🏀 Basketball, UnicornsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4AdditionMultiplicationSubtractionRoundingDivision

The Great Rainbow Hoops Mystery

Right before tip off at the championship game, someone swapped the golden trophy with a squeaky toy basketball! Detective Sparkle is on the court to solve the case.

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	Super Dunk	Magic Gear	Shooting Style	Mane Color	Distraction Item
Caitlin Comet	Star Slam	Flying Cape	Left Handed Shooter	Purple Mane	Glitter Dust
Kerr Cosmic	Rainbow Swoosh	Diamond Jersey	Left Handed Shooter	Silver Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Angel Mane	Rainbow Swoosh	Diamond Jersey	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Popov Magic	Sparkle Layup	Neon High Tops	Left Handed Shooter	Silver Mane	Glitter Dust
Sue Birdie	Rainbow Swoosh	Starry Wristband	Left Handed Shooter	Purple Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Geno Spark	Cosmic Spinner	Glow Goggles	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Magic Horn Polish
Diana Trot	Star Slam	Starry Wristband	Left Handed Shooter	Purple Mane	Magic Horn Polish
Coach Cheryl	Cosmic Spinner	Starry Wristband	Right Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Magic Horn Polish
Candace Cloud	Cloud Bounce	Diamond Jersey	Right Handed Shooter	Silver Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Spoelstra Shine	Cosmic Spinner	Starry Wristband	Left Handed Shooter	Purple Mane	Magic Horn Polish
Maya Star	Rainbow Swoosh	Starry Wristband	Right Handed Shooter	Silver Mane	Magic Horn Polish
Aja Rainbow	Sparkle Layup	Neon High Tops	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Kaitlyn Glitter	Star Slam	Flying Cape	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Glitter Dust
Paige Pegasus	Sparkle Layup	Glow Goggles	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Phil Jackson	Sparkle Layup	Flying Cape	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Hammon Hoops	Cloud Bounce	Glow Goggles	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Glitter Dust
Starry Steph	Star Slam	Flying Cape	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Luka Magic	Cloud Bounce	Starry Wristband	Left Handed Shooter	Silver Mane	Squeaky Whistle
LeBron Sparkle	Rainbow Swoosh	Glow Goggles	Left Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Jewell Hoops	Cloud Bounce	Diamond Jersey	Right Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle
Dawn Starlight	Cosmic Spinner	Neon High Tops	Right Handed Shooter	Pink Mane	Squeaky Whistle

Clue 1

Addition

Detective Sparkle added up all the warm up points to unlock the trophy vault locker.

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

4089

2577

3177

6966

7690

2231

4716

7690

7710

4965

6986

3177

8130

7710

6986

4089

5494

3177

4716

2986

4716

5293

2231

6548

7690

7710

9176

8851

4716

7053

3177

1404 + 2685 =T

2640 + 5070 =N

3390 + 5786 =G

5010 + 2680 =I

4088 + 4763 =C

3251 + 3297 =Y

2512 + 2781 =F

2006 + 2710 =A

5306 + 2824 =S

3407 + 3646 =P

1517 + 1060 =H

1358 + 1628 =R

3797 + 1697 =W

1349 + 882 =L

3285 + 3701 =O

3358 + 3608 =V

2058 + 1119 =E

3142 + 1823 =D

0/18 letters found

Clue 2

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The court manager checked the racks of magic basketballs stored in equal rows.

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

132

144

132

108

132

120

144

4 × 7 =T

4 × 6 =W

12 × 11 =H

12 × 12 =L

10 × 5 =U

2 × 7 =C

12 × 10 =R

1 × 1 =E

11 × 1 =V

9 × 12 =N

9 × 11 =O

3 × 9 =S

8 × 10 =F

9 × 1 =A

8 × 8 =D

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

Comparing ticket counts before and after warmups revealed how many fans were missing.

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

3488

8808

1887

7819

8595

1407

1887

5597

2828

1901

1046

8808

2345

7819

3488

3181

1887

4302

5597

8005

1887

3488

8808

1887

3980

2345

3181

5597

2345

8424

8692

5597

1407

7819

1887

8292 - 4804 =T

2940 - 1039 =Y

3577 - 1690 =E

8921 - 4941 =V

10961 - 3142 =S

5685 - 88 =A

2060 - 653 =U

9606 - 1182 =N

2463 - 118 =I

11937 - 3932 =D

10409 - 1717 =P

6169 - 2988 =L

8703 - 4401 =M

3145 - 2099 =W

9874 - 1066 =H

13249 - 4654 =Q

4738 - 1910 =K

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

The digital scoreboard radar glitched and rounded every speed calculation to the nearest ten.

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

900

370

1700

200

3700

4300

3000

290

3700

7000

1300

3700

290

3700

5000

2300

2000

7000

2300

4300

3000

3700

3000

2300

900

Round 861 to the nearest hundredP

Round 4,349 to the nearest hundredT

Round 1,849 to the nearest thousandU

Round 192 to the nearest hundredM

Round 1,742 to the nearest hundredK

Round 26 to the nearest tenS

Round 67 to the nearest tenA

Round 93 to the nearest tenN

Round 291 to the nearest tenR

Round 6,639 to the nearest thousandD

Round 370 to the nearest tenI

Round 3,738 to the nearest hundredE

Round 1,315 to the nearest hundredW

Round 2,832 to the nearest thousandH

Round 2,312 to the nearest hundredO

Round 4,885 to the nearest thousandF

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

Coach shared the remaining energy snacks equally among the star starters.

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

36 ÷ 6 = ?

42 ÷ 6 = ?

24 ÷ 2 = ?

48 ÷ 12 = ?

77 ÷ 7 = ?

80 ÷ 10 = ?

50 ÷ 10 = ?

12 ÷ 4 = ?

60 ÷ 6 = ?

90 ÷ 10 = ?

22 ÷ 11 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain scored a sparkle layup, then laced up neon high tops.

2.The villain spun with cosmic speed, then zipped around in a flying cape.

3.The villain executed a star slam, then adjusted a starry wristband.

4.The villain executed a star slam, then flashed a diamond jersey.

5.The villain executed a star slam, then adjusted glow goggles.

6.The villain dunked with a rainbow swoosh, then flashed a diamond jersey.

7.The villain dunked with a rainbow swoosh, then adjusted glow goggles.

8.The villain scored a sparkle layup, then zipped around in a flying cape.

9.The villain bounced off a cloud, then flashed a diamond jersey.

10.The villain dunked with a rainbow swoosh, then laced up neon high tops.

11.The villain spun with cosmic speed, then laced up neon high tops.

12.The villain scored a sparkle layup, then adjusted glow goggles.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Rainbow Hoops Mystery

Culprit: Aja Rainbow (Sparkle Layup · Neon High Tops · Left Handed Shooter · Pink Mane · Squeaky Whistle)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A FLYING CAPE"
1404 + 2685 = 4089 (T) · 2640 + 5070 = 7710 (N) · 3390 + 5786 = 9176 (G) · 5010 + 2680 = 7690 (I) · 4088 + 4763 = 8851 (C) · 3251 + 3297 = 6548 (Y) · 2512 + 2781 = 5293 (F) · 2006 + 2710 = 4716 (A) · 5306 + 2824 = 8130 (S) · 3407 + 3646 = 7053 (P) · 1517 + 1060 = 2577 (H) · 1358 + 1628 = 2986 (R) · 3797 + 1697 = 5494 (W) · 1349 + 882 = 2231 (L) · 3285 + 3701 = 6986 (O) · 3358 + 3608 = 6966 (V) · 2058 + 1119 = 3177 (E) · 3142 + 1823 = 4965 (D)
Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SCOUT SAW A LEFT HANDED SHOOTER LEAVE"
4 × 7 = 28 (T) · 4 × 6 = 24 (W) · 12 × 11 = 132 (H) · 12 × 12 = 144 (L) · 10 × 5 = 50 (U) · 2 × 7 = 14 (C) · 12 × 10 = 120 (R) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 11 × 1 = 11 (V) · 9 × 12 = 108 (N) · 9 × 11 = 99 (O) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 8 × 10 = 80 (F) · 9 × 1 = 9 (A) · 8 × 8 = 64 (D)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SQUEAKY WHISTLE MADE THE VILLAIN PAUSE"
8292 - 4804 = 3488 (T) · 2940 - 1039 = 1901 (Y) · 3577 - 1690 = 1887 (E) · 8921 - 4941 = 3980 (V) · 10961 - 3142 = 7819 (S) · 5685 - 88 = 5597 (A) · 2060 - 653 = 1407 (U) · 9606 - 1182 = 8424 (N) · 2463 - 118 = 2345 (I) · 11937 - 3932 = 8005 (D) · 10409 - 1717 = 8692 (P) · 6169 - 2988 = 3181 (L) · 8703 - 4401 = 4302 (M) · 3145 - 2099 = 1046 (W) · 9874 - 1066 = 8808 (H) · 13249 - 4654 = 8595 (Q) · 4738 - 1910 = 2828 (K)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "PINK MANE THREADS WERE FOUND ON THE HOOP"
Round 861 to the nearest hundred = 900 (P) · Round 4,349 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (T) · Round 1,849 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (U) · Round 192 to the nearest hundred = 200 (M) · Round 1,742 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (K) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (S) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (A) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (N) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 6,639 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (D) · Round 370 to the nearest ten = 370 (I) · Round 3,738 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 1,315 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (W) · Round 2,832 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 2,312 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (O) · Round 4,885 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (F)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Aja Rainbow
36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Addition, Multiplication, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Great Rainbow Hoops Mystery — set in Starry Unicorn Basketball Arena
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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