🦕 Dinosaurs, Mermaids, SoccerGrade 8Reading: grades 3-4ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Great Jurassic Lagoon Soccer Cup Mystery
The championship game of the Jurassic Lagoon Soccer League was about to begin when the golden trophy ball vanished! A mysterious swimmer zoomed onto the field, kicked a secret power shot, and hid the trophy ball. Use your math clues to figure out who took the ball!
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 | Soccer Skill | Dino Mascot Companion | Kicking Foot | Tail Fin Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Shellback | Tidal Tackle | TRex Pet | Right Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Pernille Harder | Whirlpool Dribble | TRex Pet | Right Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Wendie Renard | Mega Pass | Velociraptor Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Pele Plesio | Whirlpool Dribble | Stegosaurus Pet | Left Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Luka Modric | Bicycle Kick | Ankylosaurus Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Erling Haaland | Bicycle Kick | Velociraptor Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Kelpie Crunchies |
| Marta Fin | Bicycle Kick | Ankylosaurus Pet | Right Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Aitana Bonmati | Tidal Tackle | Velociraptor Pet | Left Footed | Emerald Green Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Antoine Griezmann | Tail Header | Velociraptor Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Kelpie Crunchies |
| Lionel Tide | Whirlpool Dribble | TRex Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Lucy Bronze | Bicycle Kick | Velociraptor Pet | Left Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Rose Lavelle | Whirlpool Dribble | Ankylosaurus Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Mohamed Splash | Whirlpool Dribble | Triceratops Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Son Heung Min | Tail Header | Triceratops Pet | Right Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Megan Shell | Whirlpool Dribble | TRex Pet | Right Footed | Emerald Green Fin | Kelpie Crunchies |
| Alex Morgana | Whirlpool Dribble | Stegosaurus Pet | Left Footed | Emerald Green Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Cristiano Wave | Whirlpool Dribble | Ankylosaurus Pet | Left Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Kelpie Crunchies |
| Kevin De Splash | Tail Header | Velociraptor Pet | Left Footed | Sapphire Blue Fin | Plankton Patties |
| Sam Kerrigan | Mega Pass | Stegosaurus Pet | Right Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Seaweed Chips |
| Virgil Van Reef | Tidal Tackle | Ankylosaurus Pet | Left Footed | Coral Pink Fin | Kelpie Crunchies |
| Trinity Rodman | Tidal Tackle | Ankylosaurus Pet | Right Footed | Emerald Green Fin | Plankton Patties |
Clue 1
Exponents
The stadium scoreboard measures power in exponential boosts. Solve the exponent puzzle to reveal the first suspect lead.
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
169
4
441
100
361
400
400
324
361
625
27
49
441
121
625
49
T
169
4
324
100
441
324
T
169
128
441
81
243
441
T
169
13^2 =T
5^4 =N
18^2 =A
2^2 =H
19^2 =I
2^7 =R
10^2 =V
9^2 =X
21^2 =E
20^2 =L
3^5 =P
11^2 =S
3^3 =D
7^2 =O
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The referee scanned the square stadium field to trace the culprit path. Calculate the square roots to unlock the next 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.
W
10
12
14
19
5
22
22
5
22
22
23
W
10
23
24
12
17
2
14
8
20
20
14
5
21
11
12
3
11
20
19
17
20
23
9
sqrt(100) =W
sqrt(4) =H
sqrt(529) =A
sqrt(441) =D
sqrt(144) =I
sqrt(81) =L
sqrt(289) =G
sqrt(361) =N
sqrt(400) =O
sqrt(121) =K
sqrt(484) =S
sqrt(196) =T
sqrt(9) =C
sqrt(576) =R
sqrt(64) =F
sqrt(25) =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The mystery kicker ran diagonally across the pitch from corner to corner. Use the right triangle distance to spot the evidence.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
30
87
10
74
65
52
5
17
75
39
58
25
29
13
5
25
75
58
13
13
41
68
52
5
25
13
50
68
65
68
25
C
30
50
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =C
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =F
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =K
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =N
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =A
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =R
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =M
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =T
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =L
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =I
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =H
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =U
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =P
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =S
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =B
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The stadium computer tallied the penalty stats using strict rules. Work through the steps in order to decode the message.
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
82
69
A
82
27
27
113
28
8
37
16
114
93
37
91
28
108
69
59
A
82
114
37
120
A
82
69
91
65
93
108
80
11 × 9 - 17 =A
10 + 9 × 2 =I
12 × 12 - 24 =W
68 + 5 × 8 =N
10 × 4 - 24 =B
9 × 12 - 28 =D
53 + 2 × 3 =C
1 + 9 × 4 =E
57 + 4 × 3 =S
7 × 4 - 1 =P
11 × 11 - 8 =H
2 + 3 × 2 =R
59 + 3 × 2 =O
61 + 6 × 5 =F
11 × 12 - 18 =L
81 + 3 × 4 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The detective found a locked locker with two key numbers needed to open it. Solve the equations to find the final clue.
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
4x + 12 = 20, x = ?
4x + 7 = 47, x = ?
5x + 3 = 8, x = ?
5x + 6 = 66, x = ?
3x + 7 = 22, x = ?
5x + 10 = 50, x = ?
6x + 7 = 31, x = ?
2x + 11 = 23, x = ?
4x + 3 = 15, x = ?
6x + 9 = 63, x = ?
2x + 5 = 27, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain performed a tail header, then signaled a triceratops pet.
2.The villain executed a whirlpool dribble, then signaled a triceratops pet.
3.The villain performed a tail header, then called a trex pet.
4.The villain executed a whirlpool dribble, then called a trex pet.
5.The villain executed a whirlpool dribble, then summoned a velociraptor pet.
6.The villain delivered a mega pass, then sent an ankylosaurus pet.
7.The villain delivered a mega pass, then summoned a velociraptor pet.
8.The villain performed a tail header, then summoned a velociraptor pet.
9.The villain used a bicycle kick to score, then called a trex pet.
10.The villain executed a whirlpool dribble, then sent an ankylosaurus pet.
11.The villain delivered a mega pass, then called a trex pet.
12.The villain used a bicycle kick to score, then sent an ankylosaurus pet.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Jurassic Lagoon Soccer Cup Mystery
Culprit: Wendie Renard (Mega Pass · Velociraptor Pet · Right Footed · Sapphire Blue Fin · Plankton Patties)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A TREX PET"13^2 = 169 (T) · 5^4 = 625 (N) · 18^2 = 324 (A) · 2^2 = 4 (H) · 19^2 = 361 (I) · 2^7 = 128 (R) · 10^2 = 100 (V) · 9^2 = 81 (X) · 21^2 = 441 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (L) · 3^5 = 243 (P) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 3^3 = 27 (D) · 7^2 = 49 (O)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "WITNESSES SAW A RIGHT FOOTED KICK ON GOAL"sqrt(100) = 10 (W) · sqrt(4) = 2 (H) · sqrt(529) = 23 (A) · sqrt(441) = 21 (D) · sqrt(144) = 12 (I) · sqrt(81) = 9 (L) · sqrt(289) = 17 (G) · sqrt(361) = 19 (N) · sqrt(400) = 20 (O) · sqrt(121) = 11 (K) · sqrt(484) = 22 (S) · sqrt(196) = 14 (T) · sqrt(9) = 3 (C) · sqrt(576) = 24 (R) · sqrt(64) = 8 (F) · sqrt(25) = 5 (E)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "CRUMBS OF PLANKTON PATTIES ON THE BENCH"legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (C) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (F) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (K) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (N) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (E) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (A) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (R) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (M) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (T) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (L) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (I) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (H) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (U) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (P) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (O) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (S) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (B)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A SAPPHIRE BLUE FIN SCALE WAS FOUND"11 × 9 - 17 = 82 (A) · 10 + 9 × 2 = 28 (I) · 12 × 12 - 24 = 120 (W) · 68 + 5 × 8 = 108 (N) · 10 × 4 - 24 = 16 (B) · 9 × 12 - 28 = 80 (D) · 53 + 2 × 3 = 59 (C) · 1 + 9 × 4 = 37 (E) · 57 + 4 × 3 = 69 (S) · 7 × 4 - 1 = 27 (P) · 11 × 11 - 8 = 113 (H) · 2 + 3 × 2 = 8 (R) · 59 + 3 × 2 = 65 (O) · 61 + 6 × 5 = 91 (F) · 11 × 12 - 18 = 114 (L) · 81 + 3 × 4 = 93 (U)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 7) → Wendie Renard4x + 12 = 20, x = 2 · 4x + 7 = 47, x = 10 · 5x + 3 = 8, x = 1 · 5x + 6 = 66, x = 12 · 3x + 7 = 22, x = 5 · 5x + 10 = 50, x = 8 · 6x + 7 = 31, x = 4 · 2x + 11 = 23, x = 6 · 4x + 3 = 15, x = 3 · 6x + 9 = 63, x = 9 · 2x + 5 = 27, x = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Jurassic Lagoon Soccer Cup Mystery — set in Jurassic Lagoon Underwater Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects