Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremWord problemsSquare rootsExponents
The Mystery of the Skyward Compass
During a midnight flight over the Cloud Peaks, someone broke into the vault of the Skyward Airship Academy and stole the Celestial Compass. Detective Cadets must examine the navigation deck evidence to unmask the culprit before the airship lands.
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 | Flight Gear | Gadget | Stance | Headwear | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander Jax | Sky Board | Magnet Rope | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Heavy Fog |
| Pilot Quinn | Jet Boots | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Loud Whistles |
| Cadet Mercer | Glider Wings | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
| Navigator Skye | Jet Boots | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Officer Cap | Bright Lights |
| Cadet Piper | Propeller Pack | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
| Navigator Lyle | Grapple Hook | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
| Engineer Nova | Glider Wings | Pocket Chronometer | Left Handed | Officer Cap | Heavy Fog |
| Officer Flint | Grapple Hook | Pocket Chronometer | Left Handed | Wool Beanie | Loud Whistles |
| Captain Drake | Sky Board | Brass Goggles | Right Handed | Officer Cap | Heavy Fog |
| Pilot Rowan | Jet Boots | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Officer Cap | Bright Lights |
| Specialist Blair | Jet Boots | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Officer Cap | Heavy Fog |
| Officer Thorne | Glider Wings | Brass Goggles | Right Handed | Wool Beanie | Loud Whistles |
| Pilot Finch | Propeller Pack | Magnet Rope | Left Handed | Officer Cap | Heavy Fog |
| Specialist Devon | Glider Wings | Pocket Chronometer | Right Handed | Leather Helmet | Heavy Fog |
| Engineer Wren | Jet Boots | Pocket Chronometer | Left Handed | Wool Beanie | Bright Lights |
| Cadet Iris | Sky Board | Magnet Rope | Right Handed | Wool Beanie | Loud Whistles |
| Officer Vale | Sky Board | Brass Goggles | Right Handed | Officer Cap | Bright Lights |
| Captain Reese | Propeller Pack | Magnet Rope | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
| Specialist Gage | Sky Board | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
| Navigator Ray | Glider Wings | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Officer Cap | Bright Lights |
| Captain Vance | Sky Board | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Leather Helmet | Bright Lights |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
Cadet Piper calculated supply inventory totals to decode the encrypted vault message.
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
65
15
40
68
17
17
10
68
34
52
68
52
34
41
T
30
37
125
15
10
125
68
29
34
10
17
39
17
10
26
15
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =T
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =A
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =U
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =N
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =S
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =R
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =D
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =E
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =V
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =I
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =L
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =O
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =F
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
Navigator Ray measured the diagonal escape route across the flight deck grid.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
88
9
41
71
58
14
8
D
9
D
Chief Engineer found 18 leather strap yesterday and 70 more today. How many leather strap in all?L
There were 86 altimeter gage. 15 were used up. How many altimeter gage are left?T
Chief Engineer found 9 sky lantern yesterday and 5 more today. How many sky lantern in all?A
There were 18 leather strap. 9 were used up. How many leather strap are left?E
Chief Engineer found 30 compass rose yesterday and 11 more today. How many compass rose in all?F
There were 60 leather strap. 2 were used up. How many leather strap are left?H
Chief Engineer lined up 4 rows of 2 brass gear. How many brass gear in all?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
Commander Jax calculated the side lengths of a square deck panel to locate dropped evidence.
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
23
9
7
16
11
24
22
T
23
7
13
21
7
12
10
9
7
3
19
24
11
15
9
T
23
21
11
15
9
T
23
18
13
21
22
18
9
7
12
sqrt(529) =T
sqrt(144) =D
sqrt(121) =I
sqrt(81) =H
sqrt(576) =R
sqrt(100) =W
sqrt(169) =F
sqrt(9) =N
sqrt(225) =G
sqrt(324) =S
sqrt(49) =E
sqrt(256) =P
sqrt(484) =A
sqrt(361) =B
sqrt(441) =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Engineer Nova plotted the power consumption curve on the engine room grid.
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
225
625
100
A
225
81
169
100
4
169
100
625
441
100
81
128
A
225
9
27
4
324
8
8
100
27
A
225
81
81
169
100
256
A
225
32
625
81
15^2 =A
5^4 =L
21^2 =M
13^2 =H
2^5 =U
3^3 =D
10^2 =E
2^7 =W
18^2 =O
2^2 =R
3^2 =S
3^4 =T
2^3 =P
4^4 =V
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
Officer Thorne simplified the wind velocity formula to track the pirate's exit path.
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
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain buzzed past the watchtower, then dropped a smoke bomb.
2.The villain surfed the thermal drafts, then dropped a smoke bomb.
3.The villain buzzed past the watchtower, then fired a signal flare.
4.The villain swung from the rigging, then checked a pocket chronometer.
5.The villain surfed the thermal drafts, then fired a signal flare.
6.The villain boosted over the railing, then tangled the magnet rope.
7.The villain glided across the deck, then adjusted their brass goggles.
8.The villain swung from the rigging, then fired a signal flare.
9.The villain buzzed past the watchtower, then tangled the magnet rope.
10.The villain glided across the deck, then dropped a smoke bomb.
11.The villain swung from the rigging, then adjusted their brass goggles.
12.The villain glided across the deck, then checked a pocket chronometer.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Skyward Compass
Culprit: Captain Vance (Sky Board · Smoke Bomb · Left Handed · Leather Helmet · Bright Lights)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A SIGNAL FLARE"legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (T) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (A) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (U) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (N) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (S) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (R) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (D) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (E) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (V) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (I) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (L) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (O) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (F) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (H) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (G)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Chief Engineer found 18 leather strap yesterday and 70 more today. How many leather strap in all? = 88 (L) · There were 86 altimeter gage. 15 were used up. How many altimeter gage are left? = 71 (T) · Chief Engineer found 9 sky lantern yesterday and 5 more today. How many sky lantern in all? = 14 (A) · There were 18 leather strap. 9 were used up. How many leather strap are left? = 9 (E) · Chief Engineer found 30 compass rose yesterday and 11 more today. How many compass rose in all? = 41 (F) · There were 60 leather strap. 2 were used up. How many leather strap are left? = 58 (H) · Chief Engineer lined up 4 rows of 2 brass gear. How many brass gear in all? = 8 (N)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE PIRATE FLED WHEN BRIGHT LIGHTS FLASHED"sqrt(529) = 23 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (D) · sqrt(121) = 11 (I) · sqrt(81) = 9 (H) · sqrt(576) = 24 (R) · sqrt(100) = 10 (W) · sqrt(169) = 13 (F) · sqrt(9) = 3 (N) · sqrt(225) = 15 (G) · sqrt(324) = 18 (S) · sqrt(49) = 7 (E) · sqrt(256) = 16 (P) · sqrt(484) = 22 (A) · sqrt(361) = 19 (B) · sqrt(441) = 21 (L)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "A LEATHER HELMET WAS DROPPED AT THE VAULT"15^2 = 225 (A) · 5^4 = 625 (L) · 21^2 = 441 (M) · 13^2 = 169 (H) · 2^5 = 32 (U) · 3^3 = 27 (D) · 10^2 = 100 (E) · 2^7 = 128 (W) · 18^2 = 324 (O) · 2^2 = 4 (R) · 3^2 = 9 (S) · 3^4 = 81 (T) · 2^3 = 8 (P) · 4^4 = 256 (V)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 2) → Captain Vancesqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(16) = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Word problems, Square roots, Exponents
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Skyward Compass — set in Skyward Airship Academy
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects