Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Sun Idol
Professor Pembleton golden compass went missing right before the expedition entered the Sun Temple! One sneaky explorer snatched it to reach the treasure first. Track down the rogue explorer before they unlock the inner vault!
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 | Exploration Tool | Special Gear | Parchment Mark | Hat Style | Jungle Trap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freya Stark | Machete | Climbing Boots | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Pitfall Trap |
| Gertrude Bell | Grappling Hook | Canteen | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Clara Expedition | Grappling Hook | Climbing Boots | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Leo Vance | Grappling Hook | Climbing Boots | Left-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Pitfall Trap |
| Lara Finch | Brass Telescope | Canteen | Right-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Boulder Roll |
| Nora Quigley | Machete | Canteen | Right-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Isabella Rios | Machete | Leather Gloves | Right-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Pitfall Trap |
| Nellie Bly | Signal Flare | Headlamp | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Carter Brooks | Signal Flare | Leather Gloves | Right-handed stamp | Feathered Cap | Boulder Roll |
| Victor Stone | Grappling Hook | Compass Case | Right-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Pitfall Trap |
| Percy Fawcett | Jungle Map | Leather Gloves | Left-handed stamp | Feathered Cap | Snapping Net |
| Maya Lin | Machete | Headlamp | Right-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Snapping Net |
| Diego Thorne | Brass Telescope | Climbing Boots | Left-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Boulder Roll |
| Marco Vance | Brass Telescope | Compass Case | Left-handed stamp | Feathered Cap | Boulder Roll |
| Rosa Cruz | Signal Flare | Leather Gloves | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Samuel Baker | Brass Telescope | Climbing Boots | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Julian Sterling | Brass Telescope | Leather Gloves | Left-handed stamp | Feathered Cap | Boulder Roll |
| Amelia Vance | Signal Flare | Climbing Boots | Right-handed stamp | Feathered Cap | Pitfall Trap |
| Indiana Drake | Brass Telescope | Headlamp | Right-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Boulder Roll |
| Edmund Hillary | Machete | Canteen | Left-handed stamp | Pith Helmet | Pitfall Trap |
| Hiram Bingham | Grappling Hook | Canteen | Left-handed stamp | Leather Fedora | Boulder Roll |
Clue 1
Addition
You total up the supply crates found near the temple entrance to see which scout left their gear behind.
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
9762
4008
9743
2963
7677
2963
2171
9743
5689
T
9762
3042
6411
9743
2963
7320
6411
T
9762
5689
4147
2966
2966
7273
4147
4008
9743
4147
3042
8067
4147
3285
2171
3550 + 6212 =T
2196 + 1089 =M
2413 + 1595 =H
965 + 1998 =S
1725 + 1317 =D
979 + 1192 =P
5583 + 4160 =E
2059 + 907 =R
2760 + 5307 =L
2593 + 1554 =A
3230 + 3181 =O
3174 + 4099 =Y
2715 + 2974 =C
2632 + 4688 =N
4548 + 3129 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
You calculate the remaining steps on the ancient stone staircase by subtracting the broken steps from the total count.
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
2622
2446
6402
4083
7329
T
2622
4874
6402
4408
4408
4408
3849
4083
3849
2399
6402
6734
T
2622
2446
3849
4874
5767
6402
5767
4408
T
2622
3849
1289
3667
7476 - 4854 =T
4707 - 299 =S
5874 - 3475 =L
7921 - 2154 =D
3807 - 140 =P
4445 - 596 =A
8902 - 4819 =W
8646 - 1317 =I
8294 - 1892 =E
7844 - 2970 =N
8431 - 1697 =F
3509 - 2220 =M
5640 - 3194 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
You work out what fraction of the glowing runic tiles were activated on the temple floor.
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
11
23
29
36
34
36
18
29
5
T
11
38
3
38
17
29
38
8
22
3
34
7
38
29
15
15
3
7
7
1/10 of 110 =T
4/8 of 14 =L
1/8 of 40 =C
3/6 of 76 =D
1/10 of 30 =O
1/2 of 44 =B
3/10 of 120 =S
4/8 of 36 =P
2/8 of 32 =A
4/8 of 58 =E
1/6 of 90 =R
2/4 of 34 =G
2/10 of 115 =H
2/6 of 102 =U
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
You follow the step by step sequence listed on the ancient stone tablet to solve the door puzzle.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
E
38
31
74
32
E
38
35
24
E
38
59
18
15
11
59
46
26
74
70
18
18
E
38
42
80
E
38
70
6 × 9 - 16 =E
16 + 8 × 2 =D
34 + 5 × 8 =I
3 + 4 × 7 =V
3 × 8 - 9 =O
10 + 6 × 6 =A
2 + 3 × 3 =W
8 × 10 - 10 =T
10 × 4 - 16 =C
9 × 7 - 21 =L
11 × 8 - 29 =S
10 + 4 × 2 =H
31 + 2 × 2 =N
5 × 9 - 19 =P
24 + 8 × 7 =M
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You divide the total weight of the golden artifacts equally among the pack mules to clear the trail.
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
72 ÷ 9 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scouted the temple roof with a brass telescope, then pulled on heavy leather gloves.
2.The villain cleared the dense vines with a machete, then laced up sturdy climbing boots.
3.The villain scouted the temple roof with a brass telescope, then laced up sturdy climbing boots.
4.The villain lit up the dark cavern with a signal flare, then latched a protective compass case.
5.The villain scouted the temple roof with a brass telescope, then latched a protective compass case.
6.The villain lit up the dark cavern with a signal flare, then switched on a bright headlamp.
7.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then laced up sturdy climbing boots.
8.The villain lit up the dark cavern with a signal flare, then pulled on heavy leather gloves.
9.The villain navigated the maze using a jungle map, then took a drink from a canteen.
10.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then latched a protective compass case.
11.The villain lit up the dark cavern with a signal flare, then took a drink from a canteen.
12.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then took a drink from a canteen.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Sun Idol
Culprit: Gertrude Bell (Grappling Hook · Canteen · Left-handed stamp · Pith Helmet · Boulder Roll)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT CARRY A HEADLAMP"3550 + 6212 = 9762 (T) · 2196 + 1089 = 3285 (M) · 2413 + 1595 = 4008 (H) · 965 + 1998 = 2963 (S) · 1725 + 1317 = 3042 (D) · 979 + 1192 = 2171 (P) · 5583 + 4160 = 9743 (E) · 2059 + 907 = 2966 (R) · 2760 + 5307 = 8067 (L) · 2593 + 1554 = 4147 (A) · 3230 + 3181 = 6411 (O) · 3174 + 4099 = 7273 (Y) · 2715 + 2974 = 5689 (C) · 2632 + 4688 = 7320 (N) · 4548 + 3129 = 7677 (U)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE WITNESS SAW A LEFT HANDED STAMP"7476 - 4854 = 2622 (T) · 4707 - 299 = 4408 (S) · 5874 - 3475 = 2399 (L) · 7921 - 2154 = 5767 (D) · 3807 - 140 = 3667 (P) · 4445 - 596 = 3849 (A) · 8902 - 4819 = 4083 (W) · 8646 - 1317 = 7329 (I) · 8294 - 1892 = 6402 (E) · 7844 - 2970 = 4874 (N) · 8431 - 1697 = 6734 (F) · 3509 - 2220 = 1289 (M) · 5640 - 3194 = 2446 (H)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DODGED A BOULDER ROLL"1/10 of 110 = 11 (T) · 4/8 of 14 = 7 (L) · 1/8 of 40 = 5 (C) · 3/6 of 76 = 38 (D) · 1/10 of 30 = 3 (O) · 1/2 of 44 = 22 (B) · 3/10 of 120 = 36 (S) · 4/8 of 36 = 18 (P) · 2/8 of 32 = 8 (A) · 4/8 of 58 = 29 (E) · 1/6 of 90 = 15 (R) · 2/4 of 34 = 17 (G) · 2/10 of 115 = 23 (H) · 2/6 of 102 = 34 (U)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "EVIDENCE SHOWS A PITH HELMET"6 × 9 - 16 = 38 (E) · 16 + 8 × 2 = 32 (D) · 34 + 5 × 8 = 74 (I) · 3 + 4 × 7 = 31 (V) · 3 × 8 - 9 = 15 (O) · 10 + 6 × 6 = 46 (A) · 2 + 3 × 3 = 11 (W) · 8 × 10 - 10 = 70 (T) · 10 × 4 - 16 = 24 (C) · 9 × 7 - 21 = 42 (L) · 11 × 8 - 29 = 59 (S) · 10 + 4 × 2 = 18 (H) · 31 + 2 × 2 = 35 (N) · 5 × 9 - 19 = 26 (P) · 24 + 8 × 7 = 80 (M)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Gertrude Bell72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Sun Idol — set in Whispering Jungle Ruins
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects