Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations

Mystery of the Golden Scarab

A priceless golden scarab has vanished from the active dig site camp. The fresh tracks lead straight into the deep, trap-filled jungle ruins. You must use your mathematical mapping skills to find the rogue explorer before they escape the island.

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	Secondary Gear	Writing Hand	Hair Evidence	Vulnerability
Diana Cruz	Pocket Compass	Decoy Map	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Bright Flash
Paige Turner	Machete	Walkie Talkie	Right-handed	Black Hair	Slippery Mud
Wyatt Ridge	Pocket Compass	Walkie Talkie	Right-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Eli Granger	Smoke Bomb	Binoculars	Right-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Brooke Vance	Grappling Hook	Decoy Map	Left-handed	Blonde Hair	Loud Whistle
Hazel Croft	Smoke Bomb	Walkie Talkie	Left-handed	Black Hair	Slippery Mud
Chase Miller	Pocket Compass	Decoy Map	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Loud Whistle
Nadia Bell	Smoke Bomb	Binoculars	Left-handed	Black Hair	Slippery Mud
Toby Marsh	Smoke Bomb	Binoculars	Left-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Grant Hayes	Grappling Hook	Binoculars	Left-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Marcus Brody	Smoke Bomb	Binoculars	Right-handed	Blonde Hair	Loud Whistle
Ian Drake	Pocket Compass	Walkie Talkie	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Bright Flash
Victor Sullivan	Grappling Hook	Decoy Map	Right-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Kaleb Vance	Pocket Compass	Climbing Spike	Right-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Quinn Colby	Laser Pointer	Walkie Talkie	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Loud Whistle
Sienna West	Smoke Bomb	Decoy Map	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Bright Flash
Owen Rivers	Pocket Compass	Decoy Map	Right-handed	Black Hair	Bright Flash
Zoe Carter	Laser Pointer	Flashlight	Right-handed	Brown Hair	Loud Whistle
Rene Belloq	Machete	Flashlight	Left-handed	Blonde Hair	Bright Flash
Lara Finch	Smoke Bomb	Climbing Spike	Left-handed	Black Hair	Slippery Mud
Julia Jones	Grappling Hook	Walkie Talkie	Right-handed	Blonde Hair	Slippery Mud

Clue 1

Pythagorean theorem

To cross a treacherous ravine, we must calculate the exact length of the zipline rope connecting the tall mahogany tree to the cliff edge across the gap.

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

123

111

legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =T

legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =N

legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =O

legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =D

legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =G

legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =M

legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =A

legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =P

legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =S

legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =V

legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =U

legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =L

legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =H

legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =C

legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =E

legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =I

legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =K

legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =B

0/18 letters found

Clue 2

Square roots

We found a square tiled chamber floor in the ruins. Knowing the total area of the tiles helps us calculate the side length so we can step only on the safe path.

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(576) =T

sqrt(121) =U

sqrt(361) =M

sqrt(9) =G

sqrt(196) =A

sqrt(4) =H

sqrt(289) =S

sqrt(81) =F

sqrt(100) =P

sqrt(225) =I

sqrt(16) =E

sqrt(64) =D

sqrt(400) =C

sqrt(256) =N

sqrt(324) =R

sqrt(36) =O

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Exponents

A strange colony of glowing cave lichen doubles its size every hour. We must calculate how much it has multiplied over several hours to avoid getting trapped in the dark.

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

324

144

441

125

625

125

441

144

625

125

169

125

225

125

128

144

625

324

18^2 =T

12^2 =H

2^4 =E

5^4 =N

21^2 =Y

5^3 =A

2^7 =S

2^5 =R

3^2 =W

2^2 =M

13^2 =C

15^2 =L

5^2 =O

7^2 =F

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Order of operations

The stone door lock requires us to press the sun, moon, and star glyphs in a precise mathematical order to disarm the poison dart trap.

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

107

117

13 + 7 × 9 =B

12 × 7 - 24 =N

6 × 6 - 24 =C

11 × 6 - 11 =L

7 × 4 - 2 =E

41 + 8 × 2 =G

13 + 7 × 2 =S

4 × 11 - 22 =H

3 + 3 × 6 =R

36 + 9 × 9 =T

60 + 5 × 5 =O

3 × 4 - 2 =A

12 × 5 - 27 =Y

2 + 3 × 2 =D

34 + 4 × 5 =W

12 × 11 - 25 =I

47 + 5 × 7 =K

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Square roots — the last clue

We need to scale down the dimensions of a perfectly square map grid. Finding the square root of the grid's sector count reveals the secret coordinate.

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(4) = ?

sqrt(16) = ?

sqrt(100) = ?

sqrt(25) = ?

sqrt(81) = ?

sqrt(1) = ?

sqrt(144) = ?

sqrt(121) = ?

sqrt(9) = ?

sqrt(64) = ?

sqrt(49) = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain hacked through thick vines with a machete, then pounded in a climbing spike.

2.The villain checked their pocket compass to find north, then dropped a decoy map to mislead the team.

3.The villain shined a laser pointer to distract the guard, then dropped a decoy map to mislead the team.

4.The villain tossed a smoke bomb to obscure the path, then scanned the horizon with binoculars.

5.The villain shined a laser pointer to distract the guard, then scanned the horizon with binoculars.

6.The villain checked their pocket compass to find north, then whispered into a walkie talkie.

7.The villain hacked through thick vines with a machete, then whispered into a walkie talkie.

8.The villain swung across the chasm using a grappling hook, then whispered into a walkie talkie.

9.The villain tossed a smoke bomb to obscure the path, then switched on a bright flashlight.

10.The villain swung across the chasm using a grappling hook, then dropped a decoy map to mislead the team.

11.The villain checked their pocket compass to find north, then scanned the horizon with binoculars.

12.The villain shined a laser pointer to distract the guard, then whispered into a walkie talkie.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — Mystery of the Golden Scarab

Culprit: Wyatt Ridge (Pocket Compass · Walkie Talkie · Right-handed · Black Hair · Bright Flash)

Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE CLIMBING SPIKES"
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (T) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (N) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (O) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (D) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (G) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (M) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (A) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (P) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (S) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (V) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (U) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (L) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (H) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (C) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (E) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (I) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (K) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (B)
Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT USES THEIR RIGHT HAND FOR MAPS"
sqrt(576) = 24 (T) · sqrt(121) = 11 (U) · sqrt(361) = 19 (M) · sqrt(9) = 3 (G) · sqrt(196) = 14 (A) · sqrt(4) = 2 (H) · sqrt(289) = 17 (S) · sqrt(81) = 9 (F) · sqrt(100) = 10 (P) · sqrt(225) = 15 (I) · sqrt(16) = 4 (E) · sqrt(64) = 8 (D) · sqrt(400) = 20 (C) · sqrt(256) = 16 (N) · sqrt(324) = 18 (R) · sqrt(36) = 6 (O)
Clue 3 (Exponents): "THEY RAN AWAY WHEN A CAMERA FLASH WENT OFF"
18^2 = 324 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (H) · 2^4 = 16 (E) · 5^4 = 625 (N) · 21^2 = 441 (Y) · 5^3 = 125 (A) · 2^7 = 128 (S) · 2^5 = 32 (R) · 3^2 = 9 (W) · 2^2 = 4 (M) · 13^2 = 169 (C) · 15^2 = 225 (L) · 5^2 = 25 (O) · 7^2 = 49 (F)
Clue 4 (Order of operations): "BLACK HAIR WAS SNAGGED ON A THORNY BRANCH"
13 + 7 × 9 = 76 (B) · 12 × 7 - 24 = 60 (N) · 6 × 6 - 24 = 12 (C) · 11 × 6 - 11 = 55 (L) · 7 × 4 - 2 = 26 (E) · 41 + 8 × 2 = 57 (G) · 13 + 7 × 2 = 27 (S) · 4 × 11 - 22 = 22 (H) · 3 + 3 × 6 = 21 (R) · 36 + 9 × 9 = 117 (T) · 60 + 5 × 5 = 85 (O) · 3 × 4 - 2 = 10 (A) · 12 × 5 - 27 = 33 (Y) · 2 + 3 × 2 = 8 (D) · 34 + 4 × 5 = 54 (W) · 12 × 11 - 25 = 107 (I) · 47 + 5 × 7 = 82 (K)
Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 6) → Wyatt Ridge
sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(49) = 7

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 10 math
Math topics: Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: Mystery of the Golden Scarab — set in the ancient ruins of Isla de la Luna
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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