Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Sunken Temple Cipher
During a deep dive exploration, someone sabotaged the primary pressure vault at Station Atlantis II and stole the artifact map. Clues were left across the control decks.
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 | Diving Gear | Specialty Tool | Glove Habit | Wetsuit Hood | Goggles Tint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submariner Jonah Finch | Sonar Cannon | Anchor Hook | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Commander Rosa Mendez | Magmatic Jet | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Left Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Captain Samuel Vance | Bubble Shield | Laser Cutter | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Operator Cleo Bennett | Bubble Shield | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Neon Yellow Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Tech Brody Hayes | Sonar Cannon | Sonic Scanner | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Scout Maya Lin | Magmatic Jet | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Left Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Explorer Victor Hugo | Sonar Cannon | Hydro Drill | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Ranger Evan Ross | Trident Thruster | Anchor Hook | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Surveyor Finn Walsh | Magmatic Jet | Laser Cutter | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Cadet Eli Park | Bubble Shield | Anchor Hook | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Technician Cole Rivera | Bubble Shield | Sonic Scanner | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Neon Yellow Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Mechanic Zara Frost | Bubble Shield | Hydro Drill | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Dr Elena Rostova | Trident Thruster | Hydro Drill | Adjusts Left Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Officer Sarah Blythe | Plasma Torch | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Geologist Nina Vance | Trident Thruster | Anchor Hook | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Analyst Iris Thorne | Trident Thruster | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Neon Yellow Hood | Clear UV Shield |
| Diver Kai Tanaka | Trident Thruster | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Left Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Biologist Tara West | Plasma Torch | Anchor Hook | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Crimson Red Hood | Polarized Blue |
| Pilot Owen Cruz | Magmatic Jet | Laser Cutter | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Specialist Alex Reed | Plasma Torch | Grapple Winch | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Cobalt Blue Hood | Amber Filtered |
| Officer Liam Drake | Bubble Shield | Sonic Scanner | Adjusts Right Cuff First | Neon Yellow Hood | Polarized Blue |
Clue 1
Exponents
To calculate the exponential growth of subsea pressure on the vault door, you solve the exponent problems.
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
512
256
8
32
625
64
64
121
625
25
144
36
8
324
25
36
T
512
100
324
8
121
25
121
25
125
256
36
243
256
36
36
81
2^9 =T
5^3 =C
4^3 =L
2^3 =E
5^4 =I
12^2 =D
16^2 =H
5^2 =N
3^5 =R
10^2 =U
2^5 =V
18^2 =S
11^2 =A
3^4 =K
6^2 =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
Determining the exact side length of the square escape hatch requires computing square roots.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
2
23
3
18
13
15
15
15
24
W
2
3
20
13
7
24
4
16
5
15
3
3
20
13
19
23
8
20
3
10
5
14
14
sqrt(4) =W
sqrt(169) =E
sqrt(9) =T
sqrt(361) =R
sqrt(324) =N
sqrt(100) =C
sqrt(256) =J
sqrt(64) =G
sqrt(16) =D
sqrt(25) =U
sqrt(529) =I
sqrt(225) =S
sqrt(576) =A
sqrt(400) =H
sqrt(196) =F
sqrt(49) =M
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
Finding the direct distance along the ocean floor grid uses the Pythagorean theorem.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
82
34
29
50
10
52
65
41
17
25
29
34
37
74
50
41
37
29
26
39
29
37
15
20
39
17
29
37
29
68
29
26
37
29
10
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =C
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =N
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =L
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =S
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =F
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =Y
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =B
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =R
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =U
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =I
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =D
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =E
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =V
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =H
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =A
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =T
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
Decoding the primary control console demands following the proper order of operations.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
37
39
53
12
114
7
7
55
103
108
B
37
12
26
66
106
12
26
12
66
47
45
25
25
12
55
7
47
114
53
39
39
27 + 5 × 2 =B
31 + 5 × 7 =S
19 + 2 × 3 =G
88 + 6 × 3 =W
21 + 8 × 4 =U
2 × 11 - 15 =O
5 × 10 - 5 =A
30 + 3 × 3 =L
7 × 4 - 2 =R
4 × 9 - 24 =E
11 × 10 - 2 =I
63 + 5 × 8 =F
34 + 7 × 3 =D
89 + 5 × 5 =H
7 + 8 × 5 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
To solve for the missing depth level on the station elevator, you solve two step equations.
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 + 8 = 74, x = ?
2x + 9 = 13, x = ?
5x + 7 = 32, x = ?
6x + 2 = 74, x = ?
5x + 12 = 17, x = ?
6x + 4 = 58, x = ?
4x + 10 = 34, x = ?
3x + 3 = 15, x = ?
3x + 2 = 23, x = ?
2x + 12 = 32, x = ?
3x + 10 = 34, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain engaged the magmatic jet, then mapped the vault using a sonic scanner.
2.The villain deployed the bubble shield, then sliced the gate with a laser cutter.
3.The villain sparked the plasma torch, then hoisted the chest using a grapple winch.
4.The villain sparked the plasma torch, then secured the cargo with an anchor hook.
5.The villain fired the sonar cannon, then breached the wall with a hydro drill.
6.The villain deployed the bubble shield, then secured the cargo with an anchor hook.
7.The villain activated the trident thruster, then hoisted the chest using a grapple winch.
8.The villain fired the sonar cannon, then sliced the gate with a laser cutter.
9.The villain activated the trident thruster, then secured the cargo with an anchor hook.
10.The villain sparked the plasma torch, then breached the wall with a hydro drill.
11.The villain deployed the bubble shield, then breached the wall with a hydro drill.
12.The villain deployed the bubble shield, then mapped the vault using a sonic scanner.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sunken Temple Cipher
Culprit: Officer Sarah Blythe (Plasma Torch · Grapple Winch · Adjusts Right Cuff First · Cobalt Blue Hood · Clear UV Shield)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE AN ANCHOR HOOK"2^9 = 512 (T) · 5^3 = 125 (C) · 4^3 = 64 (L) · 2^3 = 8 (E) · 5^4 = 625 (I) · 12^2 = 144 (D) · 16^2 = 256 (H) · 5^2 = 25 (N) · 3^5 = 243 (R) · 10^2 = 100 (U) · 2^5 = 32 (V) · 18^2 = 324 (S) · 11^2 = 121 (A) · 3^4 = 81 (K) · 6^2 = 36 (O)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "WITNESS SAW THEM ADJUST THE RIGHT CUFF"sqrt(4) = 2 (W) · sqrt(169) = 13 (E) · sqrt(9) = 3 (T) · sqrt(361) = 19 (R) · sqrt(324) = 18 (N) · sqrt(100) = 10 (C) · sqrt(256) = 16 (J) · sqrt(64) = 8 (G) · sqrt(16) = 4 (D) · sqrt(25) = 5 (U) · sqrt(529) = 23 (I) · sqrt(225) = 15 (S) · sqrt(576) = 24 (A) · sqrt(400) = 20 (H) · sqrt(196) = 14 (F) · sqrt(49) = 7 (M)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "CLEAR UV SHIELD WAS DENTED BY THE DEFENDER"legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (C) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (N) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (L) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (S) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (F) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (Y) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (B) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (R) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (U) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (I) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (D) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (E) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (V) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (H) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (A) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (T)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "BLUE HOOD FIBERS WERE SNAGGED ON HULL"27 + 5 × 2 = 37 (B) · 31 + 5 × 7 = 66 (S) · 19 + 2 × 3 = 25 (G) · 88 + 6 × 3 = 106 (W) · 21 + 8 × 4 = 53 (U) · 2 × 11 - 15 = 7 (O) · 5 × 10 - 5 = 45 (A) · 30 + 3 × 3 = 39 (L) · 7 × 4 - 2 = 26 (R) · 4 × 9 - 24 = 12 (E) · 11 × 10 - 2 = 108 (I) · 63 + 5 × 8 = 103 (F) · 34 + 7 × 3 = 55 (D) · 89 + 5 × 5 = 114 (H) · 7 + 8 × 5 = 47 (N)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 3) → Officer Sarah Blythe6x + 8 = 74, x = 11 · 2x + 9 = 13, x = 2 · 5x + 7 = 32, x = 5 · 6x + 2 = 74, x = 12 · 5x + 12 = 17, x = 1 · 6x + 4 = 58, x = 9 · 4x + 10 = 34, x = 6 · 3x + 3 = 15, x = 4 · 3x + 2 = 23, x = 7 · 2x + 12 = 32, x = 10 · 3x + 10 = 34, x = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sunken Temple Cipher — set in Oceanographic Station Atlantis II in the Pacific Trench
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects