Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
Sky-Pirates of the Stratosphere
A rogue airship pirate has stolen the legendary Golden Compass from the Sky Patrol academy. Only you can help trace the coordinates of the getaway vessel and unmask the culprit!
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 | Flight Gear | Stolen Gadget | Signature Patch | Hair Streak Color | Tactical Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidd | glider wings | net launcher | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Drake | rocket boots | cloud bomb | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Bonnie | glider wings | laser cutter | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | spicy chili snacks |
| Morgan | glider wings | laser cutter | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| James | wind sail | laser cutter | right shoulder patch | neon blue streak | spicy chili snacks |
| Valentina | grappling hook | sonic whistle | left shoulder patch | neon blue streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Buzz | glider wings | sonic whistle | left shoulder patch | forest green streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Bessie | glider wings | cloud bomb | right shoulder patch | bright red streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Roger | grappling hook | solar decoder | left shoulder patch | forest green streak | spicy chili snacks |
| Avery | glider wings | sonic whistle | left shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Alex | wind sail | cloud bomb | left shoulder patch | neon blue streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Steve | wind sail | laser cutter | right shoulder patch | bright red streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Mae | magnetic boots | solar decoder | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Wendy | glider wings | cloud bomb | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | spicy chili snacks |
| Hook | grappling hook | sonic whistle | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Wilbur | grappling hook | net launcher | left shoulder patch | neon blue streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Amelia | glider wings | laser cutter | left shoulder patch | neon blue streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Sally | rocket boots | sonic whistle | left shoulder patch | bright red streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Charles | magnetic boots | sonic whistle | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
| Yuri | glider wings | laser cutter | left shoulder patch | forest green streak | dazzling bright flashes |
| Flint | wind sail | sonic whistle | right shoulder patch | forest green streak | shrill dog whistles |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
Our patrol ship needs to calculate the shortest diagonal path between two floating docks to cut off the escape route.
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
85
10
26
T
85
10
100
26
58
65
20
26
82
15
20
T
85
13
82
26
T
85
10
26
15
26
T
85
87
40
13
15
111
10
26
29
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =T
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =E
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =C
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =O
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =H
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =S
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =R
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =I
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =L
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =F
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =N
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =A
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =U
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The thief left a locked cargo crate with a square grid lock, and we must find the side length from 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
17
4
10
5
14
T
17
2
10
12
12
12
16
5
16
7
14
24
4
T
17
12
4
20
25
11
8
10
7
19
16
T
17
15
4
sqrt(289) =T
sqrt(361) =P
sqrt(121) =L
sqrt(625) =U
sqrt(144) =S
sqrt(196) =I
sqrt(64) =D
sqrt(25) =W
sqrt(256) =A
sqrt(49) =R
sqrt(4) =N
sqrt(100) =E
sqrt(576) =G
sqrt(16) =H
sqrt(400) =O
sqrt(225) =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
A distress beacon is multiplying its signal strength at an exponential rate, and we need to determine its final power output.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
16
196
512
243
243
196
225
100
484
27
289
343
L
16
49
289
100
27
L
16
L
16
289
343
196
400
343
484
49
128
64
27
144
27
216
729
L
16
4^2 =L
3^6 =A
20^2 =P
22^2 =H
4^3 =R
8^3 =U
12^2 =M
14^2 =O
7^3 =T
15^2 =G
7^2 =E
6^3 =N
3^3 =I
10^2 =W
17^2 =S
3^5 =D
2^7 =C
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To bypass the airship's encrypted firewall, we must solve a multi-step equation in the exact mathematical sequence.
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
106
64
68
70
55
14
119
68
11
98
87
69
38
70
38
82
55
87
68
70
T
106
100
87
68
68
11
64
38
98
87
82
98
103
68
87
43 + 9 × 7 =T
11 × 9 - 1 =I
11 × 12 - 29 =B
3 × 8 - 10 =U
12 × 5 - 5 =O
7 × 12 - 14 =S
8 × 10 - 11 =W
12 × 9 - 8 =G
40 + 7 × 4 =E
1 + 2 × 5 =N
12 × 10 - 1 =V
76 + 3 × 2 =F
12 × 7 - 20 =H
14 + 8 × 3 =A
78 + 3 × 3 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
We need to analyze the perfect square dimensions of the landing pad where the getaway vessel temporarily docked.
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(49) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain caught the thermal draft, then shattered the alarm glass with a sonic whistle.
2.The villain swung through the rigging, then shattered the alarm glass with a sonic whistle.
3.The villain blasted past the guard towers, then snared the guarding falcons with a net launcher.
4.The villain swung through the rigging, then unlocked the secure safe with a solar decoder.
5.The villain blasted past the guard towers, then blinded the security cameras with a cloud bomb.
6.The villain caught the thermal draft, then snared the guarding falcons with a net launcher.
7.The villain scaled the metallic hull, then shattered the alarm glass with a sonic whistle.
8.The villain glided over the canyon, then sliced open the vault door with a laser cutter.
9.The villain caught the thermal draft, then unlocked the secure safe with a solar decoder.
10.The villain glided over the canyon, then shattered the alarm glass with a sonic whistle.
11.The villain scaled the metallic hull, then unlocked the secure safe with a solar decoder.
12.The villain scaled the metallic hull, then snared the guarding falcons with a net launcher.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — Sky-Pirates of the Stratosphere
Culprit: Drake (rocket boots · cloud bomb · right shoulder patch · forest green streak · shrill dog whistles)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE NET LAUNCHER"legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (T) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (E) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (C) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (D) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (O) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (H) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (S) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (R) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (I) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (L) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (F) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (N) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (A) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (U)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE WITNESS SAW A RIGHT SHOULDER PATCH"sqrt(289) = 17 (T) · sqrt(361) = 19 (P) · sqrt(121) = 11 (L) · sqrt(625) = 25 (U) · sqrt(144) = 12 (S) · sqrt(196) = 14 (I) · sqrt(64) = 8 (D) · sqrt(25) = 5 (W) · sqrt(256) = 16 (A) · sqrt(49) = 7 (R) · sqrt(4) = 2 (N) · sqrt(100) = 10 (E) · sqrt(576) = 24 (G) · sqrt(16) = 4 (H) · sqrt(400) = 20 (O) · sqrt(225) = 15 (C)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "LOUD DOG WHISTLES WILL STOP THE CRIMINAL"4^2 = 16 (L) · 3^6 = 729 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (P) · 22^2 = 484 (H) · 4^3 = 64 (R) · 8^3 = 512 (U) · 12^2 = 144 (M) · 14^2 = 196 (O) · 7^3 = 343 (T) · 15^2 = 225 (G) · 7^2 = 49 (E) · 6^3 = 216 (N) · 3^3 = 27 (I) · 10^2 = 100 (W) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 3^5 = 243 (D) · 2^7 = 128 (C)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE SOUVENIR WAS A FOREST GREEN HAIR FIBER"43 + 9 × 7 = 106 (T) · 11 × 9 - 1 = 98 (I) · 11 × 12 - 29 = 103 (B) · 3 × 8 - 10 = 14 (U) · 12 × 5 - 5 = 55 (O) · 7 × 12 - 14 = 70 (S) · 8 × 10 - 11 = 69 (W) · 12 × 9 - 8 = 100 (G) · 40 + 7 × 4 = 68 (E) · 1 + 2 × 5 = 11 (N) · 12 × 10 - 1 = 119 (V) · 76 + 3 × 2 = 82 (F) · 12 × 7 - 20 = 64 (H) · 14 + 8 × 3 = 38 (A) · 78 + 3 × 3 = 87 (R)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 5) → Drakesqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(4) = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- Sky-Pirates of the Stratosphere — set in the floating archipelago of Skylands
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects