🔎 Video gamesGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations

Case of the Glitch Phantom

During the championship finals on NEXUS-7, the Game Master vanished mid-match and the scoreboard froze on a corrupted screen. A laughing voice promised the server would stay broken forever. Twenty-four players were logged in, and one of them is the Glitch Phantom.

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	Signature Move	Hack	Input Device	Avatar Glow	Weakness
NeonNyx	Speedrun dash	Wall clip	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	overheats fast
RogueRender	Stealth cloak	Wall clip	plays on keyboard	neon green glow	needs low ping
ComboKai	Shield bash	Lag switch	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	overheats fast
PixiePower	Shield bash	Aimbot lock	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	needs low ping
SilentSpark	Sniper headshot	Aimbot lock	plays on keyboard	neon green glow	overheats fast
PixelByte	Sniper headshot	No clip flight	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	overheats fast
MegaMilo	Sniper headshot	Duplication glitch	plays on keyboard	hot pink glow	needs low ping
TurboTina	Shield bash	No clip flight	plays on controller	electric blue glow	overheats fast
MaxModem	Speedrun dash	Wall clip	plays on controller	hot pink glow	runs out of mana
VoltViper	Combo juggle	Duplication glitch	plays on controller	neon green glow	needs low ping
LunaLoot	Speedrun dash	Lag switch	plays on controller	neon green glow	overheats fast
OrionFrame	Combo juggle	Wall clip	plays on controller	neon green glow	runs out of mana
QuickScope	Combo juggle	Aimbot lock	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	overheats fast
Cyra Volt	Shield bash	Duplication glitch	plays on controller	hot pink glow	needs low ping
ShadowFrag	Speedrun dash	Duplication glitch	plays on keyboard	neon green glow	runs out of mana
DashDante	Shield bash	Aimbot lock	plays on controller	electric blue glow	runs out of mana
ByteRider	Stealth cloak	Duplication glitch	plays on keyboard	hot pink glow	runs out of mana
RexRespawn	Speedrun dash	Aimbot lock	plays on keyboard	electric blue glow	overheats fast
JadeJoystick	Shield bash	Aimbot lock	plays on controller	neon green glow	runs out of mana
NovaStrike	Sniper headshot	Wall clip	plays on keyboard	neon green glow	runs out of mana
GlitchMancer	Combo juggle	Lag switch	plays on keyboard	neon green glow	runs out of mana

Clue 1

Pythagorean theorem

The Phantom bolted diagonally from one corner of the arena grid to the other. Measure the two straight sides of the map and work out the diagonal it leaped along to see which exit it used.

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

100

125

100

legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =T

legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =V

legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =A

legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =E

legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =I

legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =N

legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =L

legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =C

legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =W

legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =O

legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =S

legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =G

legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =H

0/13 letters found

Clue 2

Square roots

The server logs only stored the attack power as a squared value. Take its square root to read the real damage number that points to the suspect.

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

sqrt(625) =A

sqrt(225) =E

sqrt(441) =L

sqrt(144) =B

sqrt(4) =D

sqrt(256) =W

sqrt(49) =S

sqrt(361) =P

sqrt(25) =N

sqrt(289) =I

sqrt(16) =T

sqrt(9) =Y

sqrt(324) =H

sqrt(400) =R

sqrt(576) =M

sqrt(64) =O

sqrt(169) =K

0/17 letters found

Clue 3

Exponents

The duplication glitch doubled the stolen loot again and again. Write that repeated doubling as a power to count exactly how many copies spawned.

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

100

128

100

625

484

125

512

484

400

100

361

441

361

400

216

484

216

361

125

484

100

256

128

125

10^2 =A

3^2 =E

22^2 =R

2^4 =S

2^2 =B

8^2 =P

20^2 =H

4^4 =K

8^3 =V

5^4 =Y

6^3 =I

5^3 =O

2^5 =G

2^7 =L

21^2 =D

19^2 =T

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Order of operations

The scoreboard hid a room number inside one long line of adds, multiplies, and brackets. Solve it in the correct order to find where the Game Master is held.

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

110

103

16 + 7 × 5 =E

11 × 6 - 8 =N

28 + 8 × 5 =L

35 + 3 × 6 =Y

54 + 3 × 6 =A

47 + 4 × 6 =U

62 + 2 × 4 =I

67 + 9 × 4 =P

17 + 5 × 9 =R

10 × 12 - 10 =B

8 × 12 - 9 =C

6 × 5 - 23 =T

2 × 8 - 2 =K

11 × 8 - 25 =H

39 + 2 × 5 =S

5 × 4 - 4 =M

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Square roots — the last clue

The last locked door shows only a squared code on its panel. Take the square root, punch in the key, and corner the Glitch Phantom for good.

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(36) = ?

sqrt(64) = ?

sqrt(49) = ?

sqrt(100) = ?

sqrt(9) = ?

sqrt(1) = ?

sqrt(144) = ?

sqrt(16) = ?

sqrt(4) = ?

sqrt(81) = ?

sqrt(25) = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain vanishes under a stealth cloak, then locks aim onto every target.

2.The villain lands a perfect headshot, then clips through solid walls.

3.The villain bashes straight through shields, then clips through solid walls.

4.The villain lands a perfect headshot, then duplicates rare loot endlessly.

5.The villain dashes across the map in seconds, then duplicates rare loot endlessly.

6.The villain chains an endless combo, then locks aim onto every target.

7.The villain lands a perfect headshot, then flies through the ceiling with no clip.

8.The villain dashes across the map in seconds, then locks aim onto every target.

9.The villain vanishes under a stealth cloak, then flies through the ceiling with no clip.

10.The villain chains an endless combo, then clips through solid walls.

11.The villain dashes across the map in seconds, then clips through solid walls.

12.The villain bashes straight through shields, then flies through the ceiling with no clip.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — Case of the Glitch Phantom

Culprit: NeonNyx (Speedrun dash · Wall clip · plays on keyboard · electric blue glow · overheats fast)

Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN CANNOT LAG SWITCH"
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (T) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (V) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (A) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (E) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (I) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (N) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (L) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (C) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (W) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (O) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (S) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (G) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (H)
Clue 2 (Square roots): "A WITNESS SAW THE PHANTOM PLAY ON KEYBOARD"
sqrt(625) = 25 (A) · sqrt(225) = 15 (E) · sqrt(441) = 21 (L) · sqrt(144) = 12 (B) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(256) = 16 (W) · sqrt(49) = 7 (S) · sqrt(361) = 19 (P) · sqrt(25) = 5 (N) · sqrt(289) = 17 (I) · sqrt(16) = 4 (T) · sqrt(9) = 3 (Y) · sqrt(324) = 18 (H) · sqrt(400) = 20 (R) · sqrt(576) = 24 (M) · sqrt(64) = 8 (O) · sqrt(169) = 13 (K)
Clue 3 (Exponents): "A PLAYER OVERHEATED THEIR RIG TO BREAK LOOSE"
10^2 = 100 (A) · 3^2 = 9 (E) · 22^2 = 484 (R) · 2^4 = 16 (S) · 2^2 = 4 (B) · 8^2 = 64 (P) · 20^2 = 400 (H) · 4^4 = 256 (K) · 8^3 = 512 (V) · 5^4 = 625 (Y) · 6^3 = 216 (I) · 5^3 = 125 (O) · 2^5 = 32 (G) · 2^7 = 128 (L) · 21^2 = 441 (D) · 19^2 = 361 (T)
Clue 4 (Order of operations): "ELECTRIC BLUE SPARKS LIT THE EMPTY ARENA"
16 + 7 × 5 = 51 (E) · 11 × 6 - 8 = 58 (N) · 28 + 8 × 5 = 68 (L) · 35 + 3 × 6 = 53 (Y) · 54 + 3 × 6 = 72 (A) · 47 + 4 × 6 = 71 (U) · 62 + 2 × 4 = 70 (I) · 67 + 9 × 4 = 103 (P) · 17 + 5 × 9 = 62 (R) · 10 × 12 - 10 = 110 (B) · 8 × 12 - 9 = 87 (C) · 6 × 5 - 23 = 7 (T) · 2 × 8 - 2 = 14 (K) · 11 × 8 - 25 = 63 (H) · 39 + 2 × 5 = 49 (S) · 5 × 4 - 4 = 16 (M)
Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 11) → NeonNyx
sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(25) = 5

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 10 math
Math topics: Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: Case of the Glitch Phantom — set in the online battle arena server NEXUS-7
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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