Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Someone swiped the Golden Compass from Director Barnaby tent in the jungle camp. Solve the math clues to uncover 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 | Primary Tool | Secondary Gadget | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Eve | Treasure Map | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Shiny Coins |
| Explorer Eli | Treasure Map | Bronze Key | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Captain Cole | Treasure Map | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Shiny Coins |
| Tracker Tina | Brass Telescope | Bronze Key | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Loud Drums |
| Tracker Tim | Machete Blade | Bronze Key | Right Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Tracker Toby | Brass Telescope | Pocket Whistle | Left Handed | Short Crop | Honey Pots |
| Ranger Rosa | Grappling Hook | Leather Canteen | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Shiny Coins |
| Scout Sarah | Treasure Map | Rope Coil | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Scout Sierra | Treasure Map | Rope Coil | Left Handed | Curly Cap | Shiny Coins |
| Scout Sam | Signal Lantern | Bronze Key | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Shiny Coins |
| Captain Carl | Signal Lantern | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Guide Gary | Grappling Hook | Leather Canteen | Left Handed | Curly Cap | Loud Drums |
| Ranger Rita | Grappling Hook | Bronze Key | Left Handed | Curly Cap | Honey Pots |
| Guide Gabe | Brass Telescope | Rope Coil | Right Handed | Braided Tail | Shiny Coins |
| Explorer Emma | Treasure Map | Bronze Key | Left Handed | Curly Cap | Loud Drums |
| Guide Grace | Grappling Hook | Pocket Whistle | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Scout Sally | Signal Lantern | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Shiny Coins |
| Tracker Tess | Signal Lantern | Pocket Whistle | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Honey Pots |
| Captain Cody | Signal Lantern | Pocket Whistle | Left Handed | Braided Tail | Honey Pots |
| Guide Greta | Brass Telescope | Rope Coil | Right Handed | Curly Cap | Honey Pots |
| Ranger Rick | Signal Lantern | Pocket Whistle | Left Handed | Short Crop | Honey Pots |
Clue 1
Addition
Director Barnaby tallies all the supply crates left in the storage tent to see what was searched.
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
2996
6132
3528
3195
2490
9855
9855
9261
2490
9336
5844
2490
5844
9336
7072
T
2996
2608
8005
3528
9261
6443
7072
3111
3528
5547
7072
2490
9855
1287 + 1709 =T
3338 + 3105 =R
3518 + 2614 =H
842 + 1766 =U
2101 + 1010 =P
3658 + 1889 =C
1363 + 2165 =E
4425 + 3580 =S
3613 + 2231 =D
3933 + 5922 =L
4297 + 5039 =N
812 + 1678 =I
1351 + 1844 =V
5230 + 4031 =A
2762 + 4310 =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The camp radar scanner rounds the distance to nearby hikers to show general positions.
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
370
90
5000
1300
110
230
9000
500
30
T
370
2000
500
300
9000
9000
5000
2000
290
70
9000
3000
700
30
T
370
90
230
5000
1100
T
370
90
70
20
2000
Round 371 to the nearest tenT
Round 290 to the nearest tenM
Round 66 to the nearest tenA
Round 9,183 to the nearest thousandP
Round 91 to the nearest tenH
Round 1,338 to the nearest hundredC
Round 527 to the nearest hundredR
Round 27 to the nearest tenI
Round 1,065 to the nearest hundredF
Round 16 to the nearest tenN
Round 233 to the nearest tenL
Round 300 to the nearest hundredO
Round 109 to the nearest tenU
Round 3,320 to the nearest thousandS
Round 5,321 to the nearest thousandE
Round 686 to the nearest hundredW
Round 2,035 to the nearest thousandD
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The scouts calculate how many trail rations remain after the thief took a handful.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
H
7085
3826
6424
4050
8317
5446
3826
8059
4649
5988
7475
4649
8059
2883
6899
1477
8059
4050
5988
8059
H
7085
4050
2387
7475
4390
4390
6899
7475
6424
6899
8059
6424
7475
2347
H
7085
8059
8287 - 1202 =H
10323 - 4335 =D
10478 - 2419 =T
8617 - 4227 =L
4844 - 1961 =R
9591 - 1274 =Y
8467 - 2043 =N
2443 - 966 =C
5723 - 1897 =O
6364 - 4017 =G
7604 - 2955 =S
5547 - 101 =P
8450 - 975 =I
9786 - 2887 =A
5641 - 1591 =E
2684 - 297 =V
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The search team checks equal rows of tents along the riverbank.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
64
72
30
A
64
20
2
80
2
10
A
64
20
24
88
A
64
20
30
11
A
64
50
77
96
42
12
2
96
12
10
88
80
10
80
12
10
8 × 8 =A
8 × 12 =O
11 × 1 =W
11 × 8 =H
12 × 2 =L
10 × 8 =E
7 × 11 =F
2 × 6 =N
2 × 1 =D
6 × 5 =R
1 × 10 =T
5 × 10 =S
5 × 4 =I
6 × 12 =B
6 × 7 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The scouts divide the search grid evenly among the rescue 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
54 ÷ 6 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain lit the dark path with a signal lantern, then threw a smoke bomb.
2.The villain swung across the creek with a grappling hook, then unlocked a crate with a bronze key.
3.The villain swung across the creek with a grappling hook, then blew a pocket whistle.
4.The villain lit the dark path with a signal lantern, then blew a pocket whistle.
5.The villain lit the dark path with a signal lantern, then drank from a leather canteen.
6.The villain followed a secret treasure map, then tied knots with a rope coil.
7.The villain followed a secret treasure map, then blew a pocket whistle.
8.The villain spied through a brass telescope, then blew a pocket whistle.
9.The villain followed a secret treasure map, then unlocked a crate with a bronze key.
10.The villain cleared a path with a machete blade, then drank from a leather canteen.
11.The villain lit the dark path with a signal lantern, then tied knots with a rope coil.
12.The villain spied through a brass telescope, then tied knots with a rope coil.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Captain Carl (Signal Lantern · Smoke Bomb · Left Handed · Braided Tail · Honey Pots)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A ROPE COIL"1287 + 1709 = 2996 (T) · 3338 + 3105 = 6443 (R) · 3518 + 2614 = 6132 (H) · 842 + 1766 = 2608 (U) · 2101 + 1010 = 3111 (P) · 3658 + 1889 = 5547 (C) · 1363 + 2165 = 3528 (E) · 4425 + 3580 = 8005 (S) · 3613 + 2231 = 5844 (D) · 3933 + 5922 = 9855 (L) · 4297 + 5039 = 9336 (N) · 812 + 1678 = 2490 (I) · 1351 + 1844 = 3195 (V) · 5230 + 4031 = 9261 (A) · 2762 + 4310 = 7072 (O)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE CULPRIT DROPPED MAPS WITH LEFT HAND"Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (M) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (A) · Round 9,183 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (P) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 1,338 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (C) · Round 527 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 1,065 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (F) · Round 16 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (L) · Round 300 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (U) · Round 3,320 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (S) · Round 5,321 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 686 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 2,035 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "HONEY POTS DISTRACTED THE VILLAIN AT NIGHT"8287 - 1202 = 7085 (H) · 10323 - 4335 = 5988 (D) · 10478 - 2419 = 8059 (T) · 8617 - 4227 = 4390 (L) · 4844 - 1961 = 2883 (R) · 9591 - 1274 = 8317 (Y) · 8467 - 2043 = 6424 (N) · 2443 - 966 = 1477 (C) · 5723 - 1897 = 3826 (O) · 6364 - 4017 = 2347 (G) · 7604 - 2955 = 4649 (S) · 5547 - 101 = 5446 (P) · 8450 - 975 = 7475 (I) · 9786 - 2887 = 6899 (A) · 5641 - 1591 = 4050 (E) · 2684 - 297 = 2387 (V)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A BRAIDED TAIL HAIR WAS FOUND ON THE TENT"8 × 8 = 64 (A) · 8 × 12 = 96 (O) · 11 × 1 = 11 (W) · 11 × 8 = 88 (H) · 12 × 2 = 24 (L) · 10 × 8 = 80 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (F) · 2 × 6 = 12 (N) · 2 × 1 = 2 (D) · 6 × 5 = 30 (R) · 1 × 10 = 10 (T) · 5 × 10 = 50 (S) · 5 × 4 = 20 (I) · 6 × 12 = 72 (B) · 6 × 7 = 42 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Captain Carl54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Compass — set in Misty Island Jungle Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects