⚾ BaseballGrade 10Reading: grades 3-4Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Missing Championship Trophy Mystery
Someone swiped the Golden Bat trophy right off home plate before the big championship game! Use your detective skills and baseball math to catch the culprit.
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 | Pitching Style | Batting Stance | Glove Hand | Cap Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Griffey | Slider | Open Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Shohei Ohtani | Knuckleball | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Sunflowers |
| Mike Trout | Slider | Open Stance | Left Handed | Navy Cap | Bubblegum |
| Kirby Puckett | Changeup | Switch Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Mookie Betts | Curveball | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Peanuts |
| Frank Thomas | Changeup | Tall Stance | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Sunflowers |
| Greg Maddux | Fastball | Open Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Justin Verlander | Fastball | Closed Stance | Left Handed | Navy Cap | Sunflowers |
| Roberto Clemente | Changeup | Open Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Bubblegum |
| Clayton Kershaw | Changeup | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Red Cap | Sunflowers |
| Aaron Judge | Fastball | Switch Stance | Left Handed | Red Cap | Sunflowers |
| Sandy Koufax | Fastball | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Peanuts |
| Babe Ruth | Slider | Crouch Stance | Left Handed | Red Cap | Sunflowers |
| Ernie Banks | Changeup | Tall Stance | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Peanuts |
| Bryce Harper | Curveball | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Bubblegum |
| Hank Aaron | Slider | Crouch Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Max Scherzer | Curveball | Tall Stance | Left Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Lou Gehrig | Changeup | Closed Stance | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bubblegum |
| Jackie Robinson | Slider | Closed Stance | Right Handed | Gold Cap | Sunflowers |
| Pedro Martinez | Changeup | Open Stance | Right Handed | Red Cap | Sunflowers |
| Ted Williams | Fastball | Tall Stance | Right Handed | Navy Cap | Sunflowers |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
The field camera measured the straight-line distance across the infield base path using a right triangle formula.
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
75
65
50
30
125
50
116
26
74
T
75
65
82
50
37
20
39
50
30
125
39
T
75
25
30
50
30
58
82
T
75
111
65
30
T
75
116
125
111
50
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =T
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =S
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =N
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =A
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =H
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =K
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =I
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =W
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =C
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =Y
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =E
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =U
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =F
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =D
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The stat screen calculated the exact side length of the square base area by taking a square root.
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
18
19
20
17
25
20
22
8
3
T
18
19
7
20
6
24
17
20
17
22
12
7
9
19
T
18
19
22
25
11
20
11
9
23
4
16
20
sqrt(324) =T
sqrt(144) =R
sqrt(576) =U
sqrt(625) =N
sqrt(484) =A
sqrt(64) =K
sqrt(9) =Y
sqrt(49) =I
sqrt(121) =D
sqrt(16) =O
sqrt(529) =L
sqrt(289) =S
sqrt(400) =E
sqrt(256) =V
sqrt(36) =F
sqrt(81) =G
sqrt(361) =H
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The bullpen radar array multiplied speed factors exponentially to track the ball flight path.
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
100
27
144
128
27
49
196
8
T
121
100
343
27
225
32
49
144
225
484
343
125
27
729
400
8
144
361
128
225
125
484
32
27
289
144
11^2 =T
7^2 =A
10^2 =H
14^2 =K
12^2 =S
3^3 =E
2^7 =N
15^2 =F
17^2 =R
22^2 =O
5^3 =L
19^2 =U
2^5 =W
7^3 =I
3^6 =D
2^3 =Y
20^2 =B
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The stadium scoreboard followed strict order of operations rules to evaluate the total score expression.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
89
71
92
79
69
83
104
106
37
73
42
68
30
7
42
68
42
92
42
106
119
83
119
119
10
42
92
71
69
52
42
68
74 + 3 × 5 =G
12 × 12 - 25 =T
10 × 12 - 14 =F
49 + 5 × 4 =C
92 + 2 × 6 =P
49 + 6 × 5 =D
7 × 12 - 13 =O
34 + 9 × 2 =K
9 × 10 - 17 =B
5 + 8 × 4 =I
9 × 9 - 13 =R
12 × 10 - 28 =L
4 + 2 × 3 =H
22 + 4 × 2 =S
6 × 10 - 18 =E
12 × 8 - 13 =A
7 × 3 - 14 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The umpire checked the dimensions of the outfield scoreboard grid using a square root calculation.
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(64) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain threw a blazing fastball, then dropped into a crouch stance.
2.The villain snuck in a slow changeup, then set up in a closed stance.
3.The villain swept a slick slider, then switched into a switch stance.
4.The villain floated a weird knuckleball, then stood high in a tall stance.
5.The villain swept a slick slider, then dropped into a crouch stance.
6.The villain floated a weird knuckleball, then set up in a closed stance.
7.The villain snuck in a slow changeup, then dropped into a crouch stance.
8.The villain swept a slick slider, then stepped into an open stance.
9.The villain swept a slick slider, then set up in a closed stance.
10.The villain threw a blazing fastball, then stood high in a tall stance.
11.The villain floated a weird knuckleball, then dropped into a crouch stance.
12.The villain threw a blazing fastball, then stepped into an open stance.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Missing Championship Trophy Mystery
Culprit: Jackie Robinson (Slider · Closed Stance · Right Handed · Gold Cap · Sunflowers)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SNEAKY THIEF DOES NOT USE SWITCH STANCE"legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (T) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (S) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (N) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (A) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (H) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (K) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (I) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (W) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (C) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (Y) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (E) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (U) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (F) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (D) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (O)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SNEAKY THIEF USES A RIGHT HANDED GLOVE"sqrt(324) = 18 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (R) · sqrt(576) = 24 (U) · sqrt(625) = 25 (N) · sqrt(484) = 22 (A) · sqrt(64) = 8 (K) · sqrt(9) = 3 (Y) · sqrt(49) = 7 (I) · sqrt(121) = 11 (D) · sqrt(16) = 4 (O) · sqrt(529) = 23 (L) · sqrt(289) = 17 (S) · sqrt(400) = 20 (E) · sqrt(256) = 16 (V) · sqrt(36) = 6 (F) · sqrt(81) = 9 (G) · sqrt(361) = 19 (H)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE SNEAKY THIEF WAS FOILED BY SUNFLOWERS"11^2 = 121 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (A) · 10^2 = 100 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (K) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 3^3 = 27 (E) · 2^7 = 128 (N) · 15^2 = 225 (F) · 17^2 = 289 (R) · 22^2 = 484 (O) · 5^3 = 125 (L) · 19^2 = 361 (U) · 2^5 = 32 (W) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 3^6 = 729 (D) · 2^3 = 8 (Y) · 20^2 = 400 (B)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "GOLD CAP FIBERS WERE LEFT AT THE LOCKER"74 + 3 × 5 = 89 (G) · 12 × 12 - 25 = 119 (T) · 10 × 12 - 14 = 106 (F) · 49 + 5 × 4 = 69 (C) · 92 + 2 × 6 = 104 (P) · 49 + 6 × 5 = 79 (D) · 7 × 12 - 13 = 71 (O) · 34 + 9 × 2 = 52 (K) · 9 × 10 - 17 = 73 (B) · 5 + 8 × 4 = 37 (I) · 9 × 9 - 13 = 68 (R) · 12 × 10 - 28 = 92 (L) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (H) · 22 + 4 × 2 = 30 (S) · 6 × 10 - 18 = 42 (E) · 12 × 8 - 13 = 83 (A) · 7 × 3 - 14 = 7 (W)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 9) → Jackie Robinsonsqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(1) = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Missing Championship Trophy Mystery — set in Grand Diamond Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects