Grade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersWord problemsMulti-step word problemsPercentagesTwo-step equations
The Airship Academy Mystery
Someone has stolen the Golden Chronometer from the Zephyr Bay Flight Academy! The thief flew off into the mist. You must analyze the evidence left behind to find out which young pilot is the bandit.
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 Pilot Tool | Backup Gadget | Telescope Eye Preference | Helmet Plume Color | Aviation Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles | magnetic rope dart | sonar map pad | right-eye viewer | indigo pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Finn | steam-powered glider | miniature repair wrench | right-eye viewer | crimson pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Valerie | steam-powered glider | sonar map pad | left-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | gusty thunderclouds |
| Sally | magnetic rope dart | auto-writing logbook | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | gusty thunderclouds |
| Buzz | smoke-bomb launcher | auto-writing logbook | left-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | gusty thunderclouds |
| Mae | magnetic rope dart | sonar map pad | right-eye viewer | crimson pilot plume | gusty thunderclouds |
| Leo | steam-powered glider | auto-writing logbook | left-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Bessie | steam-powered glider | pocket wind-gauge | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Piper | magnetic rope dart | flare signaling pistol | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | bright flashing beacons |
| Jade | high-beam searchlight | auto-writing logbook | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Wilbur | brass grappling hook | flare signaling pistol | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Miles | high-beam searchlight | pocket wind-gauge | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | bright flashing beacons |
| Otis | brass grappling hook | miniature repair wrench | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Hazel | smoke-bomb launcher | auto-writing logbook | right-eye viewer | indigo pilot plume | bright flashing beacons |
| Max | high-beam searchlight | pocket wind-gauge | left-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Orville | steam-powered glider | auto-writing logbook | right-eye viewer | indigo pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Sky | high-beam searchlight | pocket wind-gauge | right-eye viewer | crimson pilot plume | gusty thunderclouds |
| Jax | magnetic rope dart | sonar map pad | left-eye viewer | crimson pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
| Zara | magnetic rope dart | sonar map pad | left-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | bright flashing beacons |
| Neil | magnetic rope dart | sonar map pad | right-eye viewer | indigo pilot plume | bright flashing beacons |
| Amelia | high-beam searchlight | pocket wind-gauge | right-eye viewer | emerald pilot plume | ticking pocketwatches |
Clue 1
Integers
We head to the sky-docks to calculate fuel consumption. By tracking how many canisters each pilot loaded, spilled, and burned during training, we can rule out pilots with the wrong equipment.
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
24
5
23
4
6
10
12
T
29
10
13
5
28
6
13
T
29
18
28
5
4
8
12
6
12
4
T
29
18
11
5
9
11
5
6
20
24
(-1) + 30 =T
(-14) + 27 =O
(-2) + 20 =U
2 - (-9) =R
(-14) + 20 =N
(-2) + 12 =D
(-6) + 15 =W
6 - (-2) =M
(-10) + 15 =E
(-5) + 17 =I
22 - (-6) =S
(-15) + 19 =A
(-2) + 22 =C
(-3) + 26 =B
(-3) + 27 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
A local sky-merchant saw a glider pass over their trading balloon. We must solve the merchant's trade ledger problem to find out which way the wind was blowing.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
68
70
82
69
13
112
105
112
V
70
112
W
112
R
68
Flight instructor found 22 parachute yesterday and 46 more today. How many parachute in all?R
Flight instructor found 78 goggles yesterday and 4 more today. How many goggles in all?G
Flight instructor found 5 parachute yesterday and 8 more today. How many parachute in all?T
There were 118 goggles. 13 were used up. How many goggles are left?Y
Flight instructor found 99 goggles yesterday and 13 more today. How many goggles in all?E
There were 74 altimeter. 4 were used up. How many altimeter are left?I
Flight instructor found 17 altimeter yesterday and 52 more today. How many altimeter in all?H
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
Our altitude trackers recorded the bandit's flight path as they rose above cloud level and dipped into deep canyons. Solving these elevation shifts reveals the suspect's exact sightline.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
T
71
37
8
28
37
73
58
16
O
8
28
E
T
71
W
A
T
71
8
H
E
S
Flight instructor collected 298 altimeter in the morning and 128 altimeter in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 cloud patrol. How many altimeter did each get?T
Flight instructor collected 6 propeller in the morning and 26 propeller in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 cloud patrol. How many propeller did each get?P
There were 306 altimeter in all. 1 cloud patrol used 16 altimeter each. The other 5 cloud patrol shared the rest equally. How many altimeter did each of the other cloud patrol get?G
There were 148 air-map in all. 1 cloud patrol used 36 air-map each. The other 4 cloud patrol shared the rest equally. How many air-map did each of the other cloud patrol get?K
Flight instructor filled 3 boxes with 3 air-map each, then found 64 more air-map. How many air-map are there in all?N
Flight instructor earned 5 parachute in each of 2 rounds, plus 12 bonus parachute. Then 14 parachute were lost. How many parachute are left?C
Flight instructor collected 40 air-map in the morning and 108 air-map in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 cloud patrol. How many air-map did each get?I
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Percentages
The escape glider left behind a battery cell that is only partially drained. Calculating the exact battery percentage remaining will point us toward the suspect's greatest 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.
G
31
51
5
5
13
37
5
53
18
5
55
41
40
52
52
35
21
30
41
16
40
13
45
16
13
55
37
5
9
51
21
55
5
50% of 62 =G
5% of 700 =W
75% of 60 =D
5% of 740 =H
20% of 45 =C
25% of 20 =E
20% of 255 =R
25% of 84 =A
25% of 212 =L
5% of 320 =O
25% of 52 =N
50% of 110 =T
10% of 400 =U
20% of 90 =M
20% of 150 =S
40% of 130 =Z
5% of 820 =F
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We find a tangled trail of dropped cargo scales in the forest below. Solving for the unknown weight of the glider's ballast tells us what color plume fell from the bandit's helmet.
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
4x + 6 = 14, x = ?
3x + 7 = 10, x = ?
5x + 4 = 44, x = ?
5x + 3 = 33, x = ?
2x + 11 = 35, x = ?
4x + 1 = 45, x = ?
2x + 9 = 23, x = ?
3x + 8 = 35, x = ?
6x + 7 = 31, x = ?
2x + 2 = 12, x = ?
2x + 4 = 10, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung across the hangar with a brass grappling hook, then alerted hidden co-conspirators using a flare signaling pistol.
2.The villain soared over the guard towers in a steam-powered glider, then checked the breeze with a pocket wind-gauge.
3.The villain blinded the night watchman with a high-beam searchlight, then tightened a loose wing bolt with a miniature repair wrench.
4.The villain blinded the night watchman with a high-beam searchlight, then alerted hidden co-conspirators using a flare signaling pistol.
5.The villain swung across the hangar with a brass grappling hook, then tightened a loose wing bolt with a miniature repair wrench.
6.The villain blinded the night watchman with a high-beam searchlight, then plotted a swift escape route on a sonar map pad.
7.The villain shrouded the entire launchpad with a smoke-bomb launcher, then plotted a swift escape route on a sonar map pad.
8.The villain blinded the night watchman with a high-beam searchlight, then recorded the escape speed in an auto-writing logbook.
9.The villain soared over the guard towers in a steam-powered glider, then alerted hidden co-conspirators using a flare signaling pistol.
10.The villain blinded the night watchman with a high-beam searchlight, then checked the breeze with a pocket wind-gauge.
11.The villain shrouded the entire launchpad with a smoke-bomb launcher, then tightened a loose wing bolt with a miniature repair wrench.
12.The villain swung across the hangar with a brass grappling hook, then recorded the escape speed in an auto-writing logbook.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Airship Academy Mystery
Culprit: Amelia (high-beam searchlight · pocket wind-gauge · right-eye viewer · emerald pilot plume · ticking pocketwatches)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE A MINIATURE WRENCH"(-1) + 30 = 29 (T) · (-14) + 27 = 13 (O) · (-2) + 20 = 18 (U) · 2 - (-9) = 11 (R) · (-14) + 20 = 6 (N) · (-2) + 12 = 10 (D) · (-6) + 15 = 9 (W) · 6 - (-2) = 8 (M) · (-10) + 15 = 5 (E) · (-5) + 17 = 12 (I) · 22 - (-6) = 28 (S) · (-15) + 19 = 4 (A) · (-2) + 22 = 20 (C) · (-3) + 26 = 23 (B) · (-3) + 27 = 24 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT EYE VIEWER"Flight instructor found 22 parachute yesterday and 46 more today. How many parachute in all? = 68 (R) · Flight instructor found 78 goggles yesterday and 4 more today. How many goggles in all? = 82 (G) · Flight instructor found 5 parachute yesterday and 8 more today. How many parachute in all? = 13 (T) · There were 118 goggles. 13 were used up. How many goggles are left? = 105 (Y) · Flight instructor found 99 goggles yesterday and 13 more today. How many goggles in all? = 112 (E) · There were 74 altimeter. 4 were used up. How many altimeter are left? = 70 (I) · Flight instructor found 17 altimeter yesterday and 52 more today. How many altimeter in all? = 69 (H)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "TICKING POCKETWATCHES"Flight instructor collected 298 altimeter in the morning and 128 altimeter in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 cloud patrol. How many altimeter did each get? = 71 (T) · Flight instructor collected 6 propeller in the morning and 26 propeller in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 cloud patrol. How many propeller did each get? = 16 (P) · There were 306 altimeter in all. 1 cloud patrol used 16 altimeter each. The other 5 cloud patrol shared the rest equally. How many altimeter did each of the other cloud patrol get? = 58 (G) · There were 148 air-map in all. 1 cloud patrol used 36 air-map each. The other 4 cloud patrol shared the rest equally. How many air-map did each of the other cloud patrol get? = 28 (K) · Flight instructor filled 3 boxes with 3 air-map each, then found 64 more air-map. How many air-map are there in all? = 73 (N) · Flight instructor earned 5 parachute in each of 2 rounds, plus 12 bonus parachute. Then 14 parachute were lost. How many parachute are left? = 8 (C) · Flight instructor collected 40 air-map in the morning and 108 air-map in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 cloud patrol. How many air-map did each get? = 37 (I)
- Clue 4 (Percentages): "GREEN HELMET FUZZ WAS FOUND ON THE CRATE"50% of 62 = 31 (G) · 5% of 700 = 35 (W) · 75% of 60 = 45 (D) · 5% of 740 = 37 (H) · 20% of 45 = 9 (C) · 25% of 20 = 5 (E) · 20% of 255 = 51 (R) · 25% of 84 = 21 (A) · 25% of 212 = 53 (L) · 5% of 320 = 16 (O) · 25% of 52 = 13 (N) · 50% of 110 = 55 (T) · 10% of 400 = 40 (U) · 20% of 90 = 18 (M) · 20% of 150 = 30 (S) · 40% of 130 = 52 (Z) · 5% of 820 = 41 (F)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Amelia4x + 6 = 14, x = 2 · 3x + 7 = 10, x = 1 · 5x + 4 = 44, x = 8 · 5x + 3 = 33, x = 6 · 2x + 11 = 35, x = 12 · 4x + 1 = 45, x = 11 · 2x + 9 = 23, x = 7 · 3x + 8 = 35, x = 9 · 6x + 7 = 31, x = 4 · 2x + 2 = 12, x = 5 · 2x + 4 = 10, x = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Percentages, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Airship Academy Mystery — set in the floating docks of Zephyr Bay
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects