🦕 DinosaursGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRounding
The Mystery of the Missing Spinosaurus Tooth
A rare prehistoric specimen vanished from the main dig site overnight. The clue log holds clues to identify who took it.
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 | Specialty Badge | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Scent Dislike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Owen | Fossil Scanner | Raptor Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Paul Sereno | Plaster Kit | Tracker Badge | RIGHT HANDED | SHORT HAIR | CITRUS SCENT |
| Kristina Curry | Rock Hammer | T Rex Badge | LEFT HANDED | SHORT HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Patricia Vickers | Plaster Kit | Raptor Badge | LEFT HANDED | LONG HAIR | CITRUS SCENT |
| Jack Horner | Rock Hammer | Fossil Badge | LEFT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Sue Hendrickson | Plaster Kit | Amber Badge | LEFT HANDED | SHORT HAIR | CITRUS SCENT |
| Thomas Holtz | Plaster Kit | Tracker Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Xu Xing | Fossil Scanner | Tracker Badge | RIGHT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Othniel Marsh | Chiseling Rig | Tracker Badge | RIGHT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | MINT SCENT |
| Edward Cope | Rock Hammer | Tracker Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | MINT SCENT |
| Jack Sepkoski | Rock Hammer | T Rex Badge | RIGHT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Philip Currie | Chiseling Rig | Fossil Badge | LEFT HANDED | SHORT HAIR | MINT SCENT |
| Bob Bakker | Fossil Scanner | Fossil Badge | LEFT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Roy Chapman | Rock Hammer | Amber Badge | RIGHT HANDED | SHORT HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Barnum Brown | Plaster Kit | T Rex Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Mary Anning | Chiseling Rig | Amber Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Lindsay Zanno | Plaster Kit | Tracker Badge | LEFT HANDED | LONG HAIR | CITRUS SCENT |
| Alan Grant | Chiseling Rig | Fossil Badge | RIGHT HANDED | LONG HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Ian Malcolm | Drone Radar | Amber Badge | LEFT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
| Ellie Sattler | Plaster Kit | Amber Badge | RIGHT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | CITRUS SCENT |
| Diego Pol | Chiseling Rig | T Rex Badge | RIGHT HANDED | CURLY HAIR | PEPPER SCENT |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Dr. Grant organized the fossil crates into equal rows to tally the total supply before checking the clue.
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
108
32
16
20
22
50
50
144
22
10
7
3
16
64
10
3
T
108
21
16
144
100
144
T
108
100
16
42
99
144
7
63
16
12 × 9 =T
11 × 2 =I
7 × 1 =D
8 × 8 =S
7 × 9 =G
3 × 7 =W
7 × 6 =X
10 × 5 =L
10 × 1 =N
2 × 8 =E
10 × 10 =R
4 × 5 =V
11 × 9 =B
1 × 3 =O
8 × 4 =H
12 × 12 =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The team analyzed a set batch of rock samples and took a fraction of them for testing.
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
16
35
2
12
4
12
6
2
37
T
16
28
36
14
6
6
2
28
34
T
16
14
14
21
33
9
T
16
35
36
9
7
35
T
16
35
34
11
28
1/3 of 48 =T
2/4 of 66 =W
6/10 of 20 =S
1/5 of 185 =C
1/6 of 66 =N
3/6 of 4 =E
7/10 of 40 =D
1/8 of 72 =I
1/4 of 28 =G
1/5 of 170 =A
4/8 of 70 =H
1/3 of 18 =P
1/4 of 84 =L
3/8 of 96 =R
3/6 of 8 =U
1/2 of 28 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To unlock the lab computer, the researchers followed a multi-step formula in the correct order.
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
56
43
79
27
21
27
62
79
74
T
56
33
13
79
29
33
59
78
19
T
56
43
79
62
79
62
62
79
59
27
74
79
61
T
56
10 × 7 - 14 =T
43 + 4 × 9 =E
6 + 9 × 3 =F
9 × 3 - 8 =M
11 × 8 - 14 =C
27 + 8 × 4 =R
7 × 2 - 1 =L
5 × 7 - 14 =U
53 + 2 × 4 =N
21 + 3 × 2 =S
19 + 4 × 6 =H
22 + 8 × 5 =P
9 × 11 - 21 =O
9 + 4 × 5 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The digital scale could only display rounded estimates of the heavy fossil weights.
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
30
3000
9000
110
300
20
A
30
1700
7000
290
A
30
700
700
110
A
30
300
300
3700
200
9000
110
900
20
3700
3000
A
30
370
90
A
30
300
3700
Round 34 to the nearest tenA
Round 6,665 to the nearest thousandR
Round 89 to the nearest tenC
Round 111 to the nearest tenN
Round 3,744 to the nearest hundredE
Round 291 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,744 to the nearest hundredI
Round 2,856 to the nearest thousandL
Round 927 to the nearest hundredT
Round 729 to the nearest hundredS
Round 17 to the nearest tenH
Round 256 to the nearest hundredG
Round 188 to the nearest hundredD
Round 374 to the nearest tenB
Round 8,559 to the nearest thousandO
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The trackway map showed many dinosaur footprints, but only a fraction was clear enough to read.
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
2/5 of 20 = ?
1/8 of 56 = ?
2/5 of 5 = ?
3/10 of 20 = ?
2/6 of 15 = ?
2/8 of 44 = ?
2/4 of 20 = ?
1/2 of 18 = ?
4/6 of 6 = ?
1/5 of 5 = ?
2/10 of 60 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain chiseled through the stone layer, then showed off a t rex badge.
2.The villain applied a quick plaster cast, then wore a tracker badge.
3.The villain scanned the fossil bedrock, then pinned on a raptor badge.
4.The villain scanned the fossil bedrock, then flashed an amber badge.
5.The villain scanned the fossil bedrock, then displayed a fossil badge.
6.The villain chiseled through the stone layer, then pinned on a raptor badge.
7.The villain chiseled through the stone layer, then displayed a fossil badge.
8.The villain chiseled through the stone layer, then flashed an amber badge.
9.The villain scanned the fossil bedrock, then wore a tracker badge.
10.The villain applied a quick plaster cast, then displayed a fossil badge.
11.The villain flew a drone radar scanner, then flashed an amber badge.
12.The villain swung a heavy rock hammer, then displayed a fossil badge.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Spinosaurus Tooth
Culprit: Richard Owen (Fossil Scanner · Raptor Badge · RIGHT HANDED · LONG HAIR · PEPPER SCENT)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A T REX BADGE"12 × 9 = 108 (T) · 11 × 2 = 22 (I) · 7 × 1 = 7 (D) · 8 × 8 = 64 (S) · 7 × 9 = 63 (G) · 3 × 7 = 21 (W) · 7 × 6 = 42 (X) · 10 × 5 = 50 (L) · 10 × 1 = 10 (N) · 2 × 8 = 16 (E) · 10 × 10 = 100 (R) · 4 × 5 = 20 (V) · 11 × 9 = 99 (B) · 1 × 3 = 3 (O) · 8 × 4 = 32 (H) · 12 × 12 = 144 (A)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A TOOL WITH RIGHT HAND"1/3 of 48 = 16 (T) · 2/4 of 66 = 33 (W) · 6/10 of 20 = 12 (S) · 1/5 of 185 = 37 (C) · 1/6 of 66 = 11 (N) · 3/6 of 4 = 2 (E) · 7/10 of 40 = 28 (D) · 1/8 of 72 = 9 (I) · 1/4 of 28 = 7 (G) · 1/5 of 170 = 34 (A) · 4/8 of 70 = 35 (H) · 1/3 of 18 = 6 (P) · 1/4 of 84 = 21 (L) · 3/8 of 96 = 36 (R) · 3/6 of 8 = 4 (U) · 1/2 of 28 = 14 (O)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT FLED FROM THE PEPPER SCENT"10 × 7 - 14 = 56 (T) · 43 + 4 × 9 = 79 (E) · 6 + 9 × 3 = 33 (F) · 9 × 3 - 8 = 19 (M) · 11 × 8 - 14 = 74 (C) · 27 + 8 × 4 = 59 (R) · 7 × 2 - 1 = 13 (L) · 5 × 7 - 14 = 21 (U) · 53 + 2 × 4 = 61 (N) · 21 + 3 × 2 = 27 (S) · 19 + 4 × 6 = 43 (H) · 22 + 8 × 5 = 62 (P) · 9 × 11 - 21 = 78 (O) · 9 + 4 × 5 = 29 (D)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A LONG HAIR WAS SNAGGED ON THE LAB CAGE"Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 6,665 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (R) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (C) · Round 111 to the nearest ten = 110 (N) · Round 3,744 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (W) · Round 1,744 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (I) · Round 2,856 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (L) · Round 927 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 729 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 256 to the nearest hundred = 300 (G) · Round 188 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (B) · Round 8,559 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 3) → Richard Owen2/5 of 20 = 8 · 1/8 of 56 = 7 · 2/5 of 5 = 2 · 3/10 of 20 = 6 · 2/6 of 15 = 5 · 2/8 of 44 = 11 · 2/4 of 20 = 10 · 1/2 of 18 = 9 · 4/6 of 6 = 4 · 1/5 of 5 = 1 · 2/10 of 60 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Spinosaurus Tooth — set in Cretaceous Valley Research Station
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects