =U
5^2 =H
14^2 =C
2^7 =R
21^2 =E
12^2 =D
5^3 =A
22^2 =N
3^5 =G
13^2 =L
16^2 =I
19^2 =B
15^2 =M
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The getaway manual lists steps that must be solved in a strict sequence. Following the exact order of operations reveals the culprit's secret escape 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.
A
48
104
100
52
104
53
79
104
77
18
A
48
79
110
85
45
110
A
48
104
57
26
A
48
85
11
52
116
104
57
16 + 8 × 4 =A
9 × 7 - 10 =P
7 × 12 - 27 =D
9 × 10 - 13 =K
34 + 9 × 2 =O
10 × 12 - 16 =N
11 × 8 - 3 =S
2 × 12 - 6 =H
6 + 4 × 5 =W
75 + 2 × 2 =I
4 × 4 - 5 =F
82 + 9 × 2 =E
9 + 9 × 4 =T
10 × 12 - 10 =R
74 + 6 × 7 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
A square patch of carpet in the pun parlor was scorched by a bad joke. Finding the square root of the damaged square area gives us our final coordinates.
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(144) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blocked the guards with an irony shield, then wound up some fake chattering teeth.
2.The villain blasted a terrible groan generator, then blared an annoying laugh track.
3.The villain blocked the guards with an irony shield, then sprayed everyone with a squirting flower.
4.The villain confused the room with double entendres, then wound up some fake chattering teeth.
5.The villain blasted a terrible groan generator, then wound up some fake chattering teeth.
6.The villain unleashed a devastating sarcasm blast, then wound up some fake chattering teeth.
7.The villain cast a confusing spoonerism spell, then wound up some fake chattering teeth.
8.The villain confused the room with double entendres, then sprayed everyone with a squirting flower.
9.The villain blasted a terrible groan generator, then shrieked into a helium mic.
10.The villain confused the room with double entendres, then shrieked into a helium mic.
11.The villain blocked the guards with an irony shield, then shrieked into a helium mic.
12.The villain unleashed a devastating sarcasm blast, then blared an annoying laugh track.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Golden Groaner Heist
Culprit: Gale Force (Irony Shield · Chattering Teeth · Right-handed writer · Neon Pink Mohawk · Awkward Hecklers)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SUSPECT HAS NO SQUIRTING FLOWER"legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (T) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (L) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (H) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (G) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (A) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (Q) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (E) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (C) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (I) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (W) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (R) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (O) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (N) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (F) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (S) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (P) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (U)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE WRITING WAS RIGHT HANDED"sqrt(400) = 20 (T) · sqrt(289) = 17 (E) · sqrt(169) = 13 (W) · sqrt(576) = 24 (S) · sqrt(196) = 14 (G) · sqrt(484) = 22 (I) · sqrt(256) = 16 (H) · sqrt(144) = 12 (N) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(9) = 3 (A) · sqrt(441) = 21 (R)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THEY CRUMBLED UNDER BAD HECKLING"11^2 = 121 (T) · 18^2 = 324 (Y) · 3^6 = 729 (K) · 4^2 = 16 (U) · 5^2 = 25 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (C) · 2^7 = 128 (R) · 21^2 = 441 (E) · 12^2 = 144 (D) · 5^3 = 125 (A) · 22^2 = 484 (N) · 3^5 = 243 (G) · 13^2 = 169 (L) · 16^2 = 256 (I) · 19^2 = 361 (B) · 15^2 = 225 (M)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A NEON PINK HAIR STRAND WAS FOUND"16 + 8 × 4 = 48 (A) · 9 × 7 - 10 = 53 (P) · 7 × 12 - 27 = 57 (D) · 9 × 10 - 13 = 77 (K) · 34 + 9 × 2 = 52 (O) · 10 × 12 - 16 = 104 (N) · 11 × 8 - 3 = 85 (S) · 2 × 12 - 6 = 18 (H) · 6 + 4 × 5 = 26 (W) · 75 + 2 × 2 = 79 (I) · 4 × 4 - 5 = 11 (F) · 82 + 9 × 2 = 100 (E) · 9 + 9 × 4 = 45 (T) · 10 × 12 - 10 = 110 (R) · 74 + 6 × 7 = 116 (U)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 1) → Gale Forcesqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(25) = 5
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 Great Golden Groaner Heist — set in The Wordplay Palace
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects