Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionRoundingMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Sunstone Compass
Someone swiped the ancient Sunstone Compass right out of the excavation tent! Detective, decode the clues and solve the math to unmask the guilty raider.
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 | Gadget | Vehicle | Stance | Hat Color | Trap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daring Dan | Grapple Hook | Jungle Quad | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Banana Peel |
| Voyager Vinny | Glider Wing | Speedboat | Left Handed | Brown Fedora | Net Trap |
| Rover Ray | Flashlight | Jungle Quad | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Net Trap |
| Ranger Rob | Smoke Bomb | Speedboat | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Sticky Glue |
| Safari Sue | Glider Wing | Hover Raft | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Scout Sarah | Sonic Whistle | Mud Buggy | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Trailblazer Tess | Glider Wing | Mini Helicopter | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Indiana Sam | Grapple Hook | Jungle Quad | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Net Trap |
| Navigator Ned | Smoke Bomb | Mini Helicopter | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Captain Leo | Sonic Whistle | Mini Helicopter | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Sticky Glue |
| Trekker Tim | Flashlight | Mini Helicopter | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Sticky Glue |
| Prospector Pete | Glider Wing | Speedboat | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Banana Peel |
| Hunter Amy | Smoke Bomb | Mud Buggy | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Sticky Glue |
| Ranger Rick | Glider Wing | Speedboat | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Explorer Ella | Flashlight | Mud Buggy | Left Handed | Red Bandana | Banana Peel |
| Adventurer Zoe | Flashlight | Mini Helicopter | Left Handed | Brown Fedora | Net Trap |
| Tracker Tom | Glider Wing | Mini Helicopter | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Net Trap |
| Pioneer Ava | Glider Wing | Hover Raft | Left Handed | Brown Fedora | Sticky Glue |
| Jungle Ben | Smoke Bomb | Speedboat | Left Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
| Daring Chloe | Sonic Whistle | Speedboat | Left Handed | Red Bandana | Banana Peel |
| Trekker Tony | Glider Wing | Jungle Quad | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Net Trap |
Clue 1
Addition
We tallied up the total ancient coins found across two digs to get our first lead.
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
659
549
297
648
938
439
587
297
648
587
439
587
962
268
T
659
297
279
977
938
752
297
439
962
938
972
439
962
439
549
297
382
439
977
268
752
T
659
297
648
326 + 333 =T
94 + 174 =O
525 + 447 =M
302 + 247 =H
151 + 231 =L
157 + 140 =E
301 + 661 =N
155 + 124 =S
207 + 380 =D
342 + 635 =C
475 + 277 =P
336 + 602 =A
254 + 185 =I
334 + 314 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We subtracted the damaged supplies from our expedition pack to check the remnant logs.
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
757
828
828
534
654
694
386
765
534
153
153
361
828
578
534
361
714
694
299
386
280
714
694
166
714
299
765
714
280
534
828
534
361
714
694
386
278
361
534
1019 - 262 =F
845 - 267 =W
507 - 121 =I
201 - 35 =L
571 - 293 =G
324 - 25 =A
1011 - 297 =E
1145 - 317 =O
413 - 133 =D
166 - 13 =S
741 - 380 =H
768 - 74 =R
911 - 377 =T
915 - 261 =P
944 - 179 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The temple radar screen only shows rounded distances to nearby targets.
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
5000
70
2000
70
2000
400
700
T
5000
400
60
20
20
2000
3000
T
5000
70
2000
400
4000
60
3000
2000
400
500
60
T
5000
70
4000
900
2000
T
5000
T
5000
400
4000
20
Round 5,058 to the nearest thousandT
Round 872 to the nearest hundredN
Round 468 to the nearest hundredW
Round 3,261 to the nearest thousandD
Round 68 to the nearest tenH
Round 4,281 to the nearest thousandA
Round 371 to the nearest hundredR
Round 63 to the nearest tenI
Round 746 to the nearest hundredO
Round 18 to the nearest tenP
Round 2,384 to the nearest thousandE
0/11 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We counted equal rows of stone tiles along the corridor to open the secret passage.
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
96
27
80
A
96
35
35
25
50
22
25
50
30
A
96
80
50
A
96
80
A
96
64
A
96
27
9
15
70
80
50
15
80
A
96
30
22
A
96
80
18
16
12 × 8 =A
7 × 5 =G
8 × 10 =N
10 × 5 =D
4 × 4 =H
9 × 2 =C
2 × 11 =R
10 × 7 =U
3 × 9 =S
3 × 5 =O
6 × 5 =B
9 × 1 =F
5 × 5 =E
8 × 8 =W
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We split the rescue ropes evenly among the team members to reach the upper ledge.
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
11 ÷ 1 = ?
35 ÷ 5 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain shined a bright flashlight, then sped away in a speedboat.
2.The villain sailed down on a glider wing, then sped away in a speedboat.
3.The villain zipped away with a grapple hook, then roared off in a mud buggy.
4.The villain tossed a blinding smoke bomb, then drifted off on a hover raft.
5.The villain blew a sharp sonic whistle, then flew off in a mini helicopter.
6.The villain sailed down on a glider wing, then roared off in a mud buggy.
7.The villain sailed down on a glider wing, then zoomed away on a jungle quad.
8.The villain tossed a blinding smoke bomb, then roared off in a mud buggy.
9.The villain shined a bright flashlight, then drifted off on a hover raft.
10.The villain sailed down on a glider wing, then drifted off on a hover raft.
11.The villain blew a sharp sonic whistle, then roared off in a mud buggy.
12.The villain zipped away with a grapple hook, then zoomed away on a jungle quad.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Sunstone Compass
Culprit: Ranger Rick (Glider Wing · Speedboat · Right Handed · Red Bandana · Net Trap)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE RAIDER DID NOT ESCAPE IN A MINI HELICOPTER"326 + 333 = 659 (T) · 94 + 174 = 268 (O) · 525 + 447 = 972 (M) · 302 + 247 = 549 (H) · 151 + 231 = 382 (L) · 157 + 140 = 297 (E) · 301 + 661 = 962 (N) · 155 + 124 = 279 (S) · 207 + 380 = 587 (D) · 342 + 635 = 977 (C) · 475 + 277 = 752 (P) · 336 + 602 = 938 (A) · 254 + 185 = 439 (I) · 334 + 314 = 648 (R)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "FOOTPRINTS SHOW THE RAIDER LEANED TO THE RIGHT"1019 - 262 = 757 (F) · 845 - 267 = 578 (W) · 507 - 121 = 386 (I) · 201 - 35 = 166 (L) · 571 - 293 = 278 (G) · 324 - 25 = 299 (A) · 1011 - 297 = 714 (E) · 1145 - 317 = 828 (O) · 413 - 133 = 280 (D) · 166 - 13 = 153 (S) · 741 - 380 = 361 (H) · 768 - 74 = 694 (R) · 911 - 377 = 534 (T) · 915 - 261 = 654 (P) · 944 - 179 = 765 (N)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE HERO TRIPPED THE RAIDER WITH A NET TRAP"Round 5,058 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 872 to the nearest hundred = 900 (N) · Round 468 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 3,261 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (H) · Round 4,281 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (A) · Round 371 to the nearest hundred = 400 (R) · Round 63 to the nearest ten = 60 (I) · Round 746 to the nearest hundred = 700 (O) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (P) · Round 2,384 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A SNAGGED RED BANDANA WAS FOUND ON A BRANCH"12 × 8 = 96 (A) · 7 × 5 = 35 (G) · 8 × 10 = 80 (N) · 10 × 5 = 50 (D) · 4 × 4 = 16 (H) · 9 × 2 = 18 (C) · 2 × 11 = 22 (R) · 10 × 7 = 70 (U) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 3 × 5 = 15 (O) · 6 × 5 = 30 (B) · 9 × 1 = 9 (F) · 5 × 5 = 25 (E) · 8 × 8 = 64 (W)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Ranger Rick11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Sunstone Compass — set in The Lost Temple of Sunstone
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects