Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Crystal Compass
A sneaky jungle bandit snuck into the high treehouse basecamp and snatched the golden crystal compass right off the expedition table! Solve the clue math to reveal evidence and identify the thief before they vanish into the canopy.
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 | Main Tool | Side Gear | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Secret Foiler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Leo | Smoke Bomb | Binoculars | Left Handed | Braided Brown Hair | Loud Bell |
| Watcher Wendy | Map Scroll | Whistle | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Detective Dawn | Flashlight | Whistle | Right Handed | Curly Black Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Adventurer Art | Map Scroll | Canteen | Left Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Tracker Tom | Smoke Bomb | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Loud Bell |
| Officer Otto | Smoke Bomb | Canteen | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Voyager Vince | Compass | Glider Pack | Left Handed | Curly Black Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Trekker Tess | Smoke Bomb | Canteen | Left Handed | Braided Brown Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Dr Hazel | Smoke Bomb | Glider Pack | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Navigator Nina | Compass | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Scout Sam | Grappling Hook | Binoculars | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Outrider Opal | Smoke Bomb | Rope Ladder | Left Handed | Braided Brown Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Ranger Rick | Compass | Glider Pack | Left Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Loud Bell |
| Pathfinder Paul | Grappling Hook | Whistle | Left Handed | Braided Brown Hair | Loud Bell |
| Guide Gina | Map Scroll | Binoculars | Left Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Tickle Feather |
| Pioneer Piper | Map Scroll | Whistle | Right Handed | Curly Black Hair | Loud Bell |
| Agent Jax | Flashlight | Binoculars | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Explorer Maya | Map Scroll | Whistle | Right Handed | Curly Black Hair | Sneeze Spray |
| Captain Avery | Grappling Hook | Glider Pack | Left Handed | Curly Black Hair | Loud Bell |
| Hiker Holly | Compass | Glider Pack | Right Handed | Spiky Red Hair | Loud Bell |
| Hunter Hank | Grappling Hook | Rope Ladder | Right Handed | Curly Black Hair | Sneeze Spray |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The lead explorer shared a fraction of the expedition fruit trail mix with the camp scouts.
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
2
16
9
34
20
17
17
30
20
22
36
15
9
35
22
15
T
2
3
30
19
19
21
7
20
22
15
3
12
17
30
19
35
5/10 of 4 =T
1/5 of 180 =D
2/4 of 40 =I
5/10 of 18 =E
5/6 of 18 =O
3/10 of 100 =A
2/8 of 76 =R
1/2 of 42 =Y
2/10 of 85 =L
2/10 of 175 =S
1/2 of 32 =H
3/6 of 44 =N
4/8 of 68 =V
5/10 of 6 =C
3/6 of 14 =B
3/8 of 32 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To unlock the jungle supply crate, the detective solved a step by step security 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
39
40
42
21
48
25
25
47
48
13
37
56
42
6
T
39
40
42
48
20
20
48
77
40
T
39
40
47
13
6
33 + 3 × 2 =T
10 × 7 - 28 =E
21 + 2 × 8 =U
6 × 9 - 29 =L
19 + 4 × 7 =A
12 × 7 - 28 =S
10 × 9 - 13 =G
5 × 5 - 19 =D
1 + 4 × 3 =N
5 × 8 - 19 =V
5 × 11 - 7 =I
7 × 7 - 9 =H
5 × 6 - 10 =R
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The trackers counted the total number of gear boots arranged in equal rows.
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
121
36
6
18
66
66
54
18
8
27
54
12
12
T
4
10
88
88
36
44
35
2
12
8
36
36
96
36
12
88
24
54
2
1 × 4 =T
11 × 11 =H
3 × 8 =R
2 × 9 =I
2 × 4 =N
2 × 3 =V
6 × 2 =S
12 × 3 =E
5 × 7 =B
12 × 8 =Z
11 × 8 =P
4 × 11 =D
9 × 3 =W
1 × 2 =Y
10 × 1 =O
6 × 11 =L
9 × 6 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The jungle radar scanner only showed rounded distances to the nearest trail marker.
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
500
7000
4300
5000
50
20
3700
2900
170
2000
4300
20
430
2000
S
500
90
3700
70
230
110
900
230
170
3700
1100
2000
7000
230
2000
1700
90
3700
Round 485 to the nearest hundredS
Round 66 to the nearest tenF
Round 169 to the nearest tenH
Round 877 to the nearest hundredN
Round 1,100 to the nearest hundredM
Round 2,855 to the nearest hundredD
Round 3,664 to the nearest hundredE
Round 51 to the nearest tenY
Round 426 to the nearest tenW
Round 6,507 to the nearest thousandP
Round 86 to the nearest tenL
Round 108 to the nearest tenO
Round 1,683 to the nearest hundredB
Round 17 to the nearest tenR
Round 4,317 to the nearest hundredI
Round 233 to the nearest tenT
Round 2,002 to the nearest thousandA
Round 4,751 to the nearest thousandK
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The camp leader split all the extra climbing carabiners equally among the adventure teams.
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
12 ÷ 3 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain lit up the dark tunnel, then blew a loud signal whistle.
2.The villain dropped a smoke bomb, then took a sip from a canteen.
3.The villain unrolled the secret map, then blew a loud signal whistle.
4.The villain dropped a smoke bomb, then escaped using a glider pack.
5.The villain checked the crystal compass, then took a sip from a canteen.
6.The villain swung in on a vine, then took a sip from a canteen.
7.The villain lit up the dark tunnel, then scouted ahead with binoculars.
8.The villain swung in on a vine, then escaped using a glider pack.
9.The villain unrolled the secret map, then scouted ahead with binoculars.
10.The villain checked the crystal compass, then climbed down a rope ladder.
11.The villain dropped a smoke bomb, then scouted ahead with binoculars.
12.The villain checked the crystal compass, then scouted ahead with binoculars.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Crystal Compass
Culprit: Watcher Wendy (Map Scroll · Whistle · Right Handed · Spiky Red Hair · Sneeze Spray)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT CARRY BINOCULARS"5/10 of 4 = 2 (T) · 1/5 of 180 = 36 (D) · 2/4 of 40 = 20 (I) · 5/10 of 18 = 9 (E) · 5/6 of 18 = 15 (O) · 3/10 of 100 = 30 (A) · 2/8 of 76 = 19 (R) · 1/2 of 42 = 21 (Y) · 2/10 of 85 = 17 (L) · 2/10 of 175 = 35 (S) · 1/2 of 32 = 16 (H) · 3/6 of 44 = 22 (N) · 4/8 of 68 = 34 (V) · 5/10 of 6 = 3 (C) · 3/6 of 14 = 7 (B) · 3/8 of 32 = 12 (U)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN USED THEIR RIGHT HAND"33 + 3 × 2 = 39 (T) · 10 × 7 - 28 = 42 (E) · 21 + 2 × 8 = 37 (U) · 6 × 9 - 29 = 25 (L) · 19 + 4 × 7 = 47 (A) · 12 × 7 - 28 = 56 (S) · 10 × 9 - 13 = 77 (G) · 5 × 5 - 19 = 6 (D) · 1 + 4 × 3 = 13 (N) · 5 × 8 - 19 = 21 (V) · 5 × 11 - 7 = 48 (I) · 7 × 7 - 9 = 40 (H) · 5 × 6 - 10 = 20 (R)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN WAS STOPPED BY SNEEZE SPRAY"1 × 4 = 4 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (H) · 3 × 8 = 24 (R) · 2 × 9 = 18 (I) · 2 × 4 = 8 (N) · 2 × 3 = 6 (V) · 6 × 2 = 12 (S) · 12 × 3 = 36 (E) · 5 × 7 = 35 (B) · 12 × 8 = 96 (Z) · 11 × 8 = 88 (P) · 4 × 11 = 44 (D) · 9 × 3 = 27 (W) · 1 × 2 = 2 (Y) · 10 × 1 = 10 (O) · 6 × 11 = 66 (L) · 9 × 6 = 54 (A)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "SPIKY RED HAIR WAS LEFT ON THE MAP TABLE"Round 485 to the nearest hundred = 500 (S) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (F) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 877 to the nearest hundred = 900 (N) · Round 1,100 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (M) · Round 2,855 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D) · Round 3,664 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (Y) · Round 426 to the nearest ten = 430 (W) · Round 6,507 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (P) · Round 86 to the nearest ten = 90 (L) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (O) · Round 1,683 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (B) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (R) · Round 4,317 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (I) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (T) · Round 2,002 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 4,751 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (K)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Watcher Wendy12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Crystal Compass — set in Jungle Treehouse Basecamp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects