🏀 Basketball equipmentGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationRoundingPlace valueBar modelsDivision
The Hardwood Arena Mystery
Just before the championship tip-off, someone tampered with the arena gear! Championship basketballs were swapped, shot clocks were scrambled, and vital gear was hidden around the gym. Work with the detective squad to decode the clues, track down the culprit, and save the big game.
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 | Primary Gear | Secondary Tool | Shooting Style | Hairstyle | Game Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giannis | Leather Basketball | Ankle Brace | Right Handed Shooter | Curly Afro Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Elena | Whistle | Tactical Clipboard | Left Handed Shooter | Curly Afro Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Kobe | Breakaway Rim | Ball Pump | Right Handed Shooter | Curly Afro Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Sabrina | Leather Basketball | Ball Pump | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Aja | High-Top Sneaker | Tactical Clipboard | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Devin | Leather Basketball | Tactical Clipboard | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Loud Buzzer Sound |
| Maya | Leather Basketball | Shot Clock | Right Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Shaq | Leather Basketball | Ball Pump | Left Handed Shooter | Curly Afro Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Jimmy | Whistle | Ball Pump | Left Handed Shooter | Curly Afro Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Luka | Leather Basketball | Shot Clock | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Paige | High-Top Sneaker | Ankle Brace | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Kawhi | Leather Basketball | Ball Pump | Right Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Loud Buzzer Sound |
| Joel | Leather Basketball | Ankle Brace | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Candace | Whistle | Shot Clock | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Breanna | Grip Powder | Mesh Net | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Kelsey | Whistle | Shot Clock | Right Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Steph | Leather Basketball | Shot Clock | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
| Sue | Grip Powder | Ball Pump | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Victor | Breakaway Rim | Mesh Net | Left Handed Shooter | Braided Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Angel | High-Top Sneaker | Tactical Clipboard | Right Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Slick Floor Polish |
| Diana | Breakaway Rim | Tactical Clipboard | Left Handed Shooter | Buzz Cut Hair | Deflated Air Pressure |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You examine full racks of match balls, multiplying identical rows to check inventory and reveal a 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.
T
144
84
6
36
132
36
55
6
7
T
144
4
63
6
36
90
63
T
144
132
36
6
64
28
64
44
44
55
132
42
55
12 × 12 =T
6 × 7 =M
4 × 7 =B
1 × 7 =C
9 × 10 =N
4 × 1 =D
5 × 11 =P
7 × 9 =O
9 × 4 =S
11 × 12 =U
2 × 3 =E
8 × 8 =A
7 × 12 =H
4 × 11 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The arena scoreboard display rounds total seating capacity to the nearest thousand, unlocking a digital file.
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
900
2300
4300
170
300
T
900
90
4300
230
230
230
1100
170
1100
20
4300
290
T
900
2300
1100
90
430
4300
430
230
2300
130
130
T
900
4300
500
Round 915 to the nearest hundredT
Round 4,306 to the nearest hundredE
Round 463 to the nearest hundredR
Round 290 to the nearest tenF
Round 2,318 to the nearest hundredH
Round 430 to the nearest tenD
Round 132 to the nearest tenO
Round 170 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,143 to the nearest hundredA
Round 228 to the nearest tenS
Round 17 to the nearest tenL
Round 255 to the nearest hundredI
Round 89 to the nearest tenN
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
You analyze digit place values in player locker numbers to uncover an encrypted message on a clipboard.
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
900
400
6000
80
6000
800
6000
4000
80
6000
8000
20
70
6000
80
80
6000
800
40
60
T
900
6000
80
60
300
8000
500
8000
6000
70
70
20
8000
6000
What is the value of the 9 in 66,936?T
What is the value of the 6 in 716,377?E
What is the value of the 8 in 100,085?D
What is the value of the 8 in 648,491?R
What is the value of the 4 in 14,217?N
What is the value of the 4 in 69,242?L
What is the value of the 3 in 768,321?I
What is the value of the 2 in 911,726?U
What is the value of the 7 in 880,275?S
What is the value of the 4 in 352,432?H
What is the value of the 6 in 71,764?A
What is the value of the 5 in 64,583?P
What is the value of the 8 in 139,814?F
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Bar model word problems
Studying comparison bar charts of team footwear supplies gives a clear visual picture of the missing items.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
B
105
10
115
115
112
10
27
13
64
I
R
One group collected 15 basketballs and another group collected 90 basketballs. How many basketballs in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→B
One group collected 9 basketballs and another group collected 1 basketballs. How many basketballs in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→U
Equipment manager used 1/2 of the cones on the first day. The other 56 cones were used the next day. How many cones were there in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→C
Equipment manager used 2/3 of the sneakers on the first day. The other 9 sneakers were used the next day. How many sneakers were there in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
There were 40 clipboards in all. 27 clipboards were used. How many clipboards are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
Equipment manager has 8 times as many cones as a teammate. The teammate has 8 cones. How many cones does equipment manager have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
Equipment manager shares 230 sneakers equally among 2 teams. How many sneakers does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→Z
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Dividing training cones evenly into practice station groups yields the remaining clue letter.
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
42 ÷ 7 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
56 ÷ 8 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swapped the official game ball, then drained air with a ball pump.
2.The villain blew a deafening whistle signal, then erased the tactical play diagram.
3.The villain hid the varsity high-top sneakers, then reset the digital shot clock.
4.The villain hid the varsity high-top sneakers, then tangled the spare ankle braces.
5.The villain swapped the official game ball, then reset the digital shot clock.
6.The villain hid the varsity high-top sneakers, then erased the tactical play diagram.
7.The villain dusted the court with slick powder, then drained air with a ball pump.
8.The villain loosened the breakaway rim bolts, then erased the tactical play diagram.
9.The villain blew a deafening whistle signal, then reset the digital shot clock.
10.The villain swapped the official game ball, then tangled the spare ankle braces.
11.The villain loosened the breakaway rim bolts, then unhooked the mesh goal net.
12.The villain dusted the court with slick powder, then reset the digital shot clock.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Hardwood Arena Mystery
Culprit: Diana (Breakaway Rim · Tactical Clipboard · Left Handed Shooter · Buzz Cut Hair · Deflated Air Pressure)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A BALL PUMP"12 × 12 = 144 (T) · 6 × 7 = 42 (M) · 4 × 7 = 28 (B) · 1 × 7 = 7 (C) · 9 × 10 = 90 (N) · 4 × 1 = 4 (D) · 5 × 11 = 55 (P) · 7 × 9 = 63 (O) · 9 × 4 = 36 (S) · 11 × 12 = 132 (U) · 2 × 3 = 6 (E) · 8 × 8 = 64 (A) · 7 × 12 = 84 (H) · 4 × 11 = 44 (L)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE WITNESS SAW A LEFT HANDED SHOOTER"Round 915 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 4,306 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 463 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (F) · Round 2,318 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (H) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (D) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (O) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (W) · Round 1,143 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (A) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (S) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (L) · Round 255 to the nearest hundred = 300 (I) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (N)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE DEFENDER USED DEFLATED AIR PRESSURE"What is the value of the 9 in 66,936? = 900 (T) · What is the value of the 6 in 716,377? = 6000 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 100,085? = 80 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 648,491? = 8000 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 14,217? = 4000 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 69,242? = 40 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 768,321? = 300 (I) · What is the value of the 2 in 911,726? = 20 (U) · What is the value of the 7 in 880,275? = 70 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 352,432? = 400 (H) · What is the value of the 6 in 71,764? = 60 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 64,583? = 500 (P) · What is the value of the 8 in 139,814? = 800 (F)
- Clue 4 (Bar model word problems): "BUZZ CUT HAIR"One group collected 15 basketballs and another group collected 90 basketballs. How many basketballs in all? = 105 (B) · One group collected 9 basketballs and another group collected 1 basketballs. How many basketballs in all? = 10 (U) · Equipment manager used 1/2 of the cones on the first day. The other 56 cones were used the next day. How many cones were there in all? = 112 (C) · Equipment manager used 2/3 of the sneakers on the first day. The other 9 sneakers were used the next day. How many sneakers were there in all? = 27 (T) · There were 40 clipboards in all. 27 clipboards were used. How many clipboards are left? = 13 (H) · Equipment manager has 8 times as many cones as a teammate. The teammate has 8 cones. How many cones does equipment manager have? = 64 (A) · Equipment manager shares 230 sneakers equally among 2 teams. How many sneakers does each team get? = 115 (Z)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Diana42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Place value, Bar models, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Hardwood Arena Mystery — set in Metropolitan Arena Locker Rooms and Basketball Court
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects