🔎 Stranger thingsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Shadow Signal
Strange lights are flickering across Pine Valley and a strange signal is jamming the AV Club radios. Someone from another dimension is causing trouble, and only smart decoding can reveal the identity of 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 Power | Secondary Power | Dominant Hand | Hairstyle | Major Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | Mind Reading | Sonic Screech | Right Handed | Feathered Shag | Loud Rock Music |
| Robin | Portal Control | Vine Lash | Left Handed | Curly Mullet | Flashlight Beam |
| Eddie | Mind Reading | Vine Lash | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Max | Shadow Cloak | Bat Swarms | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Mike | Mind Reading | Bat Swarms | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Joyce | Mind Reading | Sonic Screech | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Steve | Telekinesis | Vine Lash | Right Handed | Curly Mullet | Loud Rock Music |
| Dustin | Shadow Cloak | Vine Lash | Right Handed | Curly Mullet | Flashlight Beam |
| Murray | Mind Reading | Vine Lash | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Loud Rock Music |
| Vickie | Electrical Surge | Sonic Screech | Left Handed | Curly Mullet | Loud Rock Music |
| Bob | Electrical Surge | Bat Swarms | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Jonathan | Telekinesis | Freeze Blast | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Nancy | Electrical Surge | Freeze Blast | Right Handed | Feathered Shag | Eggo Waffles |
| Billy | Shadow Cloak | Sonic Screech | Right Handed | Feathered Shag | Eggo Waffles |
| Carol | Electrical Surge | Sonic Screech | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Argyle | Portal Control | Time Warp | Left Handed | Curly Mullet | Loud Rock Music |
| Eleven | Electrical Surge | Vine Lash | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Chrissy | Shadow Cloak | Freeze Blast | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Loud Rock Music |
| Erica | Portal Control | Time Warp | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Eggo Waffles |
| Jim | Portal Control | Freeze Blast | Right Handed | Feathered Shag | Loud Rock Music |
| Lucas | Electrical Surge | Vine Lash | Left Handed | Curly Mullet | Eggo Waffles |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The AV Club counts batteries arranged in equal rows to decode a secret signal.
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
12
77
121
48
132
18
18
4
132
5
66
16
121
27
5
16
T
12
55
27
121
27
16
5
132
14
27
14
40
121
121
14
77
2 × 6 =T
8 × 6 =V
11 × 5 =U
7 × 2 =C
2 × 2 =A
6 × 11 =D
4 × 10 =R
12 × 11 =I
11 × 11 =E
3 × 9 =S
4 × 4 =O
1 × 5 =N
3 × 6 =L
7 × 11 =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
Dustin reads a ham radio transmission and calculates a fraction of the channel frequency.
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
30
26
32
6
18
6
16
32
29
T
30
18
6
32
19
2
39
8
34
26
T
30
26
2
23
19
32
19
19
8
2
38
2/10 of 150 =T
4/8 of 52 =H
2/6 of 57 =D
1/8 of 128 =P
1/5 of 10 =A
4/8 of 68 =G
1/2 of 58 =C
6/8 of 52 =R
1/4 of 72 =U
2/8 of 92 =N
6/8 of 8 =S
1/4 of 152 =L
1/4 of 32 =I
2/3 of 48 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Nancy follows a multi step formula on the arcade cabinet to unlock a 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
38
36
63
17
19
54
54
64
19
11
72
64
52
52
T
38
80
49
49
63
27
42
53
63
55
55
80
72
64
66
66
54
63
52
30 + 2 × 4 =T
10 × 6 - 11 =P
5 × 3 - 4 =N
9 × 6 - 27 =D
9 × 7 - 11 =S
50 + 2 × 8 =F
42 + 7 × 3 =E
2 + 3 × 5 =V
7 × 8 - 2 =L
8 × 9 - 17 =G
7 × 11 - 5 =W
55 + 3 × 3 =A
10 × 4 - 4 =H
10 × 7 - 28 =B
4 + 5 × 3 =I
12 × 6 - 19 =Y
10 × 11 - 30 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The portal scanner screen rounds the energy levels to the nearest hundred.
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
30
700
430
370
2000
20
2900
300
9000
370
5000
290
9000
3700
200
5000
430
5000
370
90
3700
1700
2000
1100
1100
4300
2000
290
Round 27 to the nearest tenW
Round 4,346 to the nearest hundredC
Round 271 to the nearest hundredS
Round 5,000 to the nearest thousandR
Round 89 to the nearest tenM
Round 8,999 to the nearest thousandH
Round 676 to the nearest hundredE
Round 23 to the nearest tenN
Round 164 to the nearest hundredI
Round 286 to the nearest tenT
Round 1,670 to the nearest hundredB
Round 3,654 to the nearest hundredA
Round 429 to the nearest tenF
Round 1,118 to the nearest hundredZ
Round 2,143 to the nearest thousandU
Round 371 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,851 to the nearest hundredD
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Chief Hopper splits the remaining flashlights evenly among the search party.
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
6 ÷ 3 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
15 ÷ 3 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
6 ÷ 2 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain used telekinesis to flip a vehicle, then unleashed sonic screech.
2.The villain read minds across the radio frequency, then whipped wild vine lash.
3.The villain caused an electrical surge at the arcade, then caused a time warp.
4.The villain cast a shadow cloak over the street, then summoned bat swarms.
5.The villain opened a portal in the forest floor, then fired a freeze blast.
6.The villain caused an electrical surge at the arcade, then whipped wild vine lash.
7.The villain cast a shadow cloak over the street, then unleashed sonic screech.
8.The villain read minds across the radio frequency, then summoned bat swarms.
9.The villain opened a portal in the forest floor, then caused a time warp.
10.The villain cast a shadow cloak over the street, then fired a freeze blast.
11.The villain caused an electrical surge at the arcade, then summoned bat swarms.
12.The villain caused an electrical surge at the arcade, then fired a freeze blast.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Shadow Signal
Culprit: Bob (Electrical Surge · Bat Swarms · Right Handed · Buzz Cut · Eggo Waffles)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE SONIC SCREECH"2 × 6 = 12 (T) · 8 × 6 = 48 (V) · 11 × 5 = 55 (U) · 7 × 2 = 14 (C) · 2 × 2 = 4 (A) · 6 × 11 = 66 (D) · 4 × 10 = 40 (R) · 12 × 11 = 132 (I) · 11 × 11 = 121 (E) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 4 × 4 = 16 (O) · 1 × 5 = 5 (N) · 3 × 6 = 18 (L) · 7 × 11 = 77 (H)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT USED A RIGHT HANDED DIAL"2/10 of 150 = 30 (T) · 4/8 of 52 = 26 (H) · 2/6 of 57 = 19 (D) · 1/8 of 128 = 16 (P) · 1/5 of 10 = 2 (A) · 4/8 of 68 = 34 (G) · 1/2 of 58 = 29 (C) · 6/8 of 52 = 39 (R) · 1/4 of 72 = 18 (U) · 2/8 of 92 = 23 (N) · 6/8 of 8 = 6 (S) · 1/4 of 152 = 38 (L) · 1/4 of 32 = 8 (I) · 2/3 of 48 = 32 (E)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN WAS STOPPED BY EGGO WAFFLES"30 + 2 × 4 = 38 (T) · 10 × 6 - 11 = 49 (P) · 5 × 3 - 4 = 11 (N) · 9 × 6 - 27 = 27 (D) · 9 × 7 - 11 = 52 (S) · 50 + 2 × 8 = 66 (F) · 42 + 7 × 3 = 63 (E) · 2 + 3 × 5 = 17 (V) · 7 × 8 - 2 = 54 (L) · 8 × 9 - 17 = 55 (G) · 7 × 11 - 5 = 72 (W) · 55 + 3 × 3 = 64 (A) · 10 × 4 - 4 = 36 (H) · 10 × 7 - 28 = 42 (B) · 4 + 5 × 3 = 19 (I) · 12 × 6 - 19 = 53 (Y) · 10 × 11 - 30 = 80 (O)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND SHORT HAIR FROM A BUZZ CUT"Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (W) · Round 4,346 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (C) · Round 271 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 5,000 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (M) · Round 8,999 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (H) · Round 676 to the nearest hundred = 700 (E) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 164 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 286 to the nearest ten = 290 (T) · Round 1,670 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (B) · Round 3,654 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (A) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (F) · Round 1,118 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (Z) · Round 2,143 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (U) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (O) · Round 2,851 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Bob6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Shadow Signal — set in Pine Valley High School and the Upside Realm
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects