🦄 Unicorns, CatsGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Mystery of the Starlight Sanctuary
Someone broke into the Starlight Purrnicorn Sanctuary vault and snatched the legendary Moon Gem! The culprit left behind magical traces, strange pawprints, and glitter dust across the grounds. Analyze the evidence to unmask the villain.
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 | Magic Ability | Enchanted Gear | Paw Band | Mane Style | Distraction Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordelia | Starlight Teleport | Catnip Wand | Left Paw Band | Flowing Waves | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Sterling | Starlight Teleport | Moon Bell Collar | Right Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Mist Spray Bottle |
| Beatrix | Rainbow Blast | Silver Horseshoes | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Percival | Starlight Teleport | Velvet Harness | Left Paw Band | Braided Sparkles | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Balthazar | Starlight Teleport | Catnip Wand | Right Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Cleopatra | Prism Shield | Velvet Harness | Left Paw Band | Flowing Waves | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Genevieve | Lunar Leap | Velvet Harness | Right Paw Band | Flowing Waves | Mist Spray Bottle |
| Seraphina | Solar Flare | Moon Bell Collar | Right Paw Band | Flowing Waves | Red Laser Pointer |
| Gideon | Rainbow Blast | Crystal Horn | Right Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Desmond | Solar Flare | Silver Horseshoes | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Calliope | Prism Shield | Crystal Horn | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Thaddeus | Starlight Teleport | Velvet Harness | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Ignatius | Lunar Leap | Crystal Horn | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Mist Spray Bottle |
| Evangeline | Lunar Leap | Moon Bell Collar | Right Paw Band | Braided Sparkles | Mist Spray Bottle |
| Clementine | Solar Flare | Moon Bell Collar | Right Paw Band | Braided Sparkles | Red Laser Pointer |
| Ambrose | Lunar Leap | Catnip Wand | Right Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Felix | Prism Shield | Moon Bell Collar | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Aurelia | Lunar Leap | Silver Horseshoes | Right Paw Band | Flowing Waves | Jingle Bell Ball |
| Jasper | Solar Flare | Crystal Horn | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Red Laser Pointer |
| Barnaby | Solar Flare | Catnip Wand | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Red Laser Pointer |
| Penelope | Starlight Teleport | Moon Bell Collar | Left Paw Band | Spiky Star Cut | Jingle Bell Ball |
Clue 1
Integers
Checking the vault elevation logs using positive and negative integer readings revealed a key detail about the culprit.
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
5
21
30
26
27
17
12
11
18
T
5
23
9
30
24
19
9
T
5
27
24
30
25
8
9
9
19
22
30
17
17
26
9
17
17
25
11
(-9) + 14 =T
(-11) + 29 =I
12 - (-12) =S
9 - (-12) =H
(-7) + 34 =U
(-3) + 12 =O
16 - (-3) =N
9 - (-8) =L
(-11) + 19 =M
(-10) + 35 =A
18 - (-4) =B
25 - (-5) =E
2 - (-10) =P
(-5) + 16 =R
(-2) + 25 =D
14 - (-12) =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
Calculating the exact percentage of magic residue found on the display case eliminated a suspect piece of gear.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
27
8
14
30
31
55
21
54
33
49
49
21
16
36
8
S
27
32
49
56
S
27
16
50
8
33
21
19
16
56
44
16
23
45
10% of 270 =S
20% of 245 =O
40% of 135 =Y
60% of 60 =G
5% of 640 =H
50% of 62 =R
20% of 70 =C
50% of 16 =E
60% of 75 =D
20% of 250 =L
40% of 140 =W
25% of 76 =P
10% of 210 =T
25% of 220 =I
50% of 60 =U
10% of 230 =N
20% of 80 =A
40% of 110 =B
25% of 132 =F
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Evaluating the multi-step security keypad sequence using order of operations pinpointed which paw band the intruder wore.
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
41
37
67
36
34
67
79
13
44
79
36
61
54
36
T
41
95
79
26
T
41
67
61
75
29
79
9
54
34
82
35
67
75
67
35
35
75
79
35
35
11 + 5 × 6 =T
59 + 4 × 2 =E
6 × 8 - 22 =C
20 + 3 × 5 =L
66 + 8 × 2 =G
9 × 11 - 20 =A
9 × 4 - 27 =J
21 + 8 × 5 =D
12 × 7 - 9 =B
42 + 4 × 3 =I
4 × 6 - 11 =K
28 + 2 × 4 =S
12 × 9 - 13 =R
4 × 12 - 11 =H
18 + 2 × 8 =N
13 + 8 × 2 =Y
7 × 10 - 26 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Exponential growth formulas applied to hair strand counts under the microscope matched a specific mane style.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
F
27
4
400
196
216
216
243
256
169
361
256
64
256
361
196
121
256
F
27
400
25
121
196
169
144
16
289
343
169
216
196
400
361
4
216
3^3 =F
3^5 =H
14^2 =A
2^2 =U
2^4 =I
4^4 =E
6^3 =T
12^2 =P
13^2 =S
19^2 =C
20^2 =R
17^2 =K
2^6 =N
11^2 =M
7^3 =Y
5^2 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Solving two-step equations to balance the security trap trigger weights revealed the intruder's main weakness.
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
3x + 9 = 45, x = ?
5x + 1 = 36, x = ?
4x + 1 = 21, x = ?
5x + 4 = 59, x = ?
4x + 2 = 34, x = ?
2x + 2 = 14, x = ?
4x + 7 = 43, x = ?
4x + 5 = 17, x = ?
4x + 7 = 23, x = ?
4x + 9 = 17, x = ?
6x + 7 = 13, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted bright rainbows, then polished their crystal horn.
2.The villain teleported through star portals, then polished their crystal horn.
3.The villain flashed a blinding solar flare, then polished their crystal horn.
4.The villain teleported through star portals, then waved a magical catnip wand.
5.The villain cast a glowing prism shield, then polished their crystal horn.
6.The villain leaped high onto the sanctuary roof, then polished their crystal horn.
7.The villain blasted bright rainbows, then clattered silver horseshoes.
8.The villain leaped high onto the sanctuary roof, then adjusted a velvet harness.
9.The villain teleported through star portals, then rang a moon bell collar.
10.The villain flashed a blinding solar flare, then clattered silver horseshoes.
11.The villain leaped high onto the sanctuary roof, then waved a magical catnip wand.
12.The villain teleported through star portals, then adjusted a velvet harness.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Starlight Sanctuary
Culprit: Desmond (Solar Flare · Silver Horseshoes · Left Paw Band · Spiky Star Cut · Jingle Bell Ball)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE CULPRIT DOES NOT USE A MOON BELL COLLAR"(-9) + 14 = 5 (T) · (-11) + 29 = 18 (I) · 12 - (-12) = 24 (S) · 9 - (-12) = 21 (H) · (-7) + 34 = 27 (U) · (-3) + 12 = 9 (O) · 16 - (-3) = 19 (N) · 9 - (-8) = 17 (L) · (-11) + 19 = 8 (M) · (-10) + 35 = 25 (A) · 18 - (-4) = 22 (B) · 25 - (-5) = 30 (E) · 2 - (-10) = 12 (P) · (-5) + 16 = 11 (R) · (-2) + 25 = 23 (D) · 14 - (-12) = 26 (C)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWS A LEFT PAW BAND"10% of 270 = 27 (S) · 20% of 245 = 49 (O) · 40% of 135 = 54 (Y) · 60% of 60 = 36 (G) · 5% of 640 = 32 (H) · 50% of 62 = 31 (R) · 20% of 70 = 14 (C) · 50% of 16 = 8 (E) · 60% of 75 = 45 (D) · 20% of 250 = 50 (L) · 40% of 140 = 56 (W) · 25% of 76 = 19 (P) · 10% of 210 = 21 (T) · 25% of 220 = 55 (I) · 50% of 60 = 30 (U) · 10% of 230 = 23 (N) · 20% of 80 = 16 (A) · 40% of 110 = 44 (B) · 25% of 132 = 33 (F)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SNEAK WAS DISTRACTED BY A JINGLE BELL BALL"11 + 5 × 6 = 41 (T) · 59 + 4 × 2 = 67 (E) · 6 × 8 - 22 = 26 (C) · 20 + 3 × 5 = 35 (L) · 66 + 8 × 2 = 82 (G) · 9 × 11 - 20 = 79 (A) · 9 × 4 - 27 = 9 (J) · 21 + 8 × 5 = 61 (D) · 12 × 7 - 9 = 75 (B) · 42 + 4 × 3 = 54 (I) · 4 × 6 - 11 = 13 (K) · 28 + 2 × 4 = 36 (S) · 12 × 9 - 13 = 95 (R) · 4 × 12 - 11 = 37 (H) · 18 + 2 × 8 = 34 (N) · 13 + 8 × 2 = 29 (Y) · 7 × 10 - 26 = 44 (W)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "FUR AT THE SCENE CAME FROM A SPIKY STAR CUT"3^3 = 27 (F) · 3^5 = 243 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (A) · 2^2 = 4 (U) · 2^4 = 16 (I) · 4^4 = 256 (E) · 6^3 = 216 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (P) · 13^2 = 169 (S) · 19^2 = 361 (C) · 20^2 = 400 (R) · 17^2 = 289 (K) · 2^6 = 64 (N) · 11^2 = 121 (M) · 7^3 = 343 (Y) · 5^2 = 25 (O)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Desmond3x + 9 = 45, x = 12 · 5x + 1 = 36, x = 7 · 4x + 1 = 21, x = 5 · 5x + 4 = 59, x = 11 · 4x + 2 = 34, x = 8 · 2x + 2 = 14, x = 6 · 4x + 7 = 43, x = 9 · 4x + 5 = 17, x = 3 · 4x + 7 = 23, x = 4 · 4x + 9 = 17, x = 2 · 6x + 7 = 13, x = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Starlight Sanctuary — set in The Starlight Purrnicorn Sanctuary
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects