Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
Mystery of the Sky Academy Thief
The Golden Compass has vanished from the Grand Airship Academy! A mysterious Sky Thief slipped past the wind guards during the annual Gale Force Balloon Race. As junior scouts, you must track down the culprit before they fly beyond the storm barrier.
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 Gear | Airship Gadget | Steering Grip | Hair Color | Fear Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace | Steam Rocket | Signal Flare | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Alan | Rope Ladder | Cloud Fogger | Right Hand Grip | Black Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Laura | Grappling Hook | Wind Gauge | Right Hand Grip | Black Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Orville | Rope Ladder | Pocket Compass | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Diana | Glide Wing | Flash Laser | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Steve | Grappling Hook | Wind Gauge | Left Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Victor | Grappling Hook | Wind Gauge | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Henry | Rope Ladder | Cloud Fogger | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Buzz | Grappling Hook | Signal Flare | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Nellie | Glide Wing | Pocket Compass | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Loud Sirens |
| Amelia | Glide Wing | Cloud Fogger | Right Hand Grip | Black Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Frank | Turbo Boots | Wind Gauge | Right Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Arthur | Glide Wing | Flash Laser | Right Hand Grip | Black Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Wilbur | Turbo Boots | Wind Gauge | Left Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Mae | Glide Wing | Wind Gauge | Right Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Charles | Glide Wing | Pocket Compass | Right Hand Grip | Black Hair | Bright Flashes |
| Yuri | Glide Wing | Signal Flare | Left Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Sally | Glide Wing | Flash Laser | Left Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Loud Sirens |
| Marco | Grappling Hook | Signal Flare | Left Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Jacques | Rope Ladder | Pocket Compass | Right Hand Grip | Silver Hair | Strong Drafts |
| Florence | Grappling Hook | Pocket Compass | Right Hand Grip | Pink Hair | Bright Flashes |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To rule out one of the airship gadgets, we need to inspect a fraction of the supply crates left behind on the hangar floor.
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
29
8
18
T
29
8
26
18
20
36
6
18
33
21
6
T
29
8
7
17
18
7
23
38
6
30
36
20
6
37
37
18
39
1/4 of 116 =T
2/10 of 185 =G
4/10 of 15 =O
2/5 of 50 =F
2/10 of 35 =A
4/5 of 45 =D
3/6 of 34 =V
1/8 of 64 =H
3/5 of 50 =U
3/8 of 104 =R
3/6 of 52 =I
5/10 of 42 =N
2/10 of 115 =C
2/8 of 152 =L
2/8 of 132 =S
3/6 of 36 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
We found an encrypted flight log on the main console. Follow the strict order of operations to crack the code and reveal the pilot grip.
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
33
47
68
38
12
38
22
68
19
T
33
38
T
33
68
68
24
68
79
12
38
29
53
45
T
33
47
68
29
24
24
29
45
47
T
33
47
43
53
79
12 × 3 - 3 =T
12 × 8 - 17 =D
7 × 8 - 27 =I
8 × 11 - 20 =E
12 × 5 - 17 =A
7 × 8 - 3 =N
6 × 7 - 18 =R
10 + 4 × 3 =P
12 × 6 - 27 =G
5 × 4 - 8 =U
19 + 7 × 4 =H
1 + 2 × 9 =C
26 + 2 × 6 =S
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The thief left behind footprints near the gears. Multiply the rows of muddy boot prints to find the clue about their weakness.
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
84
6
121
60
21
60
54
121
90
T
84
72
40
70
121
21
54
77
28
60
T
84
33
36
28
72
11
33
40
50
T
84
60
7 × 12 =T
4 × 9 =O
4 × 7 =N
5 × 10 =F
3 × 2 =H
10 × 6 =S
11 × 11 =E
6 × 9 =P
3 × 11 =R
7 × 3 =U
10 × 9 =C
10 × 4 =A
7 × 11 =I
7 × 10 =V
1 × 11 =D
9 × 8 =G
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar screen is glitching and only shows the suspect's altitude rounded to the nearest ten, which points to their hair 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.
W
500
2000
5000
30
900
9000
370
70
1100
4300
230
2000
2300
7000
290
1100
2300
30
9000
130
7000
2000
430
30
430
110
300
1100
130
70
2000
290
130
Round 488 to the nearest hundredW
Round 872 to the nearest hundredU
Round 2,292 to the nearest hundredR
Round 290 to the nearest tenA
Round 134 to the nearest tenT
Round 7,270 to the nearest thousandH
Round 294 to the nearest hundredP
Round 67 to the nearest tenS
Round 368 to the nearest tenD
Round 8,687 to the nearest thousandN
Round 33 to the nearest tenO
Round 107 to the nearest tenK
Round 232 to the nearest tenV
Round 4,281 to the nearest hundredL
Round 428 to the nearest tenC
Round 2,060 to the nearest thousandE
Round 1,059 to the nearest hundredI
Round 5,240 to the nearest thousandF
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Divide the leftover fuel canisters equally among our patrol squads to unlock the final clue from the steering deck.
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
77 ÷ 11 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain climbed down to the platform using a rope ladder, then escaped into the mist using a cloud fogger.
2.The villain soared down from the rafters with a glide wing, then navigated through the storm using a pocket compass.
3.The villain blasted over the Academy walls on a steam rocket, then marked their escape path with a signal flare.
4.The villain sprinted past the guards wearing turbo boots, then marked their escape path with a signal flare.
5.The villain swung across the dock using a grappling hook, then blinded the security cameras with a flash laser.
6.The villain swung across the dock using a grappling hook, then checked the air currents with a wind gauge.
7.The villain soared down from the rafters with a glide wing, then blinded the security cameras with a flash laser.
8.The villain soared down from the rafters with a glide wing, then checked the air currents with a wind gauge.
9.The villain soared down from the rafters with a glide wing, then escaped into the mist using a cloud fogger.
10.The villain climbed down to the platform using a rope ladder, then navigated through the storm using a pocket compass.
11.The villain swung across the dock using a grappling hook, then marked their escape path with a signal flare.
12.The villain blasted over the Academy walls on a steam rocket, then checked the air currents with a wind gauge.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Mystery of the Sky Academy Thief
Culprit: Victor (Grappling Hook · Wind Gauge · Right Hand Grip · Silver Hair · Strong Drafts)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE A CLOUD FOGGER"1/4 of 116 = 29 (T) · 2/10 of 185 = 37 (G) · 4/10 of 15 = 6 (O) · 2/5 of 50 = 20 (F) · 2/10 of 35 = 7 (A) · 4/5 of 45 = 36 (D) · 3/6 of 34 = 17 (V) · 1/8 of 64 = 8 (H) · 3/5 of 50 = 30 (U) · 3/8 of 104 = 39 (R) · 3/6 of 52 = 26 (I) · 5/10 of 42 = 21 (N) · 2/10 of 115 = 23 (C) · 2/8 of 152 = 38 (L) · 2/8 of 132 = 33 (S) · 3/6 of 36 = 18 (E)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT STEERED USING THEIR RIGHT HAND"12 × 3 - 3 = 33 (T) · 12 × 8 - 17 = 79 (D) · 7 × 8 - 27 = 29 (I) · 8 × 11 - 20 = 68 (E) · 12 × 5 - 17 = 43 (A) · 7 × 8 - 3 = 53 (N) · 6 × 7 - 18 = 24 (R) · 10 + 4 × 3 = 22 (P) · 12 × 6 - 27 = 45 (G) · 5 × 4 - 8 = 12 (U) · 19 + 7 × 4 = 47 (H) · 1 + 2 × 9 = 19 (C) · 26 + 2 × 6 = 38 (S)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT GAVE UP IN STRONG DRAFTS"7 × 12 = 84 (T) · 4 × 9 = 36 (O) · 4 × 7 = 28 (N) · 5 × 10 = 50 (F) · 3 × 2 = 6 (H) · 10 × 6 = 60 (S) · 11 × 11 = 121 (E) · 6 × 9 = 54 (P) · 3 × 11 = 33 (R) · 7 × 3 = 21 (U) · 10 × 9 = 90 (C) · 10 × 4 = 40 (A) · 7 × 11 = 77 (I) · 7 × 10 = 70 (V) · 1 × 11 = 11 (D) · 9 × 8 = 72 (G)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND SILVER HAIR ON THE COCKPIT SEAT"Round 488 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 872 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 2,292 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (R) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (A) · Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (T) · Round 7,270 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 294 to the nearest hundred = 300 (P) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (S) · Round 368 to the nearest ten = 370 (D) · Round 8,687 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (N) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 107 to the nearest ten = 110 (K) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (V) · Round 4,281 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (L) · Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (C) · Round 2,060 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E) · Round 1,059 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (I) · Round 5,240 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Victor77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- Mystery of the Sky Academy Thief — set in The Floating Docks of Zephyr Bay
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects