🔎 ScienceGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersMulti-step word problemsPercentagesOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Quantum Laboratory Heist
An unknown intruder tampered with the particle accelerator at Apex Facility and erased the main experiment log. The Head Physicist needs your math skills to analyze clues and uncover the saboteur.
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 | Lab Gadget | Lab Gear | Dominant Hand | Hairstyle | Chemical Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada Lovelace | Freeze Ray | Anti Gravity Belt | Left Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Chien Shiung Wu | Plasma Shield | Anti Gravity Belt | Left Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Richard Feynman | Laser Grid | Bio Sensor | Left Handed | Tight Bun | Baking Soda |
| Dorothy Hodgkin | Plasma Shield | Bio Sensor | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Isaac Newton | Sonic Cannon | Bio Sensor | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Rachel Carson | Drone Swarm | Magnetic Boots | Right Handed | Tight Bun | Baking Soda |
| Dmitri Mendeleev | Drone Swarm | Bio Sensor | Left Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Baking Soda |
| Rosalind Franklin | Sonic Cannon | Bio Sensor | Left Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Charles Darwin | Laser Grid | Anti Gravity Belt | Right Handed | Tight Bun | Baking Soda |
| Carl Sagan | Laser Grid | Glowing Beaker | Left Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Liquid Nitrogen |
| Alexander Fleming | Drone Swarm | Thermal Goggles | Right Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Galileo Galilei | Laser Grid | Magnetic Boots | Right Handed | Spiky Green Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Jane Goodall | Laser Grid | Magnetic Boots | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Alan Turing | Sonic Cannon | Anti Gravity Belt | Left Handed | Tight Bun | Citrus Acid |
| Marie Curie | Laser Grid | Glowing Beaker | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Liquid Nitrogen |
| Katherine Johnson | Sonic Cannon | Thermal Goggles | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Stephen Hawking | Laser Grid | Anti Gravity Belt | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Niels Bohr | Drone Swarm | Thermal Goggles | Left Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Barbara McClintock | Freeze Ray | Glowing Beaker | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Citrus Acid |
| Michael Faraday | Sonic Cannon | Glowing Beaker | Right Handed | Buzz Cut | Baking Soda |
| Louis Pasteur | Laser Grid | Thermal Goggles | Left Handed | Tight Bun | Baking Soda |
Clue 1
Integers
We recovered supply manifests tracking lab inventory across three containment bays.
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
20
6
13
11
2
27
27
21
2
18
8
24
13
9
18
24
T
20
30
9
13
21
18
T
20
2
16
14
21
11
2
T
20
25
12
13
27
T
20
(-7) + 27 =T
(-12) + 14 =I
(-4) + 16 =B
24 - (-1) =Y
(-6) + 36 =U
(-7) + 13 =H
10 - (-4) =R
(-3) + 16 =E
19 - (-8) =L
5 - (-6) =V
16 - (-2) =N
7 - (-1) =D
(-12) + 21 =S
18 - (-3) =A
(-2) + 18 =G
23 - (-1) =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
Thermal sensors recorded temperature gains and drops in the cryo chamber as the intruder moved.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
6
11
36
61
86
70
12
D
11
D
There were 105 microscopes in all. 3 research squad used 27 microscopes each. The other 4 research squad shared the rest equally. How many microscopes did each of the other research squad get?L
There were 190 pipettes in all. 1 research squad used 7 pipettes each. The other 3 research squad shared the rest equally. How many pipettes did each of the other research squad get?T
There were 58 petri dishes in all. 10 petri dishes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 research squad. How many petri dishes did each get?N
Lab assistant filled 6 boxes with 8 beakers each, then found 22 more beakers. How many beakers are there in all?A
There were 224 pipettes in all. 2 research squad used 26 pipettes each. The other 2 research squad shared the rest equally. How many pipettes did each of the other research squad get?H
Lab assistant collected 19 microscopes in the morning and 3 microscopes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 research squad. How many microscopes did each get?E
Lab assistant collected 55 microscopes in the morning and 17 microscopes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 research squad. How many microscopes did each get?F
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Percentages
The chemical scanner determined the concentration percentage of compound residue left on the door handle.
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
34
2
19
56
14
42
39
T
34
19
60
46
13
14
56
38
19
60
T
34
46
14
47
53
17
19
4
42
59
42
14
10
53
38
35
56
39
4
14
25% of 136 =T
50% of 38 =E
50% of 112 =S
50% of 94 =L
25% of 236 =Y
10% of 530 =I
20% of 210 =B
50% of 20 =K
60% of 65 =O
50% of 4 =H
10% of 380 =N
10% of 170 =Z
25% of 52 =W
20% of 230 =R
50% of 8 =D
40% of 35 =A
50% of 120 =U
20% of 175 =G
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To unlock the encrypted server file, solve the multi step order of operations passcode.
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
92
34
62
25
71
34
78
90
25
68
25
62
101
78
70
13
72
72
42
13
71
17
78
S
92
68
62
13
15
111
62
15
S
92
42
55
15
55
76 + 4 × 4 =S
11 × 2 - 5 =W
8 × 10 - 10 =B
29 + 7 × 7 =A
66 + 9 × 5 =D
4 × 12 - 14 =H
20 + 7 × 6 =O
9 × 7 - 8 =E
13 + 4 × 3 =R
18 + 6 × 4 =C
9 × 9 - 9 =Z
65 + 6 × 6 =M
7 + 3 × 2 =U
12 × 7 - 16 =F
9 × 5 - 30 =N
18 + 8 × 9 =I
41 + 5 × 6 =T
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The sensor calibration system requires solving a two step equation to reveal the suspect detail.
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
6x + 12 = 54, x = ?
5x + 9 = 69, x = ?
5x + 1 = 51, x = ?
5x + 3 = 33, x = ?
2x + 5 = 27, x = ?
3x + 6 = 33, x = ?
6x + 5 = 35, x = ?
3x + 4 = 28, x = ?
4x + 5 = 21, x = ?
3x + 4 = 13, x = ?
2x + 8 = 10, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted a freeze ray, then grabbed a glowing beaker.
2.The villain deployed a drone swarm, then put on thermal goggles.
3.The villain triggered a sonic cannon, then laced up magnetic boots.
4.The villain fired a laser grid, then checked a bio sensor.
5.The villain activated a plasma shield, then grabbed a glowing beaker.
6.The villain deployed a drone swarm, then laced up magnetic boots.
7.The villain activated a plasma shield, then checked a bio sensor.
8.The villain blasted a freeze ray, then laced up magnetic boots.
9.The villain triggered a sonic cannon, then turned on an anti gravity belt.
10.The villain triggered a sonic cannon, then checked a bio sensor.
11.The villain activated a plasma shield, then turned on an anti gravity belt.
12.The villain triggered a sonic cannon, then put on thermal goggles.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Quantum Laboratory Heist
Culprit: Niels Bohr (Drone Swarm · Thermal Goggles · Left Handed · Buzz Cut · Baking Soda)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE ANTI GRAVITY BELT"(-7) + 27 = 20 (T) · (-12) + 14 = 2 (I) · (-4) + 16 = 12 (B) · 24 - (-1) = 25 (Y) · (-6) + 36 = 30 (U) · (-7) + 13 = 6 (H) · 10 - (-4) = 14 (R) · (-3) + 16 = 13 (E) · 19 - (-8) = 27 (L) · 5 - (-6) = 11 (V) · 16 - (-2) = 18 (N) · 7 - (-1) = 8 (D) · (-12) + 21 = 9 (S) · 18 - (-3) = 21 (A) · (-2) + 18 = 16 (G) · 23 - (-1) = 24 (O)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "LEFT HANDED"There were 105 microscopes in all. 3 research squad used 27 microscopes each. The other 4 research squad shared the rest equally. How many microscopes did each of the other research squad get? = 6 (L) · There were 190 pipettes in all. 1 research squad used 7 pipettes each. The other 3 research squad shared the rest equally. How many pipettes did each of the other research squad get? = 61 (T) · There were 58 petri dishes in all. 10 petri dishes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 research squad. How many petri dishes did each get? = 12 (N) · Lab assistant filled 6 boxes with 8 beakers each, then found 22 more beakers. How many beakers are there in all? = 70 (A) · There were 224 pipettes in all. 2 research squad used 26 pipettes each. The other 2 research squad shared the rest equally. How many pipettes did each of the other research squad get? = 86 (H) · Lab assistant collected 19 microscopes in the morning and 3 microscopes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 research squad. How many microscopes did each get? = 11 (E) · Lab assistant collected 55 microscopes in the morning and 17 microscopes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 research squad. How many microscopes did each get? = 36 (F)
- Clue 3 (Percentages): "THE SABOTEUR WAS NEUTRALIZED BY BAKING SODA"25% of 136 = 34 (T) · 50% of 38 = 19 (E) · 50% of 112 = 56 (S) · 50% of 94 = 47 (L) · 25% of 236 = 59 (Y) · 10% of 530 = 53 (I) · 20% of 210 = 42 (B) · 50% of 20 = 10 (K) · 60% of 65 = 39 (O) · 50% of 4 = 2 (H) · 10% of 380 = 38 (N) · 10% of 170 = 17 (Z) · 25% of 52 = 13 (W) · 20% of 230 = 46 (R) · 50% of 8 = 4 (D) · 40% of 35 = 14 (A) · 50% of 120 = 60 (U) · 20% of 175 = 35 (G)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "SHORT HAIR FROM A BUZZ CUT WAS FOUND ON SCENE"76 + 4 × 4 = 92 (S) · 11 × 2 - 5 = 17 (W) · 8 × 10 - 10 = 70 (B) · 29 + 7 × 7 = 78 (A) · 66 + 9 × 5 = 111 (D) · 4 × 12 - 14 = 34 (H) · 20 + 7 × 6 = 62 (O) · 9 × 7 - 8 = 55 (E) · 13 + 4 × 3 = 25 (R) · 18 + 6 × 4 = 42 (C) · 9 × 9 - 9 = 72 (Z) · 65 + 6 × 6 = 101 (M) · 7 + 3 × 2 = 13 (U) · 12 × 7 - 16 = 68 (F) · 9 × 5 - 30 = 15 (N) · 18 + 8 × 9 = 90 (I) · 41 + 5 × 6 = 71 (T)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 2) → Niels Bohr6x + 12 = 54, x = 7 · 5x + 9 = 69, x = 12 · 5x + 1 = 51, x = 10 · 5x + 3 = 33, x = 6 · 2x + 5 = 27, x = 11 · 3x + 6 = 33, x = 9 · 6x + 5 = 35, x = 5 · 3x + 4 = 28, x = 8 · 4x + 5 = 21, x = 4 · 3x + 4 = 13, x = 3 · 2x + 8 = 10, x = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Multi-step word problems, Percentages, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Quantum Laboratory Heist — set in Apex Particle Physics Facility
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects