Grade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Sky Citadel Heist
During a midnight flight over the floating islands, a rogue intruder broke into the chart room and stole the golden skymap. Detective, analyze the flight logs and gear reports to unmask the intruder!
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 | Primary Gear | Secondary Tool | Attire Detail | Hairstyle | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartermaster Iris | EMP Blast | Sonic Whistle | Fabric Gauntlets | Spiky Raven Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Captain Sterling | Grapple Hook | Signal Jammer | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Navigator Skye | Glider Wings | Sonic Whistle | Leather Gloves | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Radio Specialist Nora | Glider Wings | Signal Jammer | Leather Gloves | Swept Silver Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Captain Vance | Glider Wings | Magnetic Boots | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Surveyor Tessa | Sound Wave | Night Visor | Fabric Gauntlets | Spiky Raven Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Observer Cole | Sound Wave | Sonic Whistle | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Officer Flynn | Sound Wave | Sonic Whistle | Fabric Gauntlets | Spiky Raven Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Cadet Zeke | EMP Blast | Night Visor | Fabric Gauntlets | Swept Silver Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
| Pilot Ember | EMP Blast | Radar Tracker | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
| Pilot Jax | EMP Blast | Sonic Whistle | Leather Gloves | Swept Silver Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
| Engineer Leo | Grapple Hook | Magnetic Boots | Fabric Gauntlets | Spiky Raven Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
| Navigator Orion | Sound Wave | Night Visor | Leather Gloves | Braided Auburn Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
| Helmsman Ben | Grapple Hook | Sonic Whistle | Leather Gloves | Spiky Raven Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Mechanic Rex | Sound Wave | Night Visor | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Chief Harlan | Smoke Flare | Magnetic Boots | Leather Gloves | Braided Auburn Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Air Marshal Drake | Smoke Flare | Night Visor | Fabric Gauntlets | Spiky Raven Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Scout Maya | EMP Blast | Signal Jammer | Leather Gloves | Braided Auburn Hair | Distracted By Bright Light |
| Sentry Silas | Sound Wave | Radar Tracker | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Engineer Piper | Grapple Hook | Magnetic Boots | Fabric Gauntlets | Braided Auburn Hair | Stopped By Loud Chimes |
| Cadet Rosa | Smoke Flare | Night Visor | Leather Gloves | Braided Auburn Hair | Trapped By Heavy Nets |
Clue 1
Integers
The airship altimeter logged several sudden climbs and drops above sea level during the night flight.
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
17
6
15
3
9
3
25
15
21
T
17
12
22
15
3
30
22
T
17
9
3
15
1
3
5
13
30
1
4
7
1
27
27
15
16
(-13) + 30 =T
(-14) + 26 =D
(-11) + 36 =P
(-10) + 26 =R
24 - (-3) =M
(-4) + 5 =A
(-10) + 32 =O
(-9) + 30 =C
(-13) + 18 =I
6 - (-3) =U
(-7) + 10 =S
(-3) + 7 =L
(-6) + 12 =H
(-13) + 20 =J
(-12) + 25 =G
(-8) + 38 =N
4 - (-11) =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
A flight log revealed what portion of the airship reserve fuel tank was drained during the heist.
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
10
40
55
45
4
48
39
54
39
44
38
37
23
13
T
10
54
13
45
55
25
39
46
45
37
41
56
39
4
48
T
10
23
55
T
10
50
5% of 200 =T
10% of 380 =P
20% of 275 =E
20% of 250 =S
50% of 74 =I
25% of 92 =L
60% of 80 =N
20% of 220 =Y
60% of 90 =W
10% of 410 =C
20% of 195 =A
40% of 10 =U
25% of 184 =B
10% of 560 =G
60% of 75 =R
5% of 260 =O
40% of 100 =H
50% of 50 =F
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The bridge console required solving a sequence of prioritized gear rotations to unlock the security log.
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
62
112
12
65
109
12
77
107
113
77
65
65
T
62
54
83
83
12
52
7
39
117
54
23
52
22
112
72
17
12
65
38 + 4 × 6 =T
21 + 7 × 8 =A
7 × 7 - 10 =Y
4 × 11 - 22 =C
32 + 4 × 5 =D
12 × 11 - 19 =W
48 + 5 × 7 =P
10 × 12 - 13 =K
36 + 9 × 2 =O
12 × 4 - 25 =U
10 × 12 - 8 =H
93 + 4 × 6 =L
1 + 3 × 2 =B
3 + 3 × 3 =E
11 × 11 - 12 =N
5 + 4 × 3 =M
68 + 2 × 2 =I
41 + 8 × 3 =S
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Sensors tracked a rapidly expanding signal sphere that multiplied in power every second.
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
27
25
81
16
128
81
256
T
27
25
16
324
144
9
16
64
324
81
324
16
32
144
32
9
256
25
16
64
9
3^3 =T
3^2 =R
18^2 =D
2^4 =A
2^7 =G
2^5 =U
2^8 =N
2^6 =I
9^2 =E
5^2 =H
12^2 =B
0/11 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The crew calculated the culprit flight time using air resistance coefficients and engine thruster values.
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
5x + 2 = 57, x = ?
3x + 8 = 35, x = ?
4x + 4 = 24, x = ?
6x + 2 = 20, x = ?
4x + 6 = 10, x = ?
5x + 11 = 41, x = ?
4x + 2 = 50, x = ?
4x + 1 = 33, x = ?
5x + 5 = 25, x = ?
6x + 3 = 63, x = ?
4x + 6 = 14, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drops a smoke flare, then turns on a signal jammer.
2.The villain triggers an emp blast, then scans with a radar tracker.
3.The villain emits a sound wave, then turns on a signal jammer.
4.The villain deploys glider wings, then activates a night visor.
5.The villain deploys glider wings, then latches with magnetic boots.
6.The villain fires a grapple hook, then scans with a radar tracker.
7.The villain emits a sound wave, then activates a night visor.
8.The villain drops a smoke flare, then blows a sonic whistle.
9.The villain fires a grapple hook, then latches with magnetic boots.
10.The villain drops a smoke flare, then activates a night visor.
11.The villain emits a sound wave, then scans with a radar tracker.
12.The villain deploys glider wings, then scans with a radar tracker.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky Citadel Heist
Culprit: Mechanic Rex (Sound Wave · Night Visor · Fabric Gauntlets · Braided Auburn Hair · Stopped By Loud Chimes)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A SIGNAL JAMMER"(-13) + 30 = 17 (T) · (-14) + 26 = 12 (D) · (-11) + 36 = 25 (P) · (-10) + 26 = 16 (R) · 24 - (-3) = 27 (M) · (-4) + 5 = 1 (A) · (-10) + 32 = 22 (O) · (-9) + 30 = 21 (C) · (-13) + 18 = 5 (I) · 6 - (-3) = 9 (U) · (-7) + 10 = 3 (S) · (-3) + 7 = 4 (L) · (-6) + 12 = 6 (H) · (-13) + 20 = 7 (J) · (-12) + 25 = 13 (G) · (-8) + 38 = 30 (N) · 4 - (-11) = 15 (E)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE RUNAWAY PILOT WORE FABRIC GAUNTLETS"5% of 200 = 10 (T) · 10% of 380 = 38 (P) · 20% of 275 = 55 (E) · 20% of 250 = 50 (S) · 50% of 74 = 37 (I) · 25% of 92 = 23 (L) · 60% of 80 = 48 (N) · 20% of 220 = 44 (Y) · 60% of 90 = 54 (W) · 10% of 410 = 41 (C) · 20% of 195 = 39 (A) · 40% of 10 = 4 (U) · 25% of 184 = 46 (B) · 10% of 560 = 56 (G) · 60% of 75 = 45 (R) · 5% of 260 = 13 (O) · 40% of 100 = 40 (H) · 50% of 50 = 25 (F)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SNEAK WAS STOPPED BY LOUD CHIMES"38 + 4 × 6 = 62 (T) · 21 + 7 × 8 = 77 (A) · 7 × 7 - 10 = 39 (Y) · 4 × 11 - 22 = 22 (C) · 32 + 4 × 5 = 52 (D) · 12 × 11 - 19 = 113 (W) · 48 + 5 × 7 = 83 (P) · 10 × 12 - 13 = 107 (K) · 36 + 9 × 2 = 54 (O) · 12 × 4 - 25 = 23 (U) · 10 × 12 - 8 = 112 (H) · 93 + 4 × 6 = 117 (L) · 1 + 3 × 2 = 7 (B) · 3 + 3 × 3 = 12 (E) · 11 × 11 - 12 = 109 (N) · 5 + 4 × 3 = 17 (M) · 68 + 2 × 2 = 72 (I) · 41 + 8 × 3 = 65 (S)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "THE AGENT HAD BRAIDED AUBURN HAIR"3^3 = 27 (T) · 3^2 = 9 (R) · 18^2 = 324 (D) · 2^4 = 16 (A) · 2^7 = 128 (G) · 2^5 = 32 (U) · 2^8 = 256 (N) · 2^6 = 64 (I) · 9^2 = 81 (E) · 5^2 = 25 (H) · 12^2 = 144 (B)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 7) → Mechanic Rex5x + 2 = 57, x = 11 · 3x + 8 = 35, x = 9 · 4x + 4 = 24, x = 5 · 6x + 2 = 20, x = 3 · 4x + 6 = 10, x = 1 · 5x + 11 = 41, x = 6 · 4x + 2 = 50, x = 12 · 4x + 1 = 33, x = 8 · 5x + 5 = 25, x = 4 · 6x + 3 = 63, x = 10 · 4x + 6 = 14, x = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sky Citadel Heist — set in Cloudreach Archipelago Airship
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects