Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
Case of the Super Bad Superhero
A villain hides among the heroes of Mathhattan and has kidnapped the Mayor. The police can't tell friend from phony — only a sharp math detective can. Solve each clue's math to decode it, cross suspects off the list, and name the one hero left standing.
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 | Main Power | Extra Power | Mask | Hair | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Mage | Teleportation | Poisonous Burps | Masked | Purple | Silver |
| The Giggler | Energy Blasts | Sonic Scream | Masked | Purple | Silver |
| Blitzfire | Energy Blasts | Shape Shifting | Masked | Purple | Sunlight |
| Zapman | Teleportation | Shape Shifting | Unmasked | Purple | Silver |
| Pizza Peter | Energy Blasts | Shape Shifting | Masked | Orange | Silver |
| Colossal Crush | Invisibility | Poisonous Burps | Masked | Green | Silver |
| Starlight | Super Speed | Shape Shifting | Masked | Purple | Cookies |
| Lion Man | Invisibility | Poisonous Burps | Unmasked | Purple | Silver |
| Owl Man | Invisibility | Flight | Masked | Green | Sunlight |
| Captain Nucleus | Invisibility | Shape Shifting | Masked | Purple | Silver |
| Titanicus | Teleportation | Super Strength | Masked | Orange | Cookies |
| Thunder Hawk | Mind Control | Shape Shifting | Masked | Orange | Sunlight |
| Splash | Energy Blasts | Flight | Masked | Purple | Sunlight |
| Quasar | Mind Control | Sonic Scream | Masked | Purple | Sunlight |
| Blinker | Mind Control | Super Strength | Unmasked | Green | Silver |
| Dare Girl | Energy Blasts | Super Strength | Unmasked | Orange | Sunlight |
| Mrs. Amazing | Invisibility | Poisonous Burps | Unmasked | Orange | Cookies |
| Doctor Bolt | Invisibility | Flight | Masked | Purple | Sunlight |
| Iron Vox | Invisibility | Flight | Unmasked | Green | Silver |
| Razor | Mind Control | Shape Shifting | Masked | Purple | Silver |
| Nightgale | Invisibility | Flight | Masked | Purple | Silver |
Clue 1
Rounding
A torn note flutters out of the Mayor's office — but the words are hidden behind a math code. Solve it to read the first clue.
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
9000
700
900
800
80
60
60
5000
80
400
7000
5000
400
400
600
T
9000
2000
60
8000
Round 8,723 to the nearest thousandT
Round 7,305 to the nearest thousandC
Round 587 to the nearest hundredO
Round 670 to the nearest hundredH
Round 57 to the nearest tenL
Round 852 to the nearest hundredE
Round 423 to the nearest hundredN
Round 82 to the nearest tenI
Round 781 to the nearest hundredV
Round 4,832 to the nearest thousandA
Round 7,976 to the nearest thousandY
Round 1,594 to the nearest thousandF
0/12 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
A witness left a message at the scene, locked behind more math. Work it out to hear what they saw.
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
569
951
302
420
580
354
866
866
908
354
348
819
908
420
866
420
823
354
A
569
580
420
302
823
354
908
819
951
A
569
866
252
A
569
866
498
354
939
343 + 226 =A
584 + 282 =S
658 + 293 =W
230 + 118 =P
179 + 319 =K
205 + 215 =T
266 + 553 =O
148 + 154 =I
168 + 186 =E
563 + 376 =D
389 + 434 =H
136 + 116 =M
350 + 558 =R
196 + 384 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Down at the docks, someone scared the villain off and scribbled how. Crack the numbers to find out.
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
515
330
A
515
673
898
471
199
A
515
528
730
673
425
560
560
391
503
730
A
515
342
391
577
503
730
528
425
105
577
391
503
471
577
330
416
730
528
733 - 218 =A
609 - 193 =V
894 - 221 =D
596 - 266 =L
1020 - 290 =E
631 - 71 =F
1232 - 334 =Y
806 - 229 =I
536 - 194 =N
664 - 239 =O
882 - 354 =R
319 - 120 =C
690 - 219 =S
694 - 303 =T
244 - 139 =W
650 - 147 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The clean-up crew found something the villain dropped. Do the math to see what it was.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Y
22
28
55
120
14
60
84
45
24
27
35
60
84
45
28
120
70
55
27
70
36
63
100
35
14
27
96
100
63
27
63
24
100
63
144
35
Y
22
28
27
96
35
45
24
35
5
63
60
11 × 2 =Y
4 × 6 =T
5 × 7 =A
12 × 8 =W
12 × 12 =M
10 × 10 =H
7 × 10 =P
9 × 5 =S
4 × 7 =O
7 × 9 =E
3 × 12 =L
9 × 3 =R
12 × 7 =D
2 × 7 =I
10 × 6 =N
5 × 11 =U
5 × 1 =K
12 × 10 =F
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You've almost got it. One last set of numbers will reveal exactly how the villain pulled it off.
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
36 ÷ 6 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain bends minds to make victims obey, then lets out a poisonous burp to weaken them.
2.The villain bends minds to make victims obey, then takes to the sky.
3.The villain races through the streets at impossible speed, then tears open locked doors with raw strength.
4.The villain fires crackling energy blasts, then takes to the sky.
5.The villain bends minds to make victims obey, then unleashes a sonic scream.
6.The villain bends minds to make victims obey, then shape-shifts into a familiar face.
7.The villain fires crackling energy blasts, then unleashes a sonic scream.
8.The villain races through the streets at impossible speed, then unleashes a sonic scream.
9.The villain turns invisible to slip past everyone, then shape-shifts into a familiar face.
10.The villain fires crackling energy blasts, then shape-shifts into a familiar face.
11.The villain teleports behind victims without warning, then lets out a poisonous burp to weaken them.
12.The villain races through the streets at impossible speed, then shape-shifts into a familiar face.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Case of the Super Bad Superhero
Culprit: Mega Mage (Teleportation · Poisonous Burps · Masked · Purple · Silver)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN CANNOT FLY"Round 8,723 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 7,305 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (C) · Round 587 to the nearest hundred = 600 (O) · Round 670 to the nearest hundred = 700 (H) · Round 57 to the nearest ten = 60 (L) · Round 852 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E) · Round 423 to the nearest hundred = 400 (N) · Round 82 to the nearest ten = 80 (I) · Round 781 to the nearest hundred = 800 (V) · Round 4,832 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 7,976 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (Y) · Round 1,594 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (F)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS REPORTS THE ANTIHERO WAS MASKED"343 + 226 = 569 (A) · 584 + 282 = 866 (S) · 658 + 293 = 951 (W) · 230 + 118 = 348 (P) · 179 + 319 = 498 (K) · 205 + 215 = 420 (T) · 266 + 553 = 819 (O) · 148 + 154 = 302 (I) · 168 + 186 = 354 (E) · 563 + 376 = 939 (D) · 389 + 434 = 823 (H) · 136 + 116 = 252 (M) · 350 + 558 = 908 (R) · 196 + 384 = 580 (N)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A LADY SCARED OFF THE ANTIHERO WITH SILVER"733 - 218 = 515 (A) · 609 - 193 = 416 (V) · 894 - 221 = 673 (D) · 596 - 266 = 330 (L) · 1020 - 290 = 730 (E) · 631 - 71 = 560 (F) · 1232 - 334 = 898 (Y) · 806 - 229 = 577 (I) · 536 - 194 = 342 (N) · 664 - 239 = 425 (O) · 882 - 354 = 528 (R) · 319 - 120 = 199 (C) · 690 - 219 = 471 (S) · 694 - 303 = 391 (T) · 244 - 139 = 105 (W) · 650 - 147 = 503 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "YOU FIND STRANDS OF PURPLE HAIR WHERE THE MAYOR WAS TAKEN"11 × 2 = 22 (Y) · 4 × 6 = 24 (T) · 5 × 7 = 35 (A) · 12 × 8 = 96 (W) · 12 × 12 = 144 (M) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 7 × 10 = 70 (P) · 9 × 5 = 45 (S) · 4 × 7 = 28 (O) · 7 × 9 = 63 (E) · 3 × 12 = 36 (L) · 9 × 3 = 27 (R) · 12 × 7 = 84 (D) · 2 × 7 = 14 (I) · 10 × 6 = 60 (N) · 5 × 11 = 55 (U) · 5 × 1 = 5 (K) · 12 × 10 = 120 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Mega Mage36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- Case of the Super Bad Superhero — set in the island of Mathhattan
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects