⚾ Cats, halloween, baseballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingMissing addends
The Halloween World Series Mystery
During the spooky Halloween World Series, someone swapped the championship trophy with a giant jack-o-lantern! The Head Umpire needs your help to decode the clues and catch the sneaky Phantom Paw before the final inning.
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 | Baseball Move | Spooky Item | Batting Style | Fur Color | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiskers | Fast Pitch | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Calico Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Mike Trout | Quick Slide | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Paws | High Leap | Glowing Pumpkin | Right Handed | Calico Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Meowth | Power Swing | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Orange Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Sylvester | Tail Swipe | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Black Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Salem | Tail Swipe | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Black Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Pumpkin | High Leap | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Ken Griffey | Quick Slide | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Orange Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Jackie Robinson | Power Swing | Witch Hat | Right Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Garfield | Power Swing | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Bat Cat | High Leap | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Derek Jeter | Power Swing | Spooky Bat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Tom Cat | Power Swing | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Willy Adames | Power Swing | Flying Broom | Right Handed | Calico Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Babe Ruth | Tail Swipe | Spooky Bat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Catnip Ball |
| Cal Ripken | Fast Pitch | Flying Broom | Left Handed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Shadow | Power Swing | Ghost Beanbag | Right Handed | Orange Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Mookie Betts | Fast Pitch | Ghost Beanbag | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Felix the Cat | Tail Swipe | Flying Broom | Left Handed | Orange Fur | Laser Pointer |
| Midnight | Fast Pitch | Witch Hat | Left Handed | Calico Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Bryce Harper | Tail Swipe | Flying Broom | Right Handed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
Clue 1
Place value
You examine the digitized scoreboard readout to check the place value of the digits.
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
50
2000
100
80
7000
5000
5000
800
7000
8000
200
7000
200
8000
60
T
50
400
4000
100
800
4000
6000
60
60
300
900
700
800
T
50
What is the value of the 5 in 356?T
What is the value of the 1 in 5,177?E
What is the value of the 6 in 96,745?P
What is the value of the 2 in 254?D
What is the value of the 8 in 5,852?A
What is the value of the 8 in 9,286?V
What is the value of the 9 in 955?Y
What is the value of the 4 in 4,570?S
What is the value of the 2 in 2,758?H
What is the value of the 4 in 8,463?U
What is the value of the 7 in 57,858?I
What is the value of the 7 in 2,735?B
What is the value of the 6 in 769?O
What is the value of the 3 in 5,370?K
What is the value of the 8 in 58,316?N
What is the value of the 5 in 5,697?L
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
To calculate the total fans in the Halloween bleachers, you add up the ticket counts.
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
3325
7520
7338
7048
5736
2081
6815
6815
6815
A
3325
7520
A
3325
7098
2081
6964
7048
2553
A
3325
5736
3998
2081
3998
6754
A
3325
7520
6754
5165
7338
5736
7048
1610 + 1715 =A
1654 + 2344 =D
5096 + 2424 =W
4259 + 2495 =P
4184 + 3154 =I
807 + 1746 =H
4522 + 2442 =F
2027 + 3138 =R
736 + 1345 =E
3935 + 2880 =S
3515 + 3583 =L
4028 + 3020 =T
3809 + 1927 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
You subtract the stolen baseballs from the total inventory to see what remains.
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
4096
6036
1469
1243
5095
6505
6505
3539
5095
3683
4879
3539
5187
T
4096
3504
5095
6814
5923
1469
4109
4356
4601
3539
5187
8894
8587
1469
3539
5923
4601
T
4096
7990
4601
6043 - 1947 =T
5101 - 1597 =R
5111 - 755 =B
9214 - 1224 =O
10855 - 4041 =C
5266 - 1727 =A
5255 - 1146 =D
9048 - 3125 =K
4017 - 334 =N
8726 - 2690 =H
9717 - 4838 =W
5829 - 4360 =E
7295 - 790 =L
9796 - 902 =Q
6941 - 1846 =I
2040 - 797 =V
8908 - 4307 =Y
6241 - 1054 =S
11202 - 2615 =U
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar gun display rounds pitch speeds to the nearest ten to keep stats clean.
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
3000
50
1300
200
C
3000
170
7000
500
430
900
50
5000
5000
1700
430
50
30
130
2000
130
170
30
1700
90
2000
4300
50
1700
Round 2,901 to the nearest thousandC
Round 4,286 to the nearest hundredB
Round 91 to the nearest tenH
Round 512 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,842 to the nearest thousandE
Round 130 to the nearest tenD
Round 49 to the nearest tenA
Round 1,269 to the nearest hundredL
Round 1,662 to the nearest hundredT
Round 429 to the nearest tenR
Round 34 to the nearest tenN
Round 4,731 to the nearest thousandS
Round 7,173 to the nearest thousandF
Round 218 to the nearest hundredI
Round 920 to the nearest hundredW
Round 169 to the nearest tenO
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
You figure out how many extra spooky treats are needed to complete the team snack box.
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
34 + ___ = 44
12 + ___ = 16
16 + ___ = 21
37 + ___ = 43
24 + ___ = 31
38 + ___ = 40
35 + ___ = 36
35 + ___ = 43
33 + ___ = 45
3 + ___ = 14
4 + ___ = 7
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain executed a tail swipe, then threw a ghost beanbag.
2.The villain executed a quick slide, then swung a spooky bat.
3.The villain executed a quick slide, then tossed a glowing pumpkin.
4.The villain swung with a power swing, then adjusted a witch hat.
5.The villain used a fast pitch, then adjusted a witch hat.
6.The villain executed a tail swipe, then zoomed on a flying broom.
7.The villain executed a quick slide, then threw a ghost beanbag.
8.The villain performed a high leap, then threw a ghost beanbag.
9.The villain performed a high leap, then adjusted a witch hat.
10.The villain used a fast pitch, then threw a ghost beanbag.
11.The villain executed a tail swipe, then swung a spooky bat.
12.The villain executed a quick slide, then zoomed on a flying broom.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Halloween World Series Mystery
Culprit: Pumpkin (High Leap · Witch Hat · Left Handed · Calico Fur · Squeaky Toy)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A SPOOKY BAT"What is the value of the 5 in 356? = 50 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 5,177? = 100 (E) · What is the value of the 6 in 96,745? = 6000 (P) · What is the value of the 2 in 254? = 200 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 5,852? = 800 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 9,286? = 80 (V) · What is the value of the 9 in 955? = 900 (Y) · What is the value of the 4 in 4,570? = 4000 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,758? = 2000 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 8,463? = 400 (U) · What is the value of the 7 in 57,858? = 7000 (I) · What is the value of the 7 in 2,735? = 700 (B) · What is the value of the 6 in 769? = 60 (O) · What is the value of the 3 in 5,370? = 300 (K) · What is the value of the 8 in 58,316? = 8000 (N) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,697? = 5000 (L)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS SAW A LEFT HANDED PAW PRINT"1610 + 1715 = 3325 (A) · 1654 + 2344 = 3998 (D) · 5096 + 2424 = 7520 (W) · 4259 + 2495 = 6754 (P) · 4184 + 3154 = 7338 (I) · 807 + 1746 = 2553 (H) · 4522 + 2442 = 6964 (F) · 2027 + 3138 = 5165 (R) · 736 + 1345 = 2081 (E) · 3935 + 2880 = 6815 (S) · 3515 + 3583 = 7098 (L) · 4028 + 3020 = 7048 (T) · 3809 + 1927 = 5736 (N)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN WAS TRICKED BY A SQUEAKY TOY"6043 - 1947 = 4096 (T) · 5101 - 1597 = 3504 (R) · 5111 - 755 = 4356 (B) · 9214 - 1224 = 7990 (O) · 10855 - 4041 = 6814 (C) · 5266 - 1727 = 3539 (A) · 5255 - 1146 = 4109 (D) · 9048 - 3125 = 5923 (K) · 4017 - 334 = 3683 (N) · 8726 - 2690 = 6036 (H) · 9717 - 4838 = 4879 (W) · 5829 - 4360 = 1469 (E) · 7295 - 790 = 6505 (L) · 9796 - 902 = 8894 (Q) · 6941 - 1846 = 5095 (I) · 2040 - 797 = 1243 (V) · 8908 - 4307 = 4601 (Y) · 6241 - 1054 = 5187 (S) · 11202 - 2615 = 8587 (U)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "CALICO FUR WAS STRANDED ON THE BAT"Round 2,901 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (C) · Round 4,286 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (B) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 512 to the nearest hundred = 500 (U) · Round 1,842 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (D) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 1,269 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (L) · Round 1,662 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (T) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (R) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 4,731 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (S) · Round 7,173 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 218 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 920 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (O)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 9) → Pumpkin34 + ___ = 44 = 10 · 12 + ___ = 16 = 4 · 16 + ___ = 21 = 5 · 37 + ___ = 43 = 6 · 24 + ___ = 31 = 7 · 38 + ___ = 40 = 2 · 35 + ___ = 36 = 1 · 35 + ___ = 43 = 8 · 33 + ___ = 45 = 12 · 3 + ___ = 14 = 11 · 4 + ___ = 7 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Halloween World Series Mystery — set in Moonlight Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects