Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Sunstone Idol Heist
Deep within the jungle, someone breached the central vault of Sunstone Temple. Unravel the math clues to identify the rogue explorer before they escape!
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 Tool | Artifact Stolen | Stance | Bandana Color | Tricked By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloe Park | Climbing Claws | Ruby Mask | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Sully Miller | Smoke Grenade | Golden Scarab | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Decoy Trap |
| Harrison Forde | Smoke Grenade | Crystal Skull | Right Handed | Crimson Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Chester Copper | Smoke Grenade | Ruby Mask | Left Handed | Crimson Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Nathan Stone | Smoke Grenade | Ruby Mask | Left Handed | Emerald Bandana | Decoy Trap |
| Marion Raven | Sonic Cutter | Jade Compass | Right Handed | Crimson Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Shorty Round | Grappling Hook | Crystal Skull | Left Handed | Crimson Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Lara Finch | Sonic Cutter | Jade Compass | Left Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Renato Bay | Grappling Hook | Crystal Skull | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Rick Oconnell | Laser Compass | Crystal Skull | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Belloq Thorne | Laser Compass | Crystal Skull | Left Handed | Cobalt Bandana | Decoy Trap |
| Elena Rivers | Grappling Hook | Golden Scarab | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Decoy Trap |
| Jonathan Carn | Climbing Claws | Silver Key | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Flashlight Beam |
| Satipo Cruz | Sonic Cutter | Silver Key | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Wombat Jones | Grappling Hook | Crystal Skull | Right Handed | Cobalt Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Elsa Schneider | Climbing Claws | Silver Key | Right Handed | Cobalt Bandana | Decoy Trap |
| Evelyn Reed | Smoke Grenade | Golden Scarab | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Indiana Drake | Climbing Claws | Ruby Mask | Right Handed | Emerald Bandana | Flashlight Beam |
| Amelia Croft | Laser Compass | Jade Compass | Right Handed | Cobalt Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Victor Cruz | Grappling Hook | Crystal Skull | Left Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
| Evie Carnahan | Smoke Grenade | Golden Scarab | Left Handed | Emerald Bandana | Mirror Reflection |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To calculate the direct diagonal rope length across the temple chasm, you measure the straight walls and solve for the hypotenuse.
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
65
74
125
52
123
125
39
17
116
13
116
123
85
T
65
T
65
39
17
125
T
65
74
125
25
100
68
5
111
39
52
17
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =T
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =K
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =R
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =B
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =S
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =O
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =E
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =U
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =H
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =Y
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =D
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =N
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =I
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =M
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The ancient floor grid has a square area, so finding the side length requires taking a square root.
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
21
5
4
13
14
4
3
17
19
3
13
20
7
23
5
T
21
5
3
14
2
4
2
sqrt(441) =T
sqrt(169) =S
sqrt(4) =D
sqrt(289) =K
sqrt(25) =H
sqrt(9) =A
sqrt(196) =N
sqrt(529) =G
sqrt(400) =R
sqrt(16) =E
sqrt(49) =I
sqrt(361) =W
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The puzzle lock door uses exponential growth codes that multiply power by factors of two.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
441
64
36
361
361
484
361
361
49
216
144
49
121
512
36
484
32
289
16
484
484
400
49
8
512
324
49
512
324
36
49
216
21^2 =A
20^2 =K
6^3 =F
8^2 =M
7^2 =E
19^2 =R
6^2 =I
8^3 =T
17^2 =S
12^2 =L
2^3 =D
4^2 =P
22^2 =O
11^2 =C
2^5 =N
18^2 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To disarm the pressure trap, you follow the strict order of operations on the ancient stone dial.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
E
38
31
E
38
9
23
81
63
51
104
9
E
38
23
63
28
32
23
37
33
104
51
54
39
51
104
E
38
81
23
51
32
104
30 + 2 × 4 =E
22 + 4 × 8 =O
6 × 8 - 20 =S
56 + 8 × 6 =H
10 × 6 - 21 =N
42 + 3 × 3 =T
9 + 9 × 6 =D
11 × 3 - 24 =R
14 + 6 × 3 =C
53 + 7 × 4 =L
9 × 6 - 17 =U
15 + 9 × 2 =G
10 × 6 - 29 =M
4 × 9 - 13 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The secret chamber floor is a perfect square, so calculating its boundary wall length means finding the square root.
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
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain mapped the laser grid, then grabbed the ruby mask.
2.The villain sliced the reinforced door, then grabbed the ruby mask.
3.The villain vanished in smoke, then swiped the golden scarab.
4.The villain vanished in smoke, then grabbed the ruby mask.
5.The villain sliced the reinforced door, then stole the silver key.
6.The villain vanished in smoke, then pocketed the crystal skull.
7.The villain mapped the laser grid, then stole the silver key.
8.The villain scaled the stone cliff, then pocketed the crystal skull.
9.The villain sliced the reinforced door, then swiped the golden scarab.
10.The villain hooked the high ledge, then pocketed the crystal skull.
11.The villain mapped the laser grid, then pocketed the crystal skull.
12.The villain scaled the stone cliff, then swiped the golden scarab.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sunstone Idol Heist
Culprit: Satipo Cruz (Sonic Cutter · Silver Key · Right Handed · Emerald Bandana · Mirror Reflection)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SNEAK DID NOT TAKE THE RUBY MASK"legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (T) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (K) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (R) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (B) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (S) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (O) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (E) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (U) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (H) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (Y) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (D) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (N) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (I) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (M) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (A)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SNEAK WAS RIGHT HANDED"sqrt(441) = 21 (T) · sqrt(169) = 13 (S) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(289) = 17 (K) · sqrt(25) = 5 (H) · sqrt(9) = 3 (A) · sqrt(196) = 14 (N) · sqrt(529) = 23 (G) · sqrt(400) = 20 (R) · sqrt(16) = 4 (E) · sqrt(49) = 7 (I) · sqrt(361) = 19 (W)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "A MIRROR REFLECTION SPOOKED THE THIEF"21^2 = 441 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (K) · 6^3 = 216 (F) · 8^2 = 64 (M) · 7^2 = 49 (E) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 6^2 = 36 (I) · 8^3 = 512 (T) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 12^2 = 144 (L) · 2^3 = 8 (D) · 4^2 = 16 (P) · 22^2 = 484 (O) · 11^2 = 121 (C) · 2^5 = 32 (N) · 18^2 = 324 (H)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "EMERALD THREADS CAUGHT ON THE LATCH"30 + 2 × 4 = 38 (E) · 22 + 4 × 8 = 54 (O) · 6 × 8 - 20 = 28 (S) · 56 + 8 × 6 = 104 (H) · 10 × 6 - 21 = 39 (N) · 42 + 3 × 3 = 51 (T) · 9 + 9 × 6 = 63 (D) · 11 × 3 - 24 = 9 (R) · 14 + 6 × 3 = 32 (C) · 53 + 7 × 4 = 81 (L) · 9 × 6 - 17 = 37 (U) · 15 + 9 × 2 = 33 (G) · 10 × 6 - 29 = 31 (M) · 4 × 9 - 13 = 23 (A)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 5) → Satipo Cruzsqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(81) = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sunstone Idol Heist — set in Sunstone Temple Ruins
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects