Grade 7Reading: grades 7-9MultiplicationMulti-step word problemsIntegersPercentagesMissing addends
The Sky Citadel Intrusion
An intruder breached the Sky Citadel's central vault during a storm and stole the Sunstone Core. The Chief Vault Keeper logged critical security readings before the main power cut out. Solve each math puzzle to uncover vital evidence and unmask the thief!
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 Gadget | Habitual Stance | Hairstyle | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Vance | Grappling Hook | Decoder Ring | Watch on left wrist | Spiky mohawk | Sonic blasts |
| Scholar Pryce | Plasma Shield | Decoder Ring | Watch on right wrist | Tangled ponytail | Sonic blasts |
| Archivist Vane | Grappling Hook | EMP Grenade | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
| Agent Sterling | Grappling Hook | Smoke Bomb | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
| Signalman Park | Sonic Scanner | Jet Boots | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Magnet pulses |
| Explorer Thorne | Thermal Laser | Tracker Dart | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
| Pilot Drake | Plasma Shield | Jet Boots | Watch on right wrist | Tangled ponytail | Sonic blasts |
| Scout Finch | Grappling Hook | Jet Boots | Watch on right wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
| Specialist Quinn | Grappling Hook | Tracker Dart | Watch on right wrist | Shaved buzzcut | Bright flares |
| Engineer Nova | Grappling Hook | Tracker Dart | Watch on left wrist | Spiky mohawk | Sonic blasts |
| Operator Stone | Glider Wings | Smoke Bomb | Watch on right wrist | Spiky mohawk | Magnet pulses |
| Guard Lennox | Thermal Laser | Tracker Dart | Watch on left wrist | Shaved buzzcut | Sonic blasts |
| Cadet Rowan | Sonic Scanner | Decoder Ring | Watch on right wrist | Spiky mohawk | Magnet pulses |
| Navigator Cruz | Thermal Laser | Jet Boots | Watch on left wrist | Spiky mohawk | Bright flares |
| Commander Reed | Glider Wings | Smoke Bomb | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
| Officer Chen | Glider Wings | Jet Boots | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Sonic blasts |
| Dr Aris | Sonic Scanner | EMP Grenade | Watch on right wrist | Shaved buzzcut | Bright flares |
| Surveyor West | Sonic Scanner | EMP Grenade | Watch on right wrist | Tangled ponytail | Magnet pulses |
| Sentry Hayes | Glider Wings | Jet Boots | Watch on right wrist | Tangled ponytail | Magnet pulses |
| Operative Cole | Sonic Scanner | EMP Grenade | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Sonic blasts |
| Tracker Hollis | Grappling Hook | Decoder Ring | Watch on left wrist | Tangled ponytail | Bright flares |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To decipher the security log and rule out a secondary gadget, solve these multi-step field reports from the vault breach.
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
7
40
27
80
4
8
8
49
4
60
35
4
35
60
25
T
7
16
63
27
49
35
27
50
25
35
27
66
66
4
60
2
7 × 1 =T
1 × 8 =L
9 × 7 =S
5 × 5 =O
3 × 9 =E
2 × 2 =I
8 × 10 =V
2 × 8 =U
1 × 2 =G
10 × 4 =H
5 × 10 =C
10 × 6 =N
7 × 7 =A
7 × 5 =D
6 × 11 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
Analyzing equal batches of gear requisition orders requires fast multiplication to find the suspect's main tool.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
W
38
26
35
62
61
65
90
L
E
F
35
W
38
R
I
S
35
Scout collected 30 ration packs in the morning and 160 ration packs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Vanguard Recon. How many ration packs did each get?W
Scout earned 5 climbing ropes in each of 5 rounds, plus 43 bonus climbing ropes. Then 6 climbing ropes were lost. How many climbing ropes are left?C
Scout filled 4 boxes with 5 compasses each, then found 6 more compasses. How many compasses are there in all?A
There were 230 compasses in all. 20 compasses were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Vanguard Recon. How many compasses did each get?T
There were 570 energy cells in all. 3 Vanguard Recon used 40 energy cells each. The other 5 Vanguard Recon shared the rest equally. How many energy cells did each of the other Vanguard Recon get?N
Scout filled 3 boxes with 3 climbing ropes each, then found 56 more climbing ropes. How many climbing ropes are there in all?O
Scout earned 5 compasses in each of 3 rounds, plus 60 bonus compasses. Then 14 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left?H
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Integers
Tracking altitude gains and underground depth drops using integers reveals where the suspect fled.
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
12
10
2
23
9
13
28
2
25
15
18
25
2
15
8
T
12
9
27
23
24
13
10
T
12
6
4
15
23
2
18
4 - (-8) =T
(-13) + 38 =W
(-1) + 7 =F
3 - (-6) =O
10 - (-3) =G
(-7) + 22 =A
(-4) + 22 =S
(-6) + 33 =B
(-15) + 43 =U
(-13) + 21 =K
(-13) + 23 =H
(-13) + 36 =R
(-13) + 37 =I
(-13) + 17 =L
(-14) + 16 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Percentages
Calculating the percentage of power drained from the backup grid unveils a key observation about the culprit.
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
45
44
47
29
40
47
38
47
44
21
29
T
45
21
38
19
32
47
60
35
34
38
23
T
45
21
11
32
44
21
11
27
60% of 75 =T
5% of 880 =H
25% of 160 =C
5% of 700 =P
20% of 235 =E
20% of 105 =A
25% of 152 =N
25% of 92 =Y
40% of 150 =D
20% of 170 =O
50% of 58 =S
25% of 128 =L
5% of 380 =G
25% of 44 =I
10% of 270 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Balancing the remaining supply inventory tallies exposes the missing addend to reveal physical evidence left at the scene.
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
40 + ___ = 49
35 + ___ = 39
2 + ___ = 5
39 + ___ = 44
25 + ___ = 35
30 + ___ = 41
16 + ___ = 24
4 + ___ = 5
22 + ___ = 24
11 + ___ = 23
7 + ___ = 13
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain cut through the vault with a thermal laser, then disabled the grid with an emp grenade.
2.The villain mapped the chamber with a sonic scanner, then disabled the grid with an emp grenade.
3.The villain swung across the chasm with a grappling hook, then disabled the grid with an emp grenade.
4.The villain soared past the canyon with glider wings, then escaped into the mist with a smoke bomb.
5.The villain cut through the vault with a thermal laser, then blasted away using jet boots.
6.The villain soared past the canyon with glider wings, then tagged the guard with a tracker dart.
7.The villain cut through the vault with a thermal laser, then tagged the guard with a tracker dart.
8.The villain blocked the security turret with a plasma shield, then cracked the lock with a decoder ring.
9.The villain swung across the chasm with a grappling hook, then escaped into the mist with a smoke bomb.
10.The villain blocked the security turret with a plasma shield, then blasted away using jet boots.
11.The villain mapped the chamber with a sonic scanner, then blasted away using jet boots.
12.The villain soared past the canyon with glider wings, then cracked the lock with a decoder ring.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky Citadel Intrusion
Culprit: Explorer Thorne (Thermal Laser · Tracker Dart · Watch on left wrist · Tangled ponytail · Bright flares)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A DECODER RING"7 × 1 = 7 (T) · 1 × 8 = 8 (L) · 9 × 7 = 63 (S) · 5 × 5 = 25 (O) · 3 × 9 = 27 (E) · 2 × 2 = 4 (I) · 8 × 10 = 80 (V) · 2 × 8 = 16 (U) · 1 × 2 = 2 (G) · 10 × 4 = 40 (H) · 5 × 10 = 50 (C) · 10 × 6 = 60 (N) · 7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 7 × 5 = 35 (D) · 6 × 11 = 66 (R)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "WATCH ON LEFT WRIST"Scout collected 30 ration packs in the morning and 160 ration packs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Vanguard Recon. How many ration packs did each get? = 38 (W) · Scout earned 5 climbing ropes in each of 5 rounds, plus 43 bonus climbing ropes. Then 6 climbing ropes were lost. How many climbing ropes are left? = 62 (C) · Scout filled 4 boxes with 5 compasses each, then found 6 more compasses. How many compasses are there in all? = 26 (A) · There were 230 compasses in all. 20 compasses were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Vanguard Recon. How many compasses did each get? = 35 (T) · There were 570 energy cells in all. 3 Vanguard Recon used 40 energy cells each. The other 5 Vanguard Recon shared the rest equally. How many energy cells did each of the other Vanguard Recon get? = 90 (N) · Scout filled 3 boxes with 3 climbing ropes each, then found 56 more climbing ropes. How many climbing ropes are there in all? = 65 (O) · Scout earned 5 compasses in each of 3 rounds, plus 60 bonus compasses. Then 14 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left? = 61 (H)
- Clue 3 (Integers): "THE ROGUE WAS WEAK TO BRIGHT FLARES"4 - (-8) = 12 (T) · (-13) + 38 = 25 (W) · (-1) + 7 = 6 (F) · 3 - (-6) = 9 (O) · 10 - (-3) = 13 (G) · (-7) + 22 = 15 (A) · (-4) + 22 = 18 (S) · (-6) + 33 = 27 (B) · (-15) + 43 = 28 (U) · (-13) + 21 = 8 (K) · (-13) + 23 = 10 (H) · (-13) + 36 = 23 (R) · (-13) + 37 = 24 (I) · (-13) + 17 = 4 (L) · (-14) + 16 = 2 (E)
- Clue 4 (Percentages): "THE SCENE HAS TANGLED PONYTAIL HAIR"60% of 75 = 45 (T) · 5% of 880 = 44 (H) · 25% of 160 = 40 (C) · 5% of 700 = 35 (P) · 20% of 235 = 47 (E) · 20% of 105 = 21 (A) · 25% of 152 = 38 (N) · 25% of 92 = 23 (Y) · 40% of 150 = 60 (D) · 20% of 170 = 34 (O) · 50% of 58 = 29 (S) · 25% of 128 = 32 (L) · 5% of 380 = 19 (G) · 25% of 44 = 11 (I) · 10% of 270 = 27 (R)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 7) → Explorer Thorne40 + ___ = 49 = 9 · 35 + ___ = 39 = 4 · 2 + ___ = 5 = 3 · 39 + ___ = 44 = 5 · 25 + ___ = 35 = 10 · 30 + ___ = 41 = 11 · 16 + ___ = 24 = 8 · 4 + ___ = 5 = 1 · 22 + ___ = 24 = 2 · 11 + ___ = 23 = 12 · 7 + ___ = 13 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Integers, Percentages, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sky Citadel Intrusion — set in Aethelgard Sky Citadel
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects