Grade 8Reading: grades 5-6ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
Mystery of the Whispering Canopy
The Golden Compass has been swiped from the Chief Mapmaker's treehouse studio on the Isle of Whispering Winds! A sneaky explorer did it. We need to track down the suspect before they sail away with our island's greatest treasure.
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 | Special Gear | Disguise Item | Dominant Hand | Helmet Decal | Foil Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nora Crest | laser pointer | orange cape | left handed | star sticker | bright flashlight |
| Zoe Hunter | walkie talkie | yellow bandana | right handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Kira Cross | smoke bomb | blue feather | right handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Milo Stark | walkie talkie | red scarf | left handed | star sticker | loud whistle |
| Mason Thorne | grappling hook | red scarf | left handed | skull sticker | sticky honey |
| Beck Sharp | pocket drone | red scarf | right handed | skull sticker | sticky honey |
| Liam Briggs | pocket drone | orange cape | right handed | crown sticker | sticky honey |
| Owen Chase | pocket drone | yellow bandana | left handed | skull sticker | sticky honey |
| Leo Harrison | grappling hook | orange cape | right handed | skull sticker | bright flashlight |
| Skye Ridley | laser pointer | yellow bandana | right handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Toby Vance | pocket drone | green goggles | left handed | crown sticker | loud whistle |
| Hugo Vance | smoke bomb | red scarf | left handed | crown sticker | bright flashlight |
| Finn Barlow | pocket drone | blue feather | left handed | skull sticker | sticky honey |
| Paige Gentry | walkie talkie | red scarf | right handed | star sticker | loud whistle |
| Maya Sterling | walkie talkie | red scarf | right handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Dawn Rivers | pocket drone | orange cape | right handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Jax Wilder | laser pointer | red scarf | right handed | star sticker | bright flashlight |
| Ava Sterling | laser pointer | red scarf | right handed | star sticker | loud whistle |
| Jade Archer | laser pointer | blue feather | left handed | skull sticker | loud whistle |
| Ruby Drake | smoke bomb | orange cape | right handed | skull sticker | bright flashlight |
| Cole Danger | smoke bomb | green goggles | right handed | skull sticker | sticky honey |
Clue 1
Exponents
The thief fled up the giant canopy steps. Each platform has double the leaves of the last. Calculate the total power level to find which way they went.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
N
16
289
289
36
625
N
16
8
121
100
625
216
121
144
625
441
441
121
121
N
16
625
400
400
64
121
441
100
121
N
16
121
2^4 =N
10^2 =C
6^3 =P
20^2 =T
5^4 =A
11^2 =E
6^2 =R
8^2 =H
17^2 =O
2^3 =G
12^2 =W
21^2 =S
0/12 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We found a square-shaped campsite crumpled in the brush. To find the path width, we must find the square root of its total area.
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
22
2
19
3
16
15
2
T
22
2
6
11
8
24
19
4
T
22
6
25
3
16
11
T
22
13
11
T
22
2
19
8
13
13
3
sqrt(484) =T
sqrt(169) =O
sqrt(64) =D
sqrt(36) =A
sqrt(361) =E
sqrt(16) =F
sqrt(4) =H
sqrt(121) =N
sqrt(256) =I
sqrt(9) =R
sqrt(625) =P
sqrt(225) =G
sqrt(576) =L
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The marauder zip-lined diagonally across the canyon. Use the height and width of the gorge to find the exact length of the zip line.
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
10
5
25
37
68
74
58
29
82
34
5
17
26
A
10
65
17
82
34
58
17
26
A
10
20
A
10
37
68
17
20
20
37
85
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =A
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =R
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =L
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =E
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =O
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =S
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =H
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =T
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =U
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =M
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =N
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =K
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
A locked gate blocks the secret jungle passage. We must enter the numbers in the perfect order to unlock the rusty deadbolt.
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
73
51
118
75
6
6
51
32
61
13
118
57
108
19
A
73
51
6
57
66
32
23
44
32
76
57
19
A
73
6
6
33 + 5 × 8 =A
8 × 10 - 5 =U
16 + 4 × 4 =T
26 + 5 × 8 =F
9 × 8 - 15 =E
2 + 2 × 2 =L
84 + 8 × 3 =R
8 × 3 - 11 =C
64 + 6 × 9 =K
9 × 5 - 22 =O
7 × 7 - 30 =W
12 + 7 × 7 =I
2 + 6 × 7 =N
9 × 9 - 30 =S
13 + 7 × 9 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We need to figure out how many heavy supply crates the thief carried. Let us solve for the unknown weight using the scale totals.
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
2x + 12 = 36, x = ?
6x + 6 = 30, x = ?
5x + 5 = 20, x = ?
6x + 3 = 9, x = ?
5x + 3 = 53, x = ?
6x + 2 = 68, x = ?
3x + 4 = 10, x = ?
2x + 6 = 24, x = ?
3x + 8 = 26, x = ?
6x + 6 = 36, x = ?
2x + 8 = 24, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blinded the guards with a laser pointer, then swirled an orange cape.
2.The villain whispered coordinates into a walkie talkie, then tucked away a blue feather.
3.The villain whispered coordinates into a walkie talkie, then wrapped up in a red scarf.
4.The villain escaped behind a smoke bomb, then tucked away a blue feather.
5.The villain whispered coordinates into a walkie talkie, then pulled down green goggles.
6.The villain swung away with a grappling hook, then swirled an orange cape.
7.The villain whispered coordinates into a walkie talkie, then adjusted a yellow bandana.
8.The villain escaped behind a smoke bomb, then wrapped up in a red scarf.
9.The villain launched a pocket drone, then adjusted a yellow bandana.
10.The villain swung away with a grappling hook, then adjusted a yellow bandana.
11.The villain escaped behind a smoke bomb, then adjusted a yellow bandana.
12.The villain blinded the guards with a laser pointer, then adjusted a yellow bandana.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Mystery of the Whispering Canopy
Culprit: Zoe Hunter (walkie talkie · yellow bandana · right handed · skull sticker · loud whistle)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "NO ORANGE CAPE WAS SEEN AT THE SCENE"2^4 = 16 (N) · 10^2 = 100 (C) · 6^3 = 216 (P) · 20^2 = 400 (T) · 5^4 = 625 (A) · 11^2 = 121 (E) · 6^2 = 36 (R) · 8^2 = 64 (H) · 17^2 = 289 (O) · 2^3 = 8 (G) · 12^2 = 144 (W) · 21^2 = 441 (S)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE RIGHT HAND LEFT A PRINT ON THE DOOR"sqrt(484) = 22 (T) · sqrt(169) = 13 (O) · sqrt(64) = 8 (D) · sqrt(36) = 6 (A) · sqrt(361) = 19 (E) · sqrt(16) = 4 (F) · sqrt(4) = 2 (H) · sqrt(121) = 11 (N) · sqrt(256) = 16 (I) · sqrt(9) = 3 (R) · sqrt(625) = 25 (P) · sqrt(225) = 15 (G) · sqrt(576) = 24 (L)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "A LOUD WHISTLE MAKES THE MARAUDER RUN"legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (A) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (R) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (D) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (L) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (E) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (O) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (S) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (H) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (T) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (U) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (M) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (N) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (K) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (I)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A SKULL STICKER WAS LEFT ON THE WALL"33 + 5 × 8 = 73 (A) · 8 × 10 - 5 = 75 (U) · 16 + 4 × 4 = 32 (T) · 26 + 5 × 8 = 66 (F) · 9 × 8 - 15 = 57 (E) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (L) · 84 + 8 × 3 = 108 (R) · 8 × 3 - 11 = 13 (C) · 64 + 6 × 9 = 118 (K) · 9 × 5 - 22 = 23 (O) · 7 × 7 - 30 = 19 (W) · 12 + 7 × 7 = 61 (I) · 2 + 6 × 7 = 44 (N) · 9 × 9 - 30 = 51 (S) · 13 + 7 × 9 = 76 (H)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 7) → Zoe Hunter2x + 12 = 36, x = 12 · 6x + 6 = 30, x = 4 · 5x + 5 = 20, x = 3 · 6x + 3 = 9, x = 1 · 5x + 3 = 53, x = 10 · 6x + 2 = 68, x = 11 · 3x + 4 = 10, x = 2 · 2x + 6 = 24, x = 9 · 3x + 8 = 26, x = 6 · 6x + 6 = 36, x = 5 · 2x + 8 = 24, x = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- Mystery of the Whispering Canopy — set in the Isle of Whispering Winds
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects