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🔎 The kid cruzer the saniana tGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6SubtractionAdditionMultiplicationFractions of a number

The Solar Sail Sabotage

A thief has sneaked aboard the Saniana! Captain Joshua Dax Zeno discovered his prized Kid Cruzer, a custom hover-board that can surf stellar winds, has been stolen from the cargo bay. We must track down the rogue space-pirate before they escape the sector!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play
Nameprimary toolship gadgetcontrol stylevisor glare colordefensive counter
Cassian Nebulastellar-netplasma-torchlefty steer controlssupernova orange glowice blaster freeze
Nova Vanegravity-bootlaser-grapplelefty steer controlssupernova orange glowemp scramble pulse
Kaelen Voidplasma-cutterstealth-cloaklefty steer controlscosmic green glowdecoy beacon trap
Atlas Orbitplasma-cuttersonic-cannonlefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Vesper Raygravity-bootplasma-torchrighty steer controlssupernova orange glowemp scramble pulse
Skye Nebulaelectro-hookplasma-torchrighty steer controlsnebula purple glowemp scramble pulse
Sable Eclipseelectro-hooksonic-cannonlefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Cyrus Flareelectro-hookplasma-torchlefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Juno Jetelectro-hookhyper-shieldlefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Aero Vancegravity-bootlaser-grapplelefty steer controlsnebula purple glowice blaster freeze
Orion Drakestellar-netplasma-torchrighty steer controlsnebula purple glowemp scramble pulse
Jax Starrunnergravity-bootplasma-torchrighty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Lyra Pulsarnano-hackerlaser-grapplelefty steer controlssupernova orange glowice blaster freeze
Leo Horizonelectro-hookstealth-cloaklefty steer controlssupernova orange glowdecoy beacon trap
Rider Cometstellar-nethyper-shieldrighty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Zara Zenithgravity-bootplasma-torchrighty steer controlscosmic green glowemp scramble pulse
Draco Burnnano-hackerplasma-torchrighty steer controlssupernova orange glowice blaster freeze
Zephyr Solargravity-bootplasma-torchlefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Rhea Warpgravity-bootstealth-cloaklefty steer controlsnebula purple glowdecoy beacon trap
Talon Frostplasma-cuttersonic-cannonlefty steer controlssupernova orange glowdecoy beacon trap
Dax Orionnano-hackerlaser-grapplerighty steer controlscosmic green glowdecoy beacon trap
Clue 1

Subtraction

Captain Zeno needs to count the remaining ship parts in the cargo bay. Subtracting the missing boxes from the total reveals a clue about the thief's 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.

T
8317
2869
3720
T
8317
2869
5020
3720
7045
4621
5849
3720
2485
3418
5849
T
8317
5747
2485
3720
T
8317
2869
3720
2485
5849
3418
5020
2321
2321
1391
3418
3418
5849
3418
12119 - 3802 =T
5780 - 33 =U
3215 - 894 =C
7970 - 2950 =I
7532 - 3812 =E
7717 - 1868 =O
5794 - 1173 =D
4221 - 2830 =A
3932 - 1063 =H
6328 - 2910 =N
7055 - 10 =F
2900 - 415 =S
0/12 letters found
Clue 2

Addition

The Saniana's deck officers tally up the total crew members reporting to duty stations. Adding the stargate logs gives us a clue about how the thief controls their ship.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

L
2315
8003
4327
6502
2553
7621
6502
8003
8003
7753
3867
8732
7753
3148
7621
6797
8003
7753
8003
4327
5607
5259
3974
4926
5607
3974
6502
4057
8003
6797
4057
8003
8003
L
2315
1552 + 763 =L
2546 + 1781 =F
1254 + 2613 =M
1891 + 3035 =D
1156 + 1397 =Y
1874 + 2100 =N
2785 + 2822 =O
3072 + 3430 =T
3636 + 1623 =U
3449 + 4304 =R
1487 + 2570 =H
2863 + 4758 =S
2041 + 1107 =K
2685 + 5318 =E
5319 + 3413 =A
2491 + 4306 =W
0/16 letters found
Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

Our engine coils are arranged in equal rows on the power grid. Multiplying the rows by the coils reveals the energy frequency of the thief's visor glare.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

D
81
20
1
132
8
30
20
50
1
132
10
9
15
50
77
45
144
5
80
80
28
132
132
80
9
54
20
9
54
5
20
28
9 × 9 =D
10 × 1 =N
1 × 1 =C
10 × 2 =E
9 × 5 =S
5 × 10 =A
6 × 9 =H
9 × 1 =T
8 × 1 =Y
4 × 7 =F
11 × 7 =P
10 × 8 =L
12 × 11 =O
10 × 3 =B
5 × 1 =I
12 × 12 =W
3 × 5 =R
0/17 letters found
Clue 4

Fractions of a number

We scan a fraction of the nearby star sector to trace the thief's energy trail. Finding a fractional share of the beacon signals reveals their tactical weakness.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

N
32
25
10
14
38
23
36
14
30
36
38
25
39
38
26
19
13
14
6
12
19
23
6
38
25
24
12
10
25
27
34
N
32
13
4/6 of 48 =N
3/6 of 78 =G
1/4 of 56 =U
3/4 of 40 =R
2/4 of 24 =T
6/10 of 45 =H
5/10 of 52 =O
1/10 of 190 =W
4/8 of 50 =E
4/10 of 95 =L
1/2 of 48 =F
3/6 of 46 =A
2/8 of 40 =B
2/4 of 26 =D
2/4 of 72 =P
5/10 of 68 =I
1/2 of 12 =S
0/17 letters found
Clue 5

Fractions of a number — the last clue

The crew divides a batch of plasma cells to power up the long-range tracking dish. Taking a fraction of this fuel supply pinpoints the thief's exact escape route.

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
2/3 of 18 = ?
1/8 of 88 = ?
1/4 of 20 = ?
2/10 of 20 = ?
7/8 of 8 = ?
2/3 of 9 = ?
1/6 of 54 = ?
4/10 of 25 = ?
1/10 of 10 = ?
1/6 of 18 = ?
2/4 of 16 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain disables the hangar door lock, then escapes into the dark asteroid belt.
2.The villain scrambles the navigation radar, then hides behind a frozen space station.
3.The villain swipes the ship keycodes, then speeds away on the stolen cruiser.
4.The villain hacks the deck security cameras, then hides behind a frozen space station.
5.The villain swipes the ship keycodes, then escapes into the dark asteroid belt.
6.The villain scrambles the navigation radar, then escapes into the dark asteroid belt.
7.The villain hacks the deck security cameras, then escapes into the dark asteroid belt.
8.The villain hacks the deck security cameras, then zips past the planetary defense grid.
9.The villain scrambles the navigation radar, then dives into the rings of the gas giant.
10.The villain cuts the power to the backup sails, then zips past the planetary defense grid.
11.The villain swipes the ship keycodes, then hides behind a frozen space station.
12.The villain scrambles the navigation radar, then zips past the planetary defense grid.
Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Solar Sail Sabotage

Culprit: Zephyr Solar (gravity-boot · plasma-torch · lefty steer controls · nebula purple glow · decoy beacon trap)
  1. Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE SONIC CANNON"
    12119 - 3802 = 8317 (T) · 5780 - 33 = 5747 (U) · 3215 - 894 = 2321 (C) · 7970 - 2950 = 5020 (I) · 7532 - 3812 = 3720 (E) · 7717 - 1868 = 5849 (O) · 5794 - 1173 = 4621 (D) · 4221 - 2830 = 1391 (A) · 3932 - 1063 = 2869 (H) · 6328 - 2910 = 3418 (N) · 7055 - 10 = 7045 (F) · 2900 - 415 = 2485 (S)
  2. Clue 2 (Addition): "LEFTY STEER MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE WHEEL"
    1552 + 763 = 2315 (L) · 2546 + 1781 = 4327 (F) · 1254 + 2613 = 3867 (M) · 1891 + 3035 = 4926 (D) · 1156 + 1397 = 2553 (Y) · 1874 + 2100 = 3974 (N) · 2785 + 2822 = 5607 (O) · 3072 + 3430 = 6502 (T) · 3636 + 1623 = 5259 (U) · 3449 + 4304 = 7753 (R) · 1487 + 2570 = 4057 (H) · 2863 + 4758 = 7621 (S) · 2041 + 1107 = 3148 (K) · 2685 + 5318 = 8003 (E) · 5319 + 3413 = 8732 (A) · 2491 + 4306 = 6797 (W)
  3. Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "DECOY BEACON TRAPS WILL FOOL THE THIEF"
    9 × 9 = 81 (D) · 10 × 1 = 10 (N) · 1 × 1 = 1 (C) · 10 × 2 = 20 (E) · 9 × 5 = 45 (S) · 5 × 10 = 50 (A) · 6 × 9 = 54 (H) · 9 × 1 = 9 (T) · 8 × 1 = 8 (Y) · 4 × 7 = 28 (F) · 11 × 7 = 77 (P) · 10 × 8 = 80 (L) · 12 × 11 = 132 (O) · 10 × 3 = 30 (B) · 5 × 1 = 5 (I) · 12 × 12 = 144 (W) · 3 × 5 = 15 (R)
  4. Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "NEBULA PURPLE GLOW DUST WAS LEFT BEHIND"
    4/6 of 48 = 32 (N) · 3/6 of 78 = 39 (G) · 1/4 of 56 = 14 (U) · 3/4 of 40 = 30 (R) · 2/4 of 24 = 12 (T) · 6/10 of 45 = 27 (H) · 5/10 of 52 = 26 (O) · 1/10 of 190 = 19 (W) · 4/8 of 50 = 25 (E) · 4/10 of 95 = 38 (L) · 1/2 of 48 = 24 (F) · 3/6 of 46 = 23 (A) · 2/8 of 40 = 10 (B) · 2/4 of 26 = 13 (D) · 2/4 of 72 = 36 (P) · 5/10 of 68 = 34 (I) · 1/2 of 12 = 6 (S)
  5. Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 2) → Zephyr Solar
    2/3 of 18 = 12 · 1/8 of 88 = 11 · 1/4 of 20 = 5 · 2/10 of 20 = 4 · 7/8 of 8 = 7 · 2/3 of 9 = 6 · 1/6 of 54 = 9 · 4/10 of 25 = 10 · 1/10 of 10 = 1 · 1/6 of 18 = 3 · 2/4 of 16 = 8

About this mystery

Grade level
Grade 5 math
Math topics
Subtraction, Addition, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
Reading level
grades 5-6
Theme
The Solar Sail Sabotage — set in The solar-sail frigate Saniana, cruising the Orion Ring
Format
Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution
One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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