🚀 SpaceGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
Case of the Comet Crook
Commander Vega vanished from Orbit-9 during the night shift, and the only clue left behind was a trail of glittering comet dust. The station's robot helper, Bolt, beeped you awake and handed you a flashlight. Twenty-four crew members are aboard, but only one is the Comet Crook.
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 | Ship Class | Space Gadget | Pilot Type | Suit Color | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Solar | Star Cruiser | gravity boots | girl | red suit | freezing cold |
| Pilot Orion | Solar Sailer | gravity boots | girl | green suit | loud alarms |
| Pia Atlas | Star Cruiser | gravity boots | girl | green suit | bright flashlights |
| Theo Rigel | Rocket Glider | warp jump | boy | blue suit | loud alarms |
| Captain Nova | Moon Hopper | warp jump | boy | red suit | bright flashlights |
| Jax Ceres | Moon Hopper | tractor beam | girl | green suit | loud alarms |
| Luna Park | Star Cruiser | laser drill | boy | green suit | loud alarms |
| Mara Skye | Rocket Glider | gravity boots | boy | green suit | bright flashlights |
| Leo Pluto | Solar Sailer | laser drill | boy | blue suit | bright flashlights |
| Milo Ray | Moon Hopper | gravity boots | boy | green suit | loud alarms |
| Comet Joe | Star Cruiser | laser drill | girl | green suit | bright flashlights |
| Nia Lyra | Moon Hopper | warp jump | girl | blue suit | freezing cold |
| Iris Star | Rocket Glider | cloaking field | girl | green suit | loud alarms |
| Max Phobos | Asteroid Digger | tractor beam | girl | blue suit | loud alarms |
| Dash Cosmo | Moon Hopper | laser drill | boy | blue suit | freezing cold |
| Tess Aero | Moon Hopper | warp jump | girl | green suit | loud alarms |
| Vela Moon | Star Cruiser | gravity boots | girl | blue suit | bright flashlights |
| Rex Quasar | Moon Hopper | cloaking field | girl | red suit | bright flashlights |
| Astro Pete | Star Cruiser | warp jump | girl | green suit | freezing cold |
| Gia Meteor | Asteroid Digger | laser drill | boy | green suit | loud alarms |
| Zara Flux | Star Cruiser | tractor beam | girl | green suit | loud alarms |
Clue 1
Rounding
Bolt's radar only shows numbers rounded to the nearest ten, so you round the dust readings to learn the crook's gadget could not be a cloaking field.
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
31000
500000
4700
3100000
28000
700000
700000
300000
28000
70000
140
300000
70000
70000
14000
T
31000
140000
300
4700
300000
140
700000
14000
300000
30
28000
70000
280000
2800
28000
4700
700000
200000
Round 30,695 to the nearest thousandT
Round 27,865 to the nearest thousandI
Round 3,082,166 to the nearest hundred thousandV
Round 227,668 to the nearest hundred thousandD
Round 692,472 to the nearest hundred thousandL
Round 142 to the nearest tenC
Round 337 to the nearest hundredS
Round 509,941 to the nearest hundred thousandH
Round 144,936 to the nearest ten thousandU
Round 14,259 to the nearest thousandO
Round 279,857 to the nearest ten thousandG
Round 2,825 to the nearest hundredF
Round 4,655 to the nearest hundredE
Round 74,551 to the nearest ten thousandN
Round 33 to the nearest tenK
Round 286,023 to the nearest hundred thousandA
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
You gather the dropped tools and add up the piles to figure out if a boy or girl pilot dashed down the hall.
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
3153
7157
9543
5490
8293
6148
3631
3631
3631
A
3153
7157
A
3153
9546
9543
8725
5154
7308
9543
5154
6007
5490
8725
9518
8293
A
3153
7157
A
3153
3444
1409 + 1744 =A
4475 + 4250 =R
1600 + 2031 =S
3292 + 2715 =O
4173 + 2984 =W
5168 + 3125 =N
5594 + 3924 =U
3618 + 5928 =G
2642 + 2512 =L
2188 + 1256 =Y
4065 + 5478 =I
1652 + 3838 =T
3749 + 3559 =P
2836 + 3312 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Some gear is missing from the rack, so you subtract what is left from the full count to see how Vega scared the crook off.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
V
6740
8122
1548
1558
1432
1153
1558
8440
8122
2834
3422
8997
8122
1153
8440
1936
1936
5459
2959
3097
3422
8997
1558
4425
1558
7157
1558
8440
7706
7943 - 1203 =V
5050 - 2216 =D
2493 - 1340 =C
2902 - 1354 =G
3382 - 423 =W
9383 - 2226 =L
5254 - 3822 =S
3553 - 131 =T
9448 - 451 =H
5577 - 118 =K
7456 - 4359 =I
9382 - 1260 =E
10442 - 2736 =M
9874 - 1434 =R
5124 - 699 =N
4214 - 2656 =A
4041 - 2105 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The torn suit patches were stacked in neat rows, so you multiply the rows to match the crook's suit color.
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
30
99
18
33
80
63
33
24
24
80
15
42
32
99
40
A
30
99
60
72
100
A
30
15
6
24
9
99
28
24
72
32
80
144
10 × 3 =A
4 × 7 =B
8 × 5 =P
4 × 8 =I
6 × 7 =U
10 × 10 =W
3 × 11 =R
11 × 9 =T
10 × 8 =N
6 × 12 =H
9 × 7 =G
12 × 12 =D
2 × 9 =O
9 × 1 =F
4 × 6 =E
2 × 3 =L
3 × 5 =S
5 × 12 =C
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Back at base you split the last clues evenly among the docking bays, and the division points straight to the crook's ship class.
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
9 ÷ 3 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
110 ÷ 11 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain zips in on a rocket glider, then cuts the lights with a laser drill.
2.The villain bounces over in a moon hopper, then cuts the lights with a laser drill.
3.The villain drifts in on a solar sailer, then sticks to the ceiling with gravity boots.
4.The villain glides up in a star cruiser, then warp jumps away fast.
5.The villain glides up in a star cruiser, then grabs the door with a tractor beam.
6.The villain drifts in on a solar sailer, then warp jumps away fast.
7.The villain tunnels in with an asteroid digger, then drills through the wall.
8.The villain bounces over in a moon hopper, then grabs the door with a tractor beam.
9.The villain glides up in a star cruiser, then cuts the lights with a laser drill.
10.The villain glides up in a star cruiser, then sticks to the ceiling with gravity boots.
11.The villain bounces over in a moon hopper, then warp jumps away fast.
12.The villain drifts in on a solar sailer, then grabs the door with a tractor beam.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Case of the Comet Crook
Culprit: Jax Ceres (Moon Hopper · tractor beam · girl · green suit · loud alarms)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN CANNOT USE A CLOAKING FIELD"Round 30,695 to the nearest thousand = 31000 (T) · Round 27,865 to the nearest thousand = 28000 (I) · Round 3,082,166 to the nearest hundred thousand = 3100000 (V) · Round 227,668 to the nearest hundred thousand = 200000 (D) · Round 692,472 to the nearest hundred thousand = 700000 (L) · Round 142 to the nearest ten = 140 (C) · Round 337 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 509,941 to the nearest hundred thousand = 500000 (H) · Round 144,936 to the nearest ten thousand = 140000 (U) · Round 14,259 to the nearest thousand = 14000 (O) · Round 279,857 to the nearest ten thousand = 280000 (G) · Round 2,825 to the nearest hundred = 2800 (F) · Round 4,655 to the nearest hundred = 4700 (E) · Round 74,551 to the nearest ten thousand = 70000 (N) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (K) · Round 286,023 to the nearest hundred thousand = 300000 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS SAW A GIRL PILOT RUN AWAY"1409 + 1744 = 3153 (A) · 4475 + 4250 = 8725 (R) · 1600 + 2031 = 3631 (S) · 3292 + 2715 = 6007 (O) · 4173 + 2984 = 7157 (W) · 5168 + 3125 = 8293 (N) · 5594 + 3924 = 9518 (U) · 3618 + 5928 = 9546 (G) · 2642 + 2512 = 5154 (L) · 2188 + 1256 = 3444 (Y) · 4065 + 5478 = 9543 (I) · 1652 + 3838 = 5490 (T) · 3749 + 3559 = 7308 (P) · 2836 + 3312 = 6148 (E)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "VEGA SCARED THE CROOK WITH AN ALARM"7943 - 1203 = 6740 (V) · 5050 - 2216 = 2834 (D) · 2493 - 1340 = 1153 (C) · 2902 - 1354 = 1548 (G) · 3382 - 423 = 2959 (W) · 9383 - 2226 = 7157 (L) · 5254 - 3822 = 1432 (S) · 3553 - 131 = 3422 (T) · 9448 - 451 = 8997 (H) · 5577 - 118 = 5459 (K) · 7456 - 4359 = 3097 (I) · 9382 - 1260 = 8122 (E) · 10442 - 2736 = 7706 (M) · 9874 - 1434 = 8440 (R) · 5124 - 699 = 4425 (N) · 4214 - 2656 = 1558 (A) · 4041 - 2105 = 1936 (O)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A TORN GREEN SUIT PATCH WAS LEFT BEHIND"10 × 3 = 30 (A) · 4 × 7 = 28 (B) · 8 × 5 = 40 (P) · 4 × 8 = 32 (I) · 6 × 7 = 42 (U) · 10 × 10 = 100 (W) · 3 × 11 = 33 (R) · 11 × 9 = 99 (T) · 10 × 8 = 80 (N) · 6 × 12 = 72 (H) · 9 × 7 = 63 (G) · 12 × 12 = 144 (D) · 2 × 9 = 18 (O) · 9 × 1 = 9 (F) · 4 × 6 = 24 (E) · 2 × 3 = 6 (L) · 3 × 5 = 15 (S) · 5 × 12 = 60 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Jax Ceres9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- Case of the Comet Crook — set in the space station Orbit-9
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects