⛏️ MinecraftGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9MultiplicationExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremTwo-step equations
The Mystery of the Broken Nether Star
Someone shattered the central beacon on the Blocktopia SMP server and stole the Nether Star. Work through the math clues to narrow down the suspects and expose the Griefing Phantom.
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 | Enchantment | Offhand Item | Dominant Hand | Helmet Color | Trap Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortalPauly | Blast Protection | Firework Rocket | Left Handed | Diamond Blue | Lava Pit |
| BlockyBob | Feather Falling | Golden Apple | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| EnderEmma | Fire Aspect | Ender Pearl | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| IronIan | Blast Protection | Golden Apple | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Tnt Trap |
| BlazeBella | Feather Falling | Shield | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Tnt Trap |
| SteveCraft | Fire Aspect | Ender Pearl | Left Handed | Diamond Blue | Piston Wall |
| MinerMike | Fire Aspect | Firework Rocket | Right Handed | Obsidian Black | Piston Wall |
| DiamondDan | Silk Touch | Totem of Undying | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| WitherWill | Swift Sneak | Golden Apple | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| QuartzQuinn | Silk Touch | Golden Apple | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| NetherNick | Blast Protection | Ender Pearl | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Lava Pit |
| StoneSam | Feather Falling | Ender Pearl | Left Handed | Diamond Blue | Lava Pit |
| GoldieGabe | Fire Aspect | Totem of Undying | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| AnvilAndy | Fire Aspect | Golden Apple | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| TorchTori | Silk Touch | Firework Rocket | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Tnt Trap |
| AlexBlock | Silk Touch | Golden Apple | Left Handed | Obsidian Black | Piston Wall |
| RedstoneRita | Feather Falling | Shield | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
| RubyRaven | Feather Falling | Firework Rocket | Left Handed | Diamond Blue | Lava Pit |
| VoxelVal | Fire Aspect | Totem of Undying | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Tnt Trap |
| CobbleCody | Fire Aspect | Ender Pearl | Right Handed | Netherite Gray | Lava Pit |
| PixelPete | Blast Protection | Firework Rocket | Left Handed | Netherite Gray | Piston Wall |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To count the rows of stolen obsidian blocks stacked in the hidden warehouse, you tally the inventory grids.
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
35
77
72
24
49
32
32
4
49
1
56
8
72
28
1
8
T
35
110
28
72
4
54
49
99
72
88
8
99
15
99
8
27
15
72
T
35
5 × 7 =T
7 × 7 =I
9 × 6 =F
3 × 9 =C
4 × 7 =S
11 × 8 =W
12 × 2 =V
9 × 11 =R
4 × 8 =L
2 × 4 =O
8 × 7 =D
1 × 1 =N
3 × 5 =K
10 × 11 =U
9 × 8 =E
11 × 7 =H
4 × 1 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Exponents
The power levels of the server grid grow exponentially with every boosted redstone repeater you inspect.
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
289
625
729
125
361
T
289
216
729
36
36
36
100
125
T
289
625
729
16
484
169
64
256
361
T
289
36
125
361
216
27
169
729
144
T
289
625
100
216
196
729
196
17^2 =T
12^2 =F
19^2 =I
9^3 =E
4^3 =P
5^3 =W
2^8 =R
3^3 =G
6^2 =S
13^2 =L
22^2 =U
10^2 =A
5^4 =H
14^2 =D
4^2 =C
6^3 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
Calculating the exact side length of the square zone around the griefed temple requires 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
4
12
23
24
18
24
2
23
5
T
4
14
11
24
7
9
19
5
13
23
16
7
22
11
2
3
24
T
4
19
17
14
11
9
9
sqrt(16) =T
sqrt(324) =U
sqrt(576) =S
sqrt(49) =B
sqrt(529) =E
sqrt(484) =Y
sqrt(81) =L
sqrt(9) =I
sqrt(25) =C
sqrt(144) =H
sqrt(196) =W
sqrt(169) =K
sqrt(4) =P
sqrt(256) =D
sqrt(121) =A
sqrt(361) =O
sqrt(289) =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Pythagorean theorem
To find the shortest diagonal line across the blocky landscape from the crime scene to the secret base, you measure the right triangle.
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
51
74
58
50
87
52
52
30
87
82
39
82
58
T
51
74
58
75
87
T
51
58
10
75
30
65
74
58
52
17
58
T
51
37
30
39
39
26
25
T
51
T
51
58
15
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =T
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =O
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =E
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =Y
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =V
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =L
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =G
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =S
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =N
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =M
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =W
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =R
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =D
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =I
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Unlocking the hidden vault door requires solving for the missing redstone signal variable in a two-step equation.
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 + 4 = 32, x = ?
2x + 5 = 17, x = ?
4x + 7 = 15, x = ?
5x + 1 = 56, x = ?
2x + 6 = 16, x = ?
3x + 1 = 28, x = ?
5x + 11 = 51, x = ?
4x + 2 = 6, x = ?
2x + 5 = 29, x = ?
4x + 3 = 43, x = ?
6x + 12 = 36, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain snuck past guards with swift sneak, then ate a glowing golden apple.
2.The villain landed safely with feather falling, then ate a glowing golden apple.
3.The villain mined the beacon with silk touch, then popped a totem of undying.
4.The villain absorbed the explosion with blast protection, then popped a totem of undying.
5.The villain cast fire aspect on the chest, then ate a glowing golden apple.
6.The villain landed safely with feather falling, then blocked with a heavy shield.
7.The villain mined the beacon with silk touch, then ate a glowing golden apple.
8.The villain snuck past guards with swift sneak, then boosted away with a firework rocket.
9.The villain snuck past guards with swift sneak, then blocked with a heavy shield.
10.The villain cast fire aspect on the chest, then boosted away with a firework rocket.
11.The villain mined the beacon with silk touch, then blocked with a heavy shield.
12.The villain snuck past guards with swift sneak, then escaped using an ender pearl.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Broken Nether Star
Culprit: DiamondDan (Silk Touch · Totem of Undying · Left Handed · Netherite Gray · Piston Wall)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A FIREWORK ROCKET"5 × 7 = 35 (T) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 9 × 6 = 54 (F) · 3 × 9 = 27 (C) · 4 × 7 = 28 (S) · 11 × 8 = 88 (W) · 12 × 2 = 24 (V) · 9 × 11 = 99 (R) · 4 × 8 = 32 (L) · 2 × 4 = 8 (O) · 8 × 7 = 56 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (N) · 3 × 5 = 15 (K) · 10 × 11 = 110 (U) · 9 × 8 = 72 (E) · 11 × 7 = 77 (H) · 4 × 1 = 4 (A)
- Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE WITNESS SAW THE CULPRIT SWING LEFT HANDED"17^2 = 289 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (F) · 19^2 = 361 (I) · 9^3 = 729 (E) · 4^3 = 64 (P) · 5^3 = 125 (W) · 2^8 = 256 (R) · 3^3 = 27 (G) · 6^2 = 36 (S) · 13^2 = 169 (L) · 22^2 = 484 (U) · 10^2 = 100 (A) · 5^4 = 625 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (D) · 4^2 = 16 (C) · 6^3 = 216 (N)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT WAS BLOCKED BY A PISTON WALL"sqrt(16) = 4 (T) · sqrt(324) = 18 (U) · sqrt(576) = 24 (S) · sqrt(49) = 7 (B) · sqrt(529) = 23 (E) · sqrt(484) = 22 (Y) · sqrt(81) = 9 (L) · sqrt(9) = 3 (I) · sqrt(25) = 5 (C) · sqrt(144) = 12 (H) · sqrt(196) = 14 (W) · sqrt(169) = 13 (K) · sqrt(4) = 2 (P) · sqrt(256) = 16 (D) · sqrt(121) = 11 (A) · sqrt(361) = 19 (O) · sqrt(289) = 17 (N)
- Clue 4 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAINS NETHERITE GRAY HELMET WAS SPOTTED"legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (T) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (O) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (E) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (Y) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (V) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (H) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (L) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (G) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (A) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (S) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (N) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (M) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (W) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (R) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (D) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (I) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (P)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 3) → DiamondDan4x + 4 = 32, x = 7 · 2x + 5 = 17, x = 6 · 4x + 7 = 15, x = 2 · 5x + 1 = 56, x = 11 · 2x + 6 = 16, x = 5 · 3x + 1 = 28, x = 9 · 5x + 11 = 51, x = 8 · 4x + 2 = 6, x = 1 · 2x + 5 = 29, x = 12 · 4x + 3 = 43, x = 10 · 6x + 12 = 36, x = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Broken Nether Star — set in Blocktopia SMP Server
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects