🔎 Mistery of the exploded nerfGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6SubtractionAdditionMultiplicationFractions of a number

The Mystery of the Exploded Nerf Launcher

Chief Joshua Dax Zeno stood before the smoking, plastic ruins of the backyard's ultimate defense system. The Mega-Blaster Anti-Aircraft Launcher had been overcharged and exploded in a shower of orange springs. We need to find which rival captain sabotaged the launcher before the big neighborhood tournament starts.

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 Blaster	Specialty Ammo	Sighting Eye	Camouflage Hair	Secret Defeater
Ryder Rex	Sniper Blaster	High Impact Rounds	Left Eye Aim	Electric Blue Hair	Water Hose Spray
Zack Ryder	Rapid Fire Rifle	Mega XL Darts	Right Eye Aim	Electric Blue Hair	Water Hose Spray
Logan Laser	Sniper Blaster	Whistling Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Water Hose Spray
Leo Ranger	Rapid Fire Rifle	Glow In The Dark Darts	Left Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Water Hose Spray
Kai Crimson	Dual Pistols	High Impact Rounds	Right Eye Aim	Neon Orange Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Colt Trigger	Dual Pistols	High Impact Rounds	Right Eye Aim	Neon Orange Hair	Water Hose Spray
Dash Danger	Tactical Bow	Mega XL Darts	Left Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Mason Maverick	Sniper Blaster	Glow In The Dark Darts	Right Eye Aim	Electric Blue Hair	Water Hose Spray
Axel Stone	Tactical Bow	High Impact Rounds	Left Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Jace Jetpack	Tactical Bow	Glow In The Dark Darts	Right Eye Aim	Electric Blue Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Chase Tracker	Tactical Bow	Suction Cup Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Duke Detonator	Mega Dart Launcher	High Impact Rounds	Right Eye Aim	Neon Orange Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Jaxson Steele	Sniper Blaster	High Impact Rounds	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Wyatt Wild	Rapid Fire Rifle	Glow In The Dark Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Zane Shadow	Dual Pistols	Mega XL Darts	Right Eye Aim	Neon Orange Hair	Water Hose Spray
Brody Blade	Tactical Bow	Whistling Darts	Left Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Finn Flash	Rapid Fire Rifle	Mega XL Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip
Hunter Pierce	Tactical Bow	Suction Cup Darts	Right Eye Aim	Electric Blue Hair	Water Hose Spray
Xander Swift	Mega Dart Launcher	High Impact Rounds	Right Eye Aim	Neon Orange Hair	Loud Air Horn
Silas Trigger	Mega Dart Launcher	Suction Cup Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Water Hose Spray
Cole Carbon	Dual Pistols	Suction Cup Darts	Right Eye Aim	Camouflage Green Hair	Jump Rope Trip

Clue 1

Subtraction

Chief Joshua Dax Zeno finds the blast zone littered with broken springs. By subtracting the damaged coils from the total inventory, we narrow down the suspect list.

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

4649

1133

5688

6991

3139

2378

5780

6991

8886

5688

1788

1059

3139

5688

5246

1788

3139

4649

5529

5246

5688

2638

3644

3139

3083

1059

2378

2874

4649

5246

5656 - 1007 =T

1729 - 596 =H

5833 - 3195 =G

7290 - 4416 =R

5426 - 3048 =A

13794 - 4908 =I

7058 - 1278 =M

5758 - 2114 =L

3991 - 2932 =D

4622 - 1539 =W

11158 - 4167 =F

7301 - 1772 =U

3935 - 2147 =N

5730 - 484 =S

5004 - 1865 =O

7038 - 1350 =E

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

A junior deputy counts the plastic shards recovered from the lawn. Adding the blue pieces to the orange pieces reveals a secret number on the suspect chart.

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

9463

5244

7270

4006

6386

8894

8938

7270

6759

8896

4006

8896

2764

7661

6338

4006

9463

7270

2764

2213

8894

2639

7228

9049

5244

9463

7270

5801

7270

6338

4006

7270

4250 + 5213 =T

4506 + 2764 =E

1482 + 1157 =R

3036 + 3350 =C

2332 + 4006 =U

1340 + 873 =F

2951 + 5987 =P

3076 + 4585 =J

3635 + 3124 =W

3148 + 5901 =G

1722 + 1042 =D

1209 + 2797 =S

2976 + 2825 =Y

5147 + 3749 =A

3925 + 3303 =I

2738 + 6156 =O

2694 + 2550 =H

0/17 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We locate a grid of muddy footprints near the launch pad arranged in neat rows. Multiplying the rows by the columns gives us the code to unlock a witness report.

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

6 × 1 =T

4 × 2 =O

3 × 1 =A

8 × 9 =L

7 × 10 =B

11 × 5 =E

2 × 8 =S

7 × 4 =D

1 × 9 =F

2 × 2 =M

10 × 2 =H

8 × 8 =J

7 × 3 =U

7 × 9 =P

7 × 6 =V

12 × 4 =R

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Fractions of a number

A scrap of paper reveals that only a fraction of the rival blasters were active during the explosion. Calculating this fraction helps us eliminate several squads.

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

5/8 of 56 =A

5/10 of 4 =G

2/4 of 12 =R

1/2 of 30 =C

5/10 of 54 =E

4/8 of 8 =O

2/6 of 51 =S

2/3 of 51 =N

1/4 of 116 =D

2/4 of 28 =W

5/10 of 50 =M

9/10 of 40 =U

1/2 of 14 =T

1/3 of 30 =F

1/2 of 64 =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Fractions of a number — the last clue

We inspect the spare dart canisters left in the grass. Finding the exact fraction of canisters that are empty points us directly to the saboteur.

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

3/6 of 2 = ?

1/3 of 15 = ?

1/3 of 18 = ?

2/5 of 5 = ?

3/6 of 18 = ?

1/10 of 110 = ?

1/4 of 40 = ?

2/6 of 21 = ?

3/5 of 20 = ?

1/5 of 15 = ?

4/6 of 12 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain jammed a giant foam rocket in the chamber, then left a cardboard challenge note.

2.The villain overloaded the air pressure valve, then sprayed neon paint on the fortress wall.

3.The villain overloaded the air pressure valve, then dropped a trail of foam darts behind.

4.The villain rigged the trigger with a tight rubber band, then swiped the extra ammo crates.

5.The villain stuffed wet grass into the main barrel, then escaped through the loose fence board.

6.The villain cranked the spring mechanism too tight, then left a cardboard challenge note.

7.The villain stuffed wet grass into the main barrel, then sprayed neon paint on the fortress wall.

8.The villain overloaded the air pressure valve, then escaped through the loose fence board.

9.The villain cranked the spring mechanism too tight, then swiped the extra ammo crates.

10.The villain cranked the spring mechanism too tight, then sprayed neon paint on the fortress wall.

11.The villain cranked the spring mechanism too tight, then dropped a trail of foam darts behind.

12.The villain stuffed wet grass into the main barrel, then dropped a trail of foam darts behind.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of the Exploded Nerf Launcher

Culprit: Jaxson Steele (Sniper Blaster · High Impact Rounds · Right Eye Aim · Camouflage Green Hair · Jump Rope Trip)

Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE FOAM FIEND DOES NOT USE GLOW DARTS"
5656 - 1007 = 4649 (T) · 1729 - 596 = 1133 (H) · 5833 - 3195 = 2638 (G) · 7290 - 4416 = 2874 (R) · 5426 - 3048 = 2378 (A) · 13794 - 4908 = 8886 (I) · 7058 - 1278 = 5780 (M) · 5758 - 2114 = 3644 (L) · 3991 - 2932 = 1059 (D) · 4622 - 1539 = 3083 (W) · 11158 - 4167 = 6991 (F) · 7301 - 1772 = 5529 (U) · 3935 - 2147 = 1788 (N) · 5730 - 484 = 5246 (S) · 5004 - 1865 = 3139 (O) · 7038 - 1350 = 5688 (E)
Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SCOPE WAS ADJUSTED FOR RIGHT EYE USE"
4250 + 5213 = 9463 (T) · 4506 + 2764 = 7270 (E) · 1482 + 1157 = 2639 (R) · 3036 + 3350 = 6386 (C) · 2332 + 4006 = 6338 (U) · 1340 + 873 = 2213 (F) · 2951 + 5987 = 8938 (P) · 3076 + 4585 = 7661 (J) · 3635 + 3124 = 6759 (W) · 3148 + 5901 = 9049 (G) · 1722 + 1042 = 2764 (D) · 1209 + 2797 = 4006 (S) · 2976 + 2825 = 5801 (Y) · 5147 + 3749 = 8896 (A) · 3925 + 3303 = 7228 (I) · 2738 + 6156 = 8894 (O) · 2694 + 2550 = 5244 (H)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE FOE STUMBLED OVER A JUMP ROPE"
6 × 1 = 6 (T) · 4 × 2 = 8 (O) · 3 × 1 = 3 (A) · 8 × 9 = 72 (L) · 7 × 10 = 70 (B) · 11 × 5 = 55 (E) · 2 × 8 = 16 (S) · 7 × 4 = 28 (D) · 1 × 9 = 9 (F) · 2 × 2 = 4 (M) · 10 × 2 = 20 (H) · 8 × 8 = 64 (J) · 7 × 3 = 21 (U) · 7 × 9 = 63 (P) · 7 × 6 = 42 (V) · 12 × 4 = 48 (R)
Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "A CAMOUFLAGE GREEN STRAND WAS FOUND"
5/8 of 56 = 35 (A) · 5/10 of 4 = 2 (G) · 2/4 of 12 = 6 (R) · 1/2 of 30 = 15 (C) · 5/10 of 54 = 27 (E) · 4/8 of 8 = 4 (O) · 2/6 of 51 = 17 (S) · 2/3 of 51 = 34 (N) · 1/4 of 116 = 29 (D) · 2/4 of 28 = 14 (W) · 5/10 of 50 = 25 (M) · 9/10 of 40 = 36 (U) · 1/2 of 14 = 7 (T) · 1/3 of 30 = 10 (F) · 1/2 of 64 = 32 (L)
Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 4) → Jaxson Steele
3/6 of 2 = 1 · 1/3 of 15 = 5 · 1/3 of 18 = 6 · 2/5 of 5 = 2 · 3/6 of 18 = 9 · 1/10 of 110 = 11 · 1/4 of 40 = 10 · 2/6 of 21 = 7 · 3/5 of 20 = 12 · 1/5 of 15 = 3 · 4/6 of 12 = 8

About this mystery

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

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