Grade 7Reading: grades 3-4IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Mystery of Sunken Island
Someone locked the Head Camp Ranger inside the island watchtower and scrambled the trail markers! Solve the math clues around camp to unmask the rogue explorer.
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 | Backup Tool | Glove Habit | Helmet Color | Stopped By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator Nora | Night Goggles | Mini Drone | Right Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Diver Daisy | Pocket Compass | Rope Launcher | Left Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Officer Leo | Zip Line Glider | Rope Launcher | Right Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Muddy Puddle |
| Hiker Hannah | Night Goggles | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Silver Blue Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Officer Owen | Pocket Compass | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Explorer Ethan | Pocket Compass | Mini Drone | Right Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Cadet Maya | Pocket Compass | Portable Ladder | Right Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Guide Grace | Zip Line Glider | Rope Launcher | Right Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Cadet Chloe | Grappling Hook | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Muddy Puddle |
| Rover Ruby | Pocket Compass | Laser Torch | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Captain Carl | Pocket Compass | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Tracker Tori | Night Goggles | Laser Torch | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Pilot Paige | Grappling Hook | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Captain Clara | Zip Line Glider | Laser Torch | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Hunter Hugo | Night Goggles | Laser Torch | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Ranger Rick | Smoke Bomb | Signal Flare | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Ranger Reed | Pocket Compass | Mini Drone | Left Glove | Neon Green Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Sailor Seth | Zip Line Glider | Portable Ladder | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Runner Ryan | Smoke Bomb | Signal Flare | Right Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Muddy Puddle |
| Climber Cole | Night Goggles | Laser Torch | Right Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
| Scout Sam | Zip Line Glider | Mini Drone | Left Glove | Bright Orange Helmet | Bright Flashlight |
Clue 1
Integers
Ranger Rick checks the altimeter log. The island trail climbs up and down steep cliffs. Solve the integer puzzle to find clue one.
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
4
9
15
1
11
11
23
1
5
28
30
9
26
5
30
T
18
3
26
9
23
26
1
14
5
23
11
2
11
23
12
9
(-13) + 31 =T
(-13) + 28 =V
4 - (-10) =G
(-9) + 14 =N
(-7) + 8 =I
(-9) + 39 =O
(-10) + 14 =H
(-10) + 33 =A
(-1) + 13 =R
7 - (-2) =E
25 - (-1) =S
27 - (-1) =D
7 - (-4) =L
(-4) + 6 =F
(-10) + 13 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
Cadet Maya inspects the scout radio battery. The charge drops as signal scans complete. Calculate the percentages to reveal clue two.
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
57
13
10
52
24
52
12
10
11
T
57
25
1
46
10
51
52
55
42
18
36
10
18
36
1
58
10
1
42
T
57
13
10
36
10
39
T
57
13
51
42
3
50% of 114 =T
10% of 10 =O
50% of 92 =R
10% of 550 =I
25% of 232 =V
25% of 96 =U
25% of 100 =W
5% of 220 =C
25% of 156 =F
40% of 90 =L
75% of 68 =A
50% of 26 =H
5% of 200 =E
60% of 20 =P
40% of 130 =S
5% of 60 =D
20% of 90 =G
5% of 840 =N
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Officer Leo finds a coded keypad on the supply locker. You must follow the exact order of steps to solve the code for clue three.
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
79
76
45
39
119
21
58
49
118
A
79
54
21
118
39
119
21
58
76
118
39
115
95
48
95
58
21
48
45
32
119
86
48
48
66
50
118
32
45
48
45
55 + 6 × 4 =A
67 + 6 × 8 =N
12 × 9 - 13 =D
12 × 11 - 13 =G
8 × 7 - 17 =I
5 × 12 - 6 =S
2 + 7 × 8 =T
59 + 9 × 3 =U
12 × 5 - 28 =O
94 + 3 × 8 =L
9 × 9 - 15 =X
8 × 8 - 16 =E
8 × 8 - 19 =R
3 × 9 - 6 =H
7 × 8 - 7 =F
11 × 7 - 1 =B
9 × 8 - 22 =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Captain Clara measures signal power expanding from the radio tower. The strength multiplies at every level. Work out the exponent math for clue four.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
P
27
324
216
49
4
400
81
216
P
27
289
324
4
289
400
32
49
32
289
81
361
243
324
128
9
216
169
81
4
361
9
324
49
169
32
81
32
196
125
32
4
3^3 =P
7^2 =N
18^2 =A
2^7 =B
3^2 =R
9^2 =H
17^2 =S
19^2 =O
14^2 =L
5^3 =M
6^3 =I
13^2 =G
2^5 =E
20^2 =C
2^2 =T
3^5 =W
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Scout Sam tracks missing supply crates along the muddy riverbank. Set up the missing value steps to unlock clue five.
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 + 8 = 52, x = ?
2x + 4 = 6, x = ?
6x + 3 = 39, x = ?
2x + 9 = 15, x = ?
5x + 7 = 27, x = ?
2x + 6 = 16, x = ?
5x + 12 = 57, x = ?
5x + 5 = 40, x = ?
5x + 1 = 41, x = ?
2x + 1 = 5, x = ?
5x + 8 = 68, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain zipped over the canopy using a zip line glider, then scouted the camp perimeter with a mini drone.
2.The villain navigated the dark caves with night goggles, then scouted the camp perimeter with a mini drone.
3.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then scouted the camp perimeter with a mini drone.
4.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then climbed the ancient ruins using a portable ladder.
5.The villain navigated the dark caves with night goggles, then climbed the ancient ruins using a portable ladder.
6.The villain checked the jungle trails with a pocket compass, then cut through thick jungle vines with a laser torch.
7.The villain vanished into the brush using a smoke bomb, then secured a quick escape with a rope launcher.
8.The villain checked the jungle trails with a pocket compass, then lit up the canopy using a signal flare.
9.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then secured a quick escape with a rope launcher.
10.The villain zipped over the canopy using a zip line glider, then climbed the ancient ruins using a portable ladder.
11.The villain navigated the dark caves with night goggles, then cut through thick jungle vines with a laser torch.
12.The villain checked the jungle trails with a pocket compass, then scouted the camp perimeter with a mini drone.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of Sunken Island
Culprit: Sailor Seth (Zip Line Glider · Portable Ladder · Left Glove · Bright Orange Helmet · Bright Flashlight)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A SIGNAL FLARE"(-13) + 31 = 18 (T) · (-13) + 28 = 15 (V) · 4 - (-10) = 14 (G) · (-9) + 14 = 5 (N) · (-7) + 8 = 1 (I) · (-9) + 39 = 30 (O) · (-10) + 14 = 4 (H) · (-10) + 33 = 23 (A) · (-1) + 13 = 12 (R) · 7 - (-2) = 9 (E) · 25 - (-1) = 26 (S) · 27 - (-1) = 28 (D) · 7 - (-4) = 11 (L) · (-4) + 6 = 2 (F) · (-10) + 13 = 3 (U)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT WORE A SINGLE GLOVE ON THE LEFT HAND"50% of 114 = 57 (T) · 10% of 10 = 1 (O) · 50% of 92 = 46 (R) · 10% of 550 = 55 (I) · 25% of 232 = 58 (V) · 25% of 96 = 24 (U) · 25% of 100 = 25 (W) · 5% of 220 = 11 (C) · 25% of 156 = 39 (F) · 40% of 90 = 36 (L) · 75% of 68 = 51 (A) · 50% of 26 = 13 (H) · 5% of 200 = 10 (E) · 60% of 20 = 12 (P) · 40% of 130 = 52 (S) · 5% of 60 = 3 (D) · 20% of 90 = 18 (G) · 5% of 840 = 42 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT BLINDED THE ROGUE EXPLORER"55 + 6 × 4 = 79 (A) · 67 + 6 × 8 = 115 (N) · 12 × 9 - 13 = 95 (D) · 12 × 11 - 13 = 119 (G) · 8 × 7 - 17 = 39 (I) · 5 × 12 - 6 = 54 (S) · 2 + 7 × 8 = 58 (T) · 59 + 9 × 3 = 86 (U) · 12 × 5 - 28 = 32 (O) · 94 + 3 × 8 = 118 (L) · 9 × 9 - 15 = 66 (X) · 8 × 8 - 16 = 48 (E) · 8 × 8 - 19 = 45 (R) · 3 × 9 - 6 = 21 (H) · 7 × 8 - 7 = 49 (F) · 11 × 7 - 1 = 76 (B) · 9 × 8 - 22 = 50 (P)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "PAINT CHIPS AT SCENE SHOW A BRIGHT ORANGE HELMET"3^3 = 27 (P) · 7^2 = 49 (N) · 18^2 = 324 (A) · 2^7 = 128 (B) · 3^2 = 9 (R) · 9^2 = 81 (H) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 19^2 = 361 (O) · 14^2 = 196 (L) · 5^3 = 125 (M) · 6^3 = 216 (I) · 13^2 = 169 (G) · 2^5 = 32 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (C) · 2^2 = 4 (T) · 3^5 = 243 (W)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Sailor Seth4x + 8 = 52, x = 11 · 2x + 4 = 6, x = 1 · 6x + 3 = 39, x = 6 · 2x + 9 = 15, x = 3 · 5x + 7 = 27, x = 4 · 2x + 6 = 16, x = 5 · 5x + 12 = 57, x = 9 · 5x + 5 = 40, x = 7 · 5x + 1 = 41, x = 8 · 2x + 1 = 5, x = 2 · 5x + 8 = 68, x = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of Sunken Island — set in Sunken Island Adventure Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects