🦕 DinosaursGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Mystery of the Cretaceous Canopy
A storm rolled over the fossil dig site last night, and someone breached the field vault! A priceless amber specimen containing ancient foliage DNA was taken from the lab display. Work through the field logs 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 | Dig Gear | Field Gadget | Dominant Hand | Field Badge | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ian Malcolm | Laser Mapper | Flare Gun | Left Handed | Cobalt Badge | Flashlight Beams |
| Othniel Marsh | Sonic Chisel | Signal Booster | Right Handed | Bronze Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Barnum Brown | Drone Cam | Radio Collar | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Dong Zhiming | Laser Mapper | Night Visor | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Xu Xing | Drone Cam | Tracking Tag | Left Handed | Bronze Badge | Dust Clouds |
| Xu Li | Pneumatic Pick | Signal Booster | Right Handed | Cobalt Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Jack Horner | Pneumatic Pick | Radio Collar | Left Handed | Amber Badge | Flashlight Beams |
| Rodolfo Coria | Thermal Scanner | Radio Collar | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Dust Clouds |
| Steve Brusatte | Sonic Chisel | Night Visor | Left Handed | Bronze Badge | Dust Clouds |
| Paul Barrett | Pneumatic Pick | Tracking Tag | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Lindsay Zanno | Laser Mapper | Signal Booster | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Patricia Vickers-Rich | Laser Mapper | Radio Collar | Right Handed | Bronze Badge | Flashlight Beams |
| Dr. Ellie Sattler | Sonic Chisel | Radio Collar | Left Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Roy Chapman Andrews | Pneumatic Pick | Signal Booster | Left Handed | Amber Badge | Flashlight Beams |
| Angela Milner | Pneumatic Pick | Night Visor | Left Handed | Amber Badge | Flashlight Beams |
| Luis Chiappe | Pneumatic Pick | Night Visor | Right Handed | Bronze Badge | Dust Clouds |
| Edward Cope | Laser Mapper | Signal Booster | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Dust Clouds |
| Karen Chin | Pneumatic Pick | Tracking Tag | Right Handed | Bronze Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Dr. Alan Grant | Drone Cam | Night Visor | Right Handed | Bronze Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Kristi Curry Rogers | Drone Cam | Night Visor | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Loud Whistles |
| Nizar Ibrahim | Sonic Chisel | Night Visor | Right Handed | Amber Badge | Dust Clouds |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To trace the saboteur's getaway path across the dig grid, the team measured perpendicular field legs to find the direct diagonal distance.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
V
85
26
123
123
30
26
34
87
13
37
39
34
13
74
10
39
37
74
17
30
58
15
26
34
29
74
30
29
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =V
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =N
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =R
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =U
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =E
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =S
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =D
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =T
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =G
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =L
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =C
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =K
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The security team calculated the exact boundary length of a square excavation zone using its total area readout.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
9
5
21
8
20
8
10
12
25
14
25
21
R
9
5
22
16
10
R
9
19
18
17
12
20
8
14
6
10
20
24
8
sqrt(81) =R
sqrt(100) =A
sqrt(324) =S
sqrt(25) =I
sqrt(400) =T
sqrt(144) =N
sqrt(441) =G
sqrt(625) =D
sqrt(289) =O
sqrt(64) =H
sqrt(361) =K
sqrt(484) =P
sqrt(196) =E
sqrt(256) =M
sqrt(36) =L
sqrt(576) =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
Analyzing the exponential growth pattern of power surges in the lab's battery system gave the next encrypted location 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.
S
8
256
S
8
324
81
32
36
196
441
S
8
S
8
36
256
216
216
81
343
512
25
128
144
256
343
196
625
9
S
8
36
128
81
S
8
2^3 =S
14^2 =W
2^7 =L
5^2 =Y
6^2 =T
18^2 =P
7^3 =D
6^3 =N
21^2 =A
3^2 =I
5^4 =H
16^2 =U
2^9 =B
12^2 =O
2^5 =C
3^4 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
Sorting through multi-step fossil inventory totals required solving the full sequence of operational priorities.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
F
87
93
48
19
120
100
19
100
78
43
97
35
43
100
120
13
97
19
97
100
35
96
104
97
56
100
43
120
93
93
35
10 × 11 - 23 =F
9 × 3 - 14 =G
38 + 3 × 6 =L
6 × 10 - 12 =U
75 + 9 × 2 =O
10 × 3 - 11 =N
11 × 11 - 1 =D
9 × 12 - 8 =A
26 + 3 × 3 =R
76 + 7 × 4 =H
9 × 11 - 3 =T
11 × 9 - 2 =E
7 + 9 × 4 =B
58 + 5 × 4 =M
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
Determining the side length of the square storage container from its surface area revealed the final security clue.
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(1) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain cut the power lines, then took the crystalized egg.
2.The villain cracked the reinforced safe, then swiped the stegosaur bone.
3.The villain cut the power lines, then pocketed the raptor claw.
4.The villain unlocked the storage vault, then swiped the stegosaur bone.
5.The villain jammed the sonar radar, then took the crystalized egg.
6.The villain cut the power lines, then swiped the stegosaur bone.
7.The villain cut the power lines, then snatched the amber fossil.
8.The villain cut the power lines, then stole the apex predator tooth.
9.The villain jammed the sonar radar, then pocketed the raptor claw.
10.The villain unlocked the storage vault, then stole the apex predator tooth.
11.The villain unlocked the storage vault, then snatched the amber fossil.
12.The villain disabled the perimeter fence, then pocketed the raptor claw.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Cretaceous Canopy
Culprit: Kristi Curry Rogers (Drone Cam · Night Visor · Right Handed · Amber Badge · Loud Whistles)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "VILLAIN DOES NOT USE TRACKING TAG"legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (V) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (N) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (R) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (U) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (E) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (S) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (D) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (T) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (O) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (G) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (L) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (I) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (A) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (C) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (K)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "RIGHT HANDED GRIP MARKS ON THE LATCH"sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(100) = 10 (A) · sqrt(324) = 18 (S) · sqrt(25) = 5 (I) · sqrt(400) = 20 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (N) · sqrt(441) = 21 (G) · sqrt(625) = 25 (D) · sqrt(289) = 17 (O) · sqrt(64) = 8 (H) · sqrt(361) = 19 (K) · sqrt(484) = 22 (P) · sqrt(196) = 14 (E) · sqrt(256) = 16 (M) · sqrt(36) = 6 (L) · sqrt(576) = 24 (C)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "SUSPECT WAS STUNNED BY LOUD WHISTLES"2^3 = 8 (S) · 14^2 = 196 (W) · 2^7 = 128 (L) · 5^2 = 25 (Y) · 6^2 = 36 (T) · 18^2 = 324 (P) · 7^3 = 343 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (N) · 21^2 = 441 (A) · 3^2 = 9 (I) · 5^4 = 625 (H) · 16^2 = 256 (U) · 2^9 = 512 (B) · 12^2 = 144 (O) · 2^5 = 32 (C) · 3^4 = 81 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "FOUND AN AMBER BADGE NEAR THE LAB DOOR"10 × 11 - 23 = 87 (F) · 9 × 3 - 14 = 13 (G) · 38 + 3 × 6 = 56 (L) · 6 × 10 - 12 = 48 (U) · 75 + 9 × 2 = 93 (O) · 10 × 3 - 11 = 19 (N) · 11 × 11 - 1 = 120 (D) · 9 × 12 - 8 = 100 (A) · 26 + 3 × 3 = 35 (R) · 76 + 7 × 4 = 104 (H) · 9 × 11 - 3 = 96 (T) · 11 × 9 - 2 = 97 (E) · 7 + 9 × 4 = 43 (B) · 58 + 5 × 4 = 78 (M)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 4) → Kristi Curry Rogerssqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(25) = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Cretaceous Canopy — set in Isla Ossea Fossil Research Ridge
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects