🐱 Cats, egyptian heiroglyphicsGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberWord problemsMulti-step word problemsOrder of operations
The Mystery of the Temple Cat Burglar
During an excavation at the Tomb of Bastet, a mysterious bandit broke into the inner sanctum and swiped an ancient artifact! The local stray cats saw everything, but you will need to decode the hieroglyphics and gather evidence to find out which suspect is responsible.
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 | Sacred Relic | Hieroglyph Mask | Dominant Paw | Fur Pattern | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy | Golden Scarab | Falcon Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Dried Fish |
| Whiskers | Golden Scarab | Jackal Mask | Right Handed | Sleek Black | Dried Fish |
| Felix | Sun Scepter | Jackal Mask | Left Handed | Sleek Black | Dried Fish |
| Barnaby | Lapis Collar | Falcon Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Dried Fish |
| Khufu | Fish Statue | Cobra Mask | Left Handed | Sleek Black | Laser Light |
| Mittens | Fish Statue | Ibis Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Catnip Toy |
| Thoth | Sun Scepter | Ibis Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Dried Fish |
| Bastet | Fish Statue | Ibis Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Cleopatra | Ankh Amulet | Ibis Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Anubis | Sun Scepter | Jackal Mask | Right Handed | Calico Pattern | Laser Light |
| Tutankhamun | Sun Scepter | Falcon Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Purrser | Lapis Collar | Falcon Mask | Left Handed | Calico Pattern | Catnip Toy |
| Nefertiti | Lapis Collar | Ibis Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Catnip Toy |
| Clawdia | Ankh Amulet | Jackal Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Sphinxie | Golden Scarab | Falcon Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Hatshepsut | Sun Scepter | Cobra Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Dried Fish |
| Sekhmet | Lapis Collar | Falcon Mask | Right Handed | Sleek Black | Laser Light |
| Pawtra | Ankh Amulet | Falcon Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Meowses | Golden Scarab | Anubis Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Shadow | Sun Scepter | Jackal Mask | Left Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
| Ramesses | Sun Scepter | Anubis Mask | Right Handed | Tabby Stripes | Laser Light |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
You inspect the dusty temple doorway. Decoding two carved panels of glyphs reveals a missing artifact 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
34
3
5
18
14
14
7
18
10
2
23
3
35
10
23
T
38
33
3
7
16
7
10
21
39
18
35
26
7
35
40
2/4 of 76 =T
1/2 of 46 =O
3/8 of 8 =E
3/6 of 10 =V
5/10 of 4 =D
2/6 of 117 =B
1/2 of 20 =N
3/6 of 68 =H
3/5 of 30 =I
3/6 of 28 =L
7/8 of 8 =A
2/6 of 48 =R
1/5 of 200 =K
2/6 of 78 =M
2/6 of 99 =W
2/4 of 70 =S
3/10 of 70 =U
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
A friendly stray cat leads you to a secret side chamber where written notes yield a vital clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
66
11
9
96
94
96
13
86
D
E
D
Archaeologist lined up 11 rows of 6 cat statues. How many cat statues in all?R
Archaeologist found 4 papyrus scrolls yesterday and 5 more today. How many papyrus scrolls in all?G
Archaeologist found 58 cat statues yesterday and 28 more today. How many cat statues in all?N
There were 18 cat statues. 7 were used up. How many cat statues are left?I
Archaeologist found 24 cat statues yesterday and 72 more today. How many cat statues in all?H
There were 119 clay scarabs. 25 were used up. How many clay scarabs are left?T
Archaeologist found 5 hieroglyph tiles yesterday and 8 more today. How many hieroglyph tiles in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
Only three tenths of the tomb wall murals remain unsmudged, pointing to a clue about the thief.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
19
83
36
63
21
L
19
24
23
H
T
Archaeologist earned 5 hieroglyph tiles in each of 2 rounds, plus 15 bonus hieroglyph tiles. Then 6 hieroglyph tiles were lost. How many hieroglyph tiles are left?L
Archaeologist earned 2 cat statues in each of 3 rounds, plus 79 bonus cat statues. Then 2 cat statues were lost. How many cat statues are left?A
Archaeologist collected 50 hieroglyph tiles in the morning and 70 hieroglyph tiles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 tomb expedition. How many hieroglyph tiles did each get?I
There were 415 cat statues in all. 4 tomb expedition used 25 cat statues each. The other 5 tomb expedition shared the rest equally. How many cat statues did each of the other tomb expedition get?E
There were 177 cat statues in all. 2 tomb expedition used 31 cat statues each. The other 5 tomb expedition shared the rest equally. How many cat statues did each of the other tomb expedition get?G
Archaeologist filled 4 boxes with 6 clay scarabs each, then found 12 more clay scarabs. How many clay scarabs are there in all?S
There were 77 cat statues in all. 35 cat statues were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 tomb expedition. How many cat statues did each get?R
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
By solving the sequence of ancient number seals on the stone slab, a hidden compartment unlocks.
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
57
50
58
58
19
13
T
57
52
70
54
9
13
30
9
52
9
13
9
9
40
70
40
T
57
33
9
13
33
50
59
77
30
13
30 + 9 × 3 =T
8 × 9 - 18 =P
8 × 8 - 6 =B
13 + 4 × 5 =H
12 × 4 - 8 =N
23 + 3 × 9 =A
3 × 11 - 20 =S
27 + 5 × 5 =R
6 × 11 - 7 =D
8 × 6 - 29 =Y
49 + 4 × 7 =O
40 + 6 × 5 =I
3 + 9 × 3 =W
6 × 6 - 27 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The museum curator calculates that three fourths of the recovered papyrus scroll contains suspect details.
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
4/8 of 4 = ?
3/6 of 22 = ?
4/5 of 5 = ?
5/10 of 16 = ?
1/6 of 42 = ?
4/8 of 18 = ?
6/10 of 20 = ?
6/8 of 4 = ?
1/8 of 48 = ?
1/6 of 60 = ?
2/8 of 20 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain snatched the ankh amulet, then slapped on a jackal mask.
2.The villain snatched the ankh amulet, then put on a falcon mask.
3.The villain grabbed the sun scepter, then disguised with an ibis mask.
4.The villain stole the fish statue, then disguised with an ibis mask.
5.The villain pocketed the golden scarab, then donned a cobra mask.
6.The villain swiped the lapis collar, then put on a falcon mask.
7.The villain grabbed the sun scepter, then put on a falcon mask.
8.The villain swiped the lapis collar, then slapped on a jackal mask.
9.The villain pocketed the golden scarab, then disguised with an ibis mask.
10.The villain pocketed the golden scarab, then wore an anubis mask.
11.The villain pocketed the golden scarab, then put on a falcon mask.
12.The villain snatched the ankh amulet, then wore an anubis mask.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Temple Cat Burglar
Culprit: Clawdia (Ankh Amulet · Jackal Mask · Right Handed · Tabby Stripes · Laser Light)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR ANUBIS MASK"2/4 of 76 = 38 (T) · 1/2 of 46 = 23 (O) · 3/8 of 8 = 3 (E) · 3/6 of 10 = 5 (V) · 5/10 of 4 = 2 (D) · 2/6 of 117 = 39 (B) · 1/2 of 20 = 10 (N) · 3/6 of 68 = 34 (H) · 3/5 of 30 = 18 (I) · 3/6 of 28 = 14 (L) · 7/8 of 8 = 7 (A) · 2/6 of 48 = 16 (R) · 1/5 of 200 = 40 (K) · 2/6 of 78 = 26 (M) · 2/6 of 99 = 33 (W) · 2/4 of 70 = 35 (S) · 3/10 of 70 = 21 (U)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"Archaeologist lined up 11 rows of 6 cat statues. How many cat statues in all? = 66 (R) · Archaeologist found 4 papyrus scrolls yesterday and 5 more today. How many papyrus scrolls in all? = 9 (G) · Archaeologist found 58 cat statues yesterday and 28 more today. How many cat statues in all? = 86 (N) · There were 18 cat statues. 7 were used up. How many cat statues are left? = 11 (I) · Archaeologist found 24 cat statues yesterday and 72 more today. How many cat statues in all? = 96 (H) · There were 119 clay scarabs. 25 were used up. How many clay scarabs are left? = 94 (T) · Archaeologist found 5 hieroglyph tiles yesterday and 8 more today. How many hieroglyph tiles in all? = 13 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "LASER LIGHT"Archaeologist earned 5 hieroglyph tiles in each of 2 rounds, plus 15 bonus hieroglyph tiles. Then 6 hieroglyph tiles were lost. How many hieroglyph tiles are left? = 19 (L) · Archaeologist earned 2 cat statues in each of 3 rounds, plus 79 bonus cat statues. Then 2 cat statues were lost. How many cat statues are left? = 83 (A) · Archaeologist collected 50 hieroglyph tiles in the morning and 70 hieroglyph tiles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 tomb expedition. How many hieroglyph tiles did each get? = 24 (I) · There were 415 cat statues in all. 4 tomb expedition used 25 cat statues each. The other 5 tomb expedition shared the rest equally. How many cat statues did each of the other tomb expedition get? = 63 (E) · There were 177 cat statues in all. 2 tomb expedition used 31 cat statues each. The other 5 tomb expedition shared the rest equally. How many cat statues did each of the other tomb expedition get? = 23 (G) · Archaeologist filled 4 boxes with 6 clay scarabs each, then found 12 more clay scarabs. How many clay scarabs are there in all? = 36 (S) · There were 77 cat statues in all. 35 cat statues were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 tomb expedition. How many cat statues did each get? = 21 (R)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "TABBY STRIPES WERE SEEN IN THE SHADOWS"30 + 9 × 3 = 57 (T) · 8 × 9 - 18 = 54 (P) · 8 × 8 - 6 = 58 (B) · 13 + 4 × 5 = 33 (H) · 12 × 4 - 8 = 40 (N) · 23 + 3 × 9 = 50 (A) · 3 × 11 - 20 = 13 (S) · 27 + 5 × 5 = 52 (R) · 6 × 11 - 7 = 59 (D) · 8 × 6 - 29 = 19 (Y) · 49 + 4 × 7 = 77 (O) · 40 + 6 × 5 = 70 (I) · 3 + 9 × 3 = 30 (W) · 6 × 6 - 27 = 9 (E)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 1) → Clawdia4/8 of 4 = 2 · 3/6 of 22 = 11 · 4/5 of 5 = 4 · 5/10 of 16 = 8 · 1/6 of 42 = 7 · 4/8 of 18 = 9 · 6/10 of 20 = 12 · 6/8 of 4 = 3 · 1/8 of 48 = 6 · 1/6 of 60 = 10 · 2/8 of 20 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Temple Cat Burglar — set in The Grand Tomb of Bastet in Cairo
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects