Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Mystery of the Whispering Sun Stone
An ancient golden relic has disappeared from the inner sanctum of the Whispering Palms Temple! Work through the puzzle clues to unmask the rogue adventurer.
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 | Gear Used | Escape Vehicle | Dominant Hand | Bandana Color | Fear Trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oscar Thorne | Laser Cutter | Zip Line | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Iris Chang | Machete | Zip Line | Right-handed | Blue Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Maya Lin | Torch | Zip Line | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Piper Hayes | Machete | Speedboat | Right-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Tessa Young | Machete | Seaplane | Right-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Quincy Marsh | Laser Cutter | Seaplane | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Wyatt Knox | Laser Cutter | Seaplane | Right-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Milo Briggs | Machete | Zip Line | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Kai Tanaka | Smoke Bomb | Speedboat | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Hugo Silva | Smoke Bomb | Dirt Bike | Left-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Elena Rostova | Smoke Bomb | Seaplane | Right-handed | Blue Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Jasper Reed | Machete | Dirt Bike | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Luna Park | Laser Cutter | Zip Line | Right-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Rosa Gomez | Machete | Speedboat | Left-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Devon Holt | Torch | Seaplane | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Spiders |
| Clara Cruz | Machete | Dirt Bike | Left-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Spiders |
| Xena Cross | Smoke Bomb | Speedboat | Left-handed | Red Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Nina Patel | Machete | Hovercraft | Left-handed | Blue Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Violet Vance | Grappling Hook | Zip Line | Right-handed | Blue Bandana | Afraid of Snakes |
| Brody Vance | Machete | Hovercraft | Left-handed | Blue Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
| Greta Stone | Smoke Bomb | Speedboat | Left-handed | Green Bandana | Afraid of Heights |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To trace the villain's path across the temple courtyard, you calculate the shortcut distance between two ancient obelisks.
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
50
40
125
116
30
123
123
100
30
15
82
30
82
15
74
T
50
125
85
75
100
37
125
74
15
100
82
30
39
T
50
34
30
87
125
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =N
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =R
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =L
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =B
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =V
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =D
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =E
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =H
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =S
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =C
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =A
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =O
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =K
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
You find a square tile map on the altar and calculate its side length to unlock the hidden compartment.
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
13
6
3
2
8
24
24
16
21
2
3
19
T
13
6
3
17
23
4
3
25
T
13
6
5
8
19
T
13
24
16
23
10
T
13
6
3
19
24
24
23
sqrt(169) =T
sqrt(361) =D
sqrt(289) =I
sqrt(529) =R
sqrt(9) =E
sqrt(100) =Y
sqrt(625) =F
sqrt(441) =U
sqrt(36) =H
sqrt(25) =A
sqrt(64) =N
sqrt(576) =O
sqrt(16) =L
sqrt(256) =P
sqrt(4) =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
A passcode dial doubles its vault key combinations with every gear turn, requiring an exponent calculation.
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
36
225
27
A
36
81
216
625
27
196
8
216
4
441
A
36
225
225
225
128
A
36
441
216
49
196
8
216
225
27
9
9
289
6^2 =A
14^2 =T
5^4 =I
17^2 =P
21^2 =R
6^3 =E
3^2 =O
9^2 =K
2^7 =C
2^2 =G
7^2 =D
3^3 =N
2^3 =H
15^2 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To balance the mechanical trap scale, you calculate the weighted total of ancient coins using step-by-step operations.
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
104
26
8
96
107
A
104
86
26
65
88
76
35
26
A
104
74
28
A
104
76
107
34
9
32
96
A
104
35
35
90
8
76
88
8
32
8
11 × 10 - 6 =A
62 + 4 × 3 =P
10 × 10 - 4 =D
8 × 2 - 7 =U
10 × 11 - 22 =C
6 × 5 - 2 =W
7 × 6 - 7 =T
16 + 4 × 4 =N
10 × 9 - 25 =I
2 + 4 × 6 =R
18 + 2 × 8 =O
9 × 3 - 19 =E
58 + 7 × 4 =B
11 × 9 - 23 =S
62 + 7 × 4 =H
9 × 12 - 1 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
You measure the square base of a stone pillar to determine which escape route the thief took.
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(100) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sliced the glass with a laser cutter, then sped off in a speedboat.
2.The villain cleared the overgrown path with a machete, then flew away on a seaplane.
3.The villain lit up the dark vault using a torch, then zoomed down the trail on a dirt bike.
4.The villain sliced the glass with a laser cutter, then flew away on a seaplane.
5.The villain masked the theft using a smoke bomb, then sped off in a speedboat.
6.The villain sliced the glass with a laser cutter, then zipped down the canopy cable on a zip line.
7.The villain masked the theft using a smoke bomb, then flew away on a seaplane.
8.The villain cleared the overgrown path with a machete, then zoomed down the trail on a dirt bike.
9.The villain snatched the relic with a grappling hook, then flew away on a seaplane.
10.The villain cleared the overgrown path with a machete, then zipped down the canopy cable on a zip line.
11.The villain masked the theft using a smoke bomb, then zoomed down the trail on a dirt bike.
12.The villain cleared the overgrown path with a machete, then escaped across the marsh on a hovercraft.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Whispering Sun Stone
Culprit: Quincy Marsh (Laser Cutter · Seaplane · Left-handed · Red Bandana · Afraid of Snakes)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT ESCAPE ON A DIRT BIKE"legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (T) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (N) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (R) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (L) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (B) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (V) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (D) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (E) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (H) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (S) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (C) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (A) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (O) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (I) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (K) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (P)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SNOOP USED THEIR LEFT HAND TO PRY THE DOOR"sqrt(169) = 13 (T) · sqrt(361) = 19 (D) · sqrt(289) = 17 (I) · sqrt(529) = 23 (R) · sqrt(9) = 3 (E) · sqrt(100) = 10 (Y) · sqrt(625) = 25 (F) · sqrt(441) = 21 (U) · sqrt(36) = 6 (H) · sqrt(25) = 5 (A) · sqrt(64) = 8 (N) · sqrt(576) = 24 (O) · sqrt(16) = 4 (L) · sqrt(256) = 16 (P) · sqrt(4) = 2 (S)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "A SNAKE IN THE GRASS SCARED THE SNOOP"6^2 = 36 (A) · 14^2 = 196 (T) · 5^4 = 625 (I) · 17^2 = 289 (P) · 21^2 = 441 (R) · 6^3 = 216 (E) · 3^2 = 9 (O) · 9^2 = 81 (K) · 2^7 = 128 (C) · 2^2 = 4 (G) · 7^2 = 49 (D) · 3^3 = 27 (N) · 2^3 = 8 (H) · 15^2 = 225 (S)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A RED FABRIC STRAP WAS FOUND AT THE SCENE"11 × 10 - 6 = 104 (A) · 62 + 4 × 3 = 74 (P) · 10 × 10 - 4 = 96 (D) · 8 × 2 - 7 = 9 (U) · 10 × 11 - 22 = 88 (C) · 6 × 5 - 2 = 28 (W) · 7 × 6 - 7 = 35 (T) · 16 + 4 × 4 = 32 (N) · 10 × 9 - 25 = 65 (I) · 2 + 4 × 6 = 26 (R) · 18 + 2 × 8 = 34 (O) · 9 × 3 - 19 = 8 (E) · 58 + 7 × 4 = 86 (B) · 11 × 9 - 23 = 76 (S) · 62 + 7 × 4 = 90 (H) · 9 × 12 - 1 = 107 (F)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 4) → Quincy Marshsqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(144) = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Whispering Sun Stone — set in Whispering Palms Temple Complex
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects