The Sinking of the Saniana
The proud training warship Saniana has been scuttled and is sinking fast in the harbor! Police Chief Joshua Dax Zeno needs your top-tier detective skills to track down the culprit before the entire fleet is ruined.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Sabotage Method | Escape Gadget | Glove Preference | Hair Color | Personal Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailor Jax | flooding the ballast tanks | propeller boots | right handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Sailor Cora | clogging the steam pipes | rocket flippers | right handed glove | neon green hair | afraid of soapy water |
| Officer Bryce | cutting the anchor chains | smoke screens | left handed glove | spiky orange hair | allergic to sea salt |
| Pilot Kira | clogging the steam pipes | rocket flippers | right handed glove | neon green hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Skipper Paige | overloading the battery banks | rocket flippers | right handed glove | neon green hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Gunner Briggs | cutting the anchor chains | propeller boots | left handed glove | neon green hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Commander Reed | jamming the rudder gears | rocket flippers | left handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Captain Vance | flooding the ballast tanks | smoke screens | right handed glove | neon green hair | allergic to sea salt |
| Commander Zane | flooding the ballast tanks | rocket flippers | left handed glove | spiky orange hair | afraid of soapy water |
| Sailor Bruno | clogging the steam pipes | smoke screens | right handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Cadet Marina | overloading the battery banks | propeller boots | left handed glove | bright blue hair | afraid of soapy water |
| Captain Fletcher | cutting the anchor chains | grappling hooks | left handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Commander Finn | cutting the anchor chains | laser flashlights | right handed glove | bright blue hair | allergic to sea salt |
| Lieutenant Cruz | flooding the ballast tanks | grappling hooks | right handed glove | neon green hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Skipper Knox | clogging the steam pipes | rocket flippers | right handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Navigator Silas | flooding the ballast tanks | laser flashlights | left handed glove | neon green hair | allergic to sea salt |
| Cadet Leo | flooding the ballast tanks | laser flashlights | right handed glove | neon green hair | allergic to sea salt |
| Cadet Toby | overloading the battery banks | smoke screens | left handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Sailor Skye | cutting the anchor chains | grappling hooks | right handed glove | spiky orange hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Navigator Cole | jamming the rudder gears | rocket flippers | right handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
| Pilot Wendy | cutting the anchor chains | laser flashlights | right handed glove | bright blue hair | distracted by sea biscuits |
Subtraction
Chief Joshua Dax Zeno counts the remaining safety vests on the dock. Subtracting the remaining vests from our starting ship inventory reveals our first clue about the escape 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.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We search the grid of storage lockers on the damaged lower deck. Multiplying the rows of lockers by the items in each row helps us locate a waterproof notebook containing the suspect's glove details.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number
Only a fraction of the ship's computerized main map is still working. Calculating this fractional area gives us the coordinates where the crew fended off the intruder.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
The crew adds up the heavy metal bolts found lying around the damaged engine room. Finding the total sum of these bolts points us directly to the witness who spotted the suspect's hair color.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Our sonar scans a fraction of the surrounding harbor floor for evidence. Finding the exact value of this fraction tells us where to look to confirm the suspect's true identity.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sinking of the Saniana
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE SMOKE SCREENS"6920 - 1841 = 5079 (T) · 9444 - 2651 = 6793 (H) · 8436 - 4982 = 3454 (O) · 3419 - 1724 = 1695 (N) · 3991 - 1570 = 2421 (R) · 8074 - 4658 = 3416 (K) · 7737 - 1888 = 5849 (V) · 8449 - 403 = 8046 (A) · 3974 - 2757 = 1217 (E) · 12664 - 3686 = 8978 (C) · 9546 - 945 = 8601 (M) · 5839 - 1926 = 3913 (U) · 10427 - 4941 = 5486 (S) · 6069 - 2782 = 3287 (D) · 3128 - 1928 = 1200 (L) · 4764 - 157 = 4607 (I)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT WORE A RIGHT HANDED GLOVE"10 × 7 = 70 (T) · 9 × 9 = 81 (O) · 11 × 10 = 110 (H) · 1 × 10 = 10 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (L) · 5 × 7 = 35 (D) · 2 × 6 = 12 (W) · 9 × 6 = 54 (C) · 12 × 11 = 132 (V) · 12 × 7 = 84 (E) · 1 × 11 = 11 (U) · 12 × 12 = 144 (A) · 2 × 7 = 14 (G) · 8 × 4 = 32 (P) · 9 × 12 = 108 (R) · 2 × 2 = 4 (S) · 2 × 11 = 22 (I)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THEY STOPPED TO EAT SEA BISCUITS"1/2 of 64 = 32 (T) · 1/5 of 95 = 19 (Y) · 2/3 of 21 = 14 (C) · 4/8 of 76 = 38 (U) · 1/8 of 48 = 6 (B) · 6/10 of 65 = 39 (A) · 4/6 of 60 = 40 (I) · 2/4 of 62 = 31 (S) · 3/4 of 40 = 30 (P) · 4/5 of 5 = 4 (H) · 1/6 of 198 = 33 (D) · 4/8 of 68 = 34 (O) · 4/8 of 26 = 13 (E)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "BRIGHT BLUE HAIR WAS LEFT ON THE RAILING"2117 + 3110 = 5227 (B) · 3154 + 5906 = 9060 (O) · 2393 + 3989 = 6382 (E) · 2078 + 3692 = 5770 (T) · 2334 + 5168 = 7502 (G) · 1145 + 1590 = 2735 (U) · 1209 + 1069 = 2278 (S) · 2550 + 1514 = 4064 (L) · 3538 + 5689 = 9227 (I) · 4462 + 3989 = 8451 (N) · 3077 + 5132 = 8209 (F) · 1932 + 3699 = 5631 (H) · 3440 + 1808 = 5248 (R) · 3725 + 5123 = 8848 (A) · 2003 + 1389 = 3392 (W)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 7) → Skipper Knox1/3 of 6 = 2 · 4/6 of 9 = 6 · 1/2 of 10 = 5 · 1/6 of 18 = 3 · 1/3 of 12 = 4 · 1/3 of 33 = 11 · 1/5 of 40 = 8 · 2/6 of 27 = 9 · 1/10 of 10 = 1 · 2/4 of 20 = 10 · 1/5 of 60 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Addition
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Sinking of the Saniana — set in The Harbor of Saniana Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects