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🔎 The mistery of the exploded Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationFractions of a number

The Mystery of the Exploded Nerf Cram

A deafening POP rocked the base as the experimental Nerf Cram engine exploded, coating the entire command deck in glowing green gel and shredded foam. Chief Joshua Dax Zeno zipped up his tactical vest and grabbed his magnifying glass. It was time to find out who sabotaged the ultimate blaster experiment before the next big squad tournament.

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play
NamePrimary BlasterAmmo UpgradeFiring StanceHair StyleDefense Weakness
Gemma GripCyclone Drum PistolHigh-Velocity FinsRight-Handed ShooterSpiky Red MohawkSqueaky Shoes
Zack BlasterDouble-Barrel BlasterMega-DartsRight-Handed ShooterSpiky Red MohawkBright Laser Pointers
Maya ScopeDouble-Barrel BlasterHigh-Velocity FinsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSqueaky Shoes
Chloe HopperMotorized BowGlow-In-The-Dark FoamLeft-Handed ShooterBlonde BuzzcutSlippery Soap Foam
Finn BungeeSpring-Action CarbineGlow-In-The-Dark FoamLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Sadie SightMotorized BowMega-DartsRight-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Ivy JammerCyclone Drum PistolGlow-In-The-Dark FoamLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Brooke BarrelUltra-Shot RifleScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSqueaky Shoes
Ella StockSpring-Action CarbineMega-DartsRight-Handed ShooterSpiky Red MohawkSlippery Soap Foam
Leo TriggerMotorized BowHigh-Velocity FinsLeft-Handed ShooterSpiky Red MohawkBright Laser Pointers
Zoe LoaderCyclone Drum PistolScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Owen TargetCyclone Drum PistolSuction-Cup ShellsRight-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Max TriggerUltra-Shot RifleScreaming-Whistle TipsRight-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSqueaky Shoes
Eli SpringUltra-Shot RifleHigh-Velocity FinsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSqueaky Shoes
Luke GogglesCyclone Drum PistolScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterBlonde BuzzcutSlippery Soap Foam
Cole CrankSpring-Action CarbineScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Toby PumpDouble-Barrel BlasterMega-DartsLeft-Handed ShooterBlonde BuzzcutSlippery Soap Foam
Jax TacticalSpring-Action CarbineHigh-Velocity FinsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSqueaky Shoes
Ruby LaserDouble-Barrel BlasterScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Lily ClipUltra-Shot RifleScreaming-Whistle TipsLeft-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairSlippery Soap Foam
Mia FoamUltra-Shot RifleSuction-Cup ShellsRight-Handed ShooterCurly Blue HairBright Laser Pointers
Clue 1

Addition

Chief Joshua Dax Zeno gathers the spent Nerf darts scattered across the laboratory floor. Adding the different colors together reveals the secret locker combination.

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
4137
2609
2445
5124
3286
7444
8872
T
4137
2445
3970
7965
6339
8872
2445
5124
2905
8872
T
4137
3970
5124
2445
8991
6736
8872
2601
5765
8872
3286
2616
2864 + 1273 =T
1273 + 2697 =U
3003 + 2121 =S
4634 + 3331 =R
1615 + 994 =H
1712 + 889 =W
5305 + 3686 =G
3908 + 1857 =F
4605 + 4267 =O
1717 + 1569 =A
1100 + 1345 =E
1293 + 1612 =N
4394 + 2342 =L
1107 + 1509 =M
2792 + 4652 =B
3194 + 3145 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 2

Subtraction

To find the pressure leak in the Cram-Engine, Chief Joshua subtracts the empty air pressure from the full charge to pinpoint the saboteur's custom gear.

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
6319
2995
7332
8889
6206
6468
6468
8432
6206
8488
6206
6924
8432
6468
7332
7318
T
6319
2995
8432
8488
6563
7332
6563
6924
2995
6090
6090
T
6319
7332
3828
10055 - 3736 =T
11431 - 2999 =A
10561 - 2073 =N
7915 - 1447 =L
6473 - 2645 =R
7735 - 4740 =H
9703 - 814 =V
9452 - 3246 =I
10657 - 3325 =E
10389 - 3071 =F
11349 - 4425 =S
8686 - 2596 =O
7211 - 648 =D
0/13 letters found
Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The team counts rows of locked ammo canisters stacked in the storage room. Multiplying the grids of gear boxes points to the culprit's favorite setup.

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
50
121
99
8
10
132
44
18
132
4
10
T
50
99
28
56
8
99
132
56
18
18
88
77
16
16
99
56
80
18
10
132
16
5 × 10 =T
7 × 11 =I
8 × 2 =P
4 × 2 =F
12 × 11 =A
8 × 10 =Y
4 × 1 =B
10 × 1 =O
4 × 7 =U
8 × 11 =L
7 × 8 =R
9 × 2 =S
11 × 9 =E
11 × 11 =H
11 × 4 =M
0/15 letters found
Clue 4

Fractions of a number

Chief Joshua inspects the giant foam blast zone. Taking a specific fraction of the stained floor tiles helps narrow down the target to a single physical tell.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

W
36
8
2
11
37
32
13
39
18
33
24
32
13
39
11
2
22
37
33
34
31
4
34
37
8
10
24
27
33
3/4 of 48 =W
2/3 of 3 =F
3/6 of 44 =C
1/5 of 195 =S
1/10 of 40 =B
1/6 of 186 =Y
2/10 of 160 =N
1/4 of 108 =I
4/6 of 51 =L
3/6 of 20 =H
2/8 of 32 =E
1/4 of 148 =U
1/10 of 110 =O
1/3 of 39 =D
1/2 of 66 =R
1/5 of 120 =A
1/10 of 180 =T
0/17 letters found
Clue 5

Fractions of a number — the last clue

The officers find a trail of bright footprints leading out of the testing bay. Analyzing a fraction of these prints uncovers the hair color of the runaway suspect.

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
4/8 of 2 = ?
5/10 of 12 = ?
5/10 of 16 = ?
2/8 of 12 = ?
4/5 of 15 = ?
5/6 of 6 = ?
1/3 of 21 = ?
1/2 of 20 = ?
2/8 of 16 = ?
1/10 of 20 = ?
1/10 of 90 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired the ultra-shot rifle, then screeched screaming-whistle tips over the fence.
2.The villain fired the ultra-shot rifle, then stuck suction-cup shells everywhere.
3.The villain aimed the motorized bow, then loaded the heavy mega-darts.
4.The villain unleashed the cyclone drum pistol, then stuck suction-cup shells everywhere.
5.The villain fired the ultra-shot rifle, then painted the walls with glow-in-the-dark foam.
6.The villain unlocked the double-barrel blaster, then screeched screaming-whistle tips over the fence.
7.The villain unleashed the cyclone drum pistol, then fitted high-velocity fins.
8.The villain unleashed the cyclone drum pistol, then screeched screaming-whistle tips over the fence.
9.The villain cocked the spring-action carbine, then painted the walls with glow-in-the-dark foam.
10.The villain unlocked the double-barrel blaster, then loaded the heavy mega-darts.
11.The villain cocked the spring-action carbine, then screeched screaming-whistle tips over the fence.
12.The villain cocked the spring-action carbine, then stuck suction-cup shells everywhere.
Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of the Exploded Nerf Cram

Culprit: Cole Crank (Spring-Action Carbine · Screaming-Whistle Tips · Left-Handed Shooter · Curly Blue Hair · Slippery Soap Foam)
  1. Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE GLOW FOAM"
    2864 + 1273 = 4137 (T) · 1273 + 2697 = 3970 (U) · 3003 + 2121 = 5124 (S) · 4634 + 3331 = 7965 (R) · 1615 + 994 = 2609 (H) · 1712 + 889 = 2601 (W) · 5305 + 3686 = 8991 (G) · 3908 + 1857 = 5765 (F) · 4605 + 4267 = 8872 (O) · 1717 + 1569 = 3286 (A) · 1100 + 1345 = 2445 (E) · 1293 + 1612 = 2905 (N) · 4394 + 2342 = 6736 (L) · 1107 + 1509 = 2616 (M) · 2792 + 4652 = 7444 (B) · 3194 + 3145 = 6339 (D)
  2. Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN IS A LEFT HANDED SHOOTER"
    10055 - 3736 = 6319 (T) · 11431 - 2999 = 8432 (A) · 10561 - 2073 = 8488 (N) · 7915 - 1447 = 6468 (L) · 6473 - 2645 = 3828 (R) · 7735 - 4740 = 2995 (H) · 9703 - 814 = 8889 (V) · 9452 - 3246 = 6206 (I) · 10657 - 3325 = 7332 (E) · 10389 - 3071 = 7318 (F) · 11349 - 4425 = 6924 (S) · 8686 - 2596 = 6090 (O) · 7211 - 648 = 6563 (D)
  3. Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE FOAM SABOTEUR FEARS SLIPPERY SOAP"
    5 × 10 = 50 (T) · 7 × 11 = 77 (I) · 8 × 2 = 16 (P) · 4 × 2 = 8 (F) · 12 × 11 = 132 (A) · 8 × 10 = 80 (Y) · 4 × 1 = 4 (B) · 10 × 1 = 10 (O) · 4 × 7 = 28 (U) · 8 × 11 = 88 (L) · 7 × 8 = 56 (R) · 9 × 2 = 18 (S) · 11 × 9 = 99 (E) · 11 × 11 = 121 (H) · 11 × 4 = 44 (M)
  4. Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF CURLY BLUE HAIR"
    3/4 of 48 = 36 (W) · 2/3 of 3 = 2 (F) · 3/6 of 44 = 22 (C) · 1/5 of 195 = 39 (S) · 1/10 of 40 = 4 (B) · 1/6 of 186 = 31 (Y) · 2/10 of 160 = 32 (N) · 1/4 of 108 = 27 (I) · 4/6 of 51 = 34 (L) · 3/6 of 20 = 10 (H) · 2/8 of 32 = 8 (E) · 1/4 of 148 = 37 (U) · 1/10 of 110 = 11 (O) · 1/3 of 39 = 13 (D) · 1/2 of 66 = 33 (R) · 1/5 of 120 = 24 (A) · 1/10 of 180 = 18 (T)
  5. Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 11) → Cole Crank
    4/8 of 2 = 1 · 5/10 of 12 = 6 · 5/10 of 16 = 8 · 2/8 of 12 = 3 · 4/5 of 15 = 12 · 5/6 of 6 = 5 · 1/3 of 21 = 7 · 1/2 of 20 = 10 · 2/8 of 16 = 4 · 1/10 of 20 = 2 · 1/10 of 90 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level
Grade 5 math
Math topics
Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
Reading level
grades 5-6
Theme
The Mystery of the Exploded Nerf Cram — set in The Elite Foam-Dart Testing Facility
Format
Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution
One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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