🏀 BasketballGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The All-Star Trophy Heist
The golden championship trophy has vanished from the arena vault right before the big game! The Sneaker Saboteur broke past security, leaving nothing but scuffed court lines and a deflated game ball. Detective, we must analyze the clues and catch the thief before tip-off!
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 Move | Shoe Tech | Shooting Hand | Sweatband Color | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Butler | Fadeaway Jumper | High-Top Ankle Straps | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Jayson Tatum | Eurostep | Spring-Loaded Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Chris Paul | Crossover Dribble | Neon Glow Laces | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Squeaky Court Floors |
| Joel Embiid | Crossover Dribble | Neon Glow Laces | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Anthony Davis | Fadeaway Jumper | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Bam Adebayo | Eurostep | Neon Glow Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Nikola Jokic | Stepback Three | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Kyrie Irving | Stepback Three | High-Top Ankle Straps | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Double-Team Pressure |
| Damian Lillard | Crossover Dribble | Spring-Loaded Soles | Left-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Squeaky Court Floors |
| Devin Booker | Skyhook | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Squeaky Court Floors |
| DeAaron Fox | Crossover Dribble | Neon Glow Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Kevin Durant | Skyhook | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Left-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Double-Team Pressure |
| Luka Doncic | Eurostep | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Sweatband | Double-Team Pressure |
| Kawhi Leonard | Stepback Three | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Trae Young | Fadeaway Jumper | High-Top Ankle Straps | Left-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Double-Team Pressure |
| Stephen Curry | Skyhook | Neon Glow Laces | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Ja Morant | Eurostep | High-Top Ankle Straps | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Draymond Green | Stepback Three | Spring-Loaded Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Paul George | Crossover Dribble | Spring-Loaded Soles | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Sweatband | Double-Team Pressure |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Crossover Dribble | Neon Glow Laces | Left-Handed Shooter | Blue Sweatband | Loud Crowd Noise |
| Russell Westbrook | Eurostep | Sticky Grip Outsoles | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Sweatband | Squeaky Court Floors |
Clue 1
Exponents
To unlock the encrypted security keypad on the vault door, you must solve a sequence where the system's passcode options grow exponentially.
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
400
625
256
144
128
144
100
256
343
T
400
361
81
256
144
32
81
T
400
512
256
289
49
625
64
484
625
T
400
81
100
144
T
400
49
289
100
144
20^2 =T
2^7 =U
16^2 =E
8^3 =W
22^2 =G
7^3 =C
2^5 =N
19^2 =D
3^4 =O
17^2 =A
7^2 =R
5^4 =H
12^2 =S
10^2 =P
8^2 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The arena security footage is split into perfect squares, meaning you must calculate the square root of the grid areas to find the active camera angle.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
12
21
5
11
8
11
22
7
17
23
17
11
2
2
10
19
22
R
12
16
15
18
23
R
12
23
2
7
8
11
23
4
22
6
6
sqrt(144) =R
sqrt(49) =N
sqrt(64) =T
sqrt(441) =I
sqrt(529) =E
sqrt(256) =K
sqrt(36) =L
sqrt(324) =W
sqrt(16) =B
sqrt(4) =O
sqrt(25) =G
sqrt(361) =M
sqrt(100) =P
sqrt(121) =H
sqrt(484) =A
sqrt(289) =D
sqrt(225) =S
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The thief escaped by running diagonally across the court floor, and you can calculate their exact speed using the Pythagorean theorem.
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
65
25
13
40
50
17
25
34
40
26
25
75
58
52
85
25
85
5
L
65
L
65
39
17
13
75
26
52
40
85
29
52
75
17
58
29
25
85
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =L
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =I
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =H
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =W
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =T
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =Y
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =R
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =S
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =D
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =O
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =A
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =C
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =U
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
Analyzing the scrambled digital stats log requires using the strict mathematical order of operations to reveal the suspect's court time.
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
71
76
70
70
18
22
106
8
76
16
100
110
106
27
27
18
106
G
71
G
71
70
6
90
18
17
114
70
6
16
27
77
41
106
12
35 + 6 × 6 =G
3 + 7 × 2 =T
6 + 3 × 2 =Y
17 + 4 × 6 =L
7 + 3 × 3 =I
3 + 3 × 8 =S
6 + 8 × 2 =F
8 × 11 - 18 =E
82 + 4 × 2 =O
3 × 11 - 27 =D
4 + 2 × 7 =N
2 + 2 × 3 =B
70 + 6 × 5 =C
82 + 3 × 8 =A
44 + 8 × 4 =R
11 × 8 - 11 =P
11 × 12 - 18 =H
10 × 12 - 10 =W
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The suspect left a mysterious practice schedule, and you must solve a two-step algebraic equation to find their total target score.
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 + 4 = 36, x = ?
4x + 2 = 42, x = ?
4x + 3 = 51, x = ?
3x + 11 = 32, x = ?
2x + 12 = 34, x = ?
4x + 12 = 48, x = ?
2x + 11 = 19, x = ?
6x + 10 = 46, x = ?
5x + 12 = 22, x = ?
2x + 11 = 21, x = ?
3x + 8 = 11, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain slices through the lane with a eurostep, then leaves dusty tread marks from sticky grip outsoles.
2.The villain steps back for a deep three-pointer, then flashes neon glow laces in the dark locker room.
3.The villain shakes the defender with a crossover, then flashes neon glow laces in the dark locker room.
4.The villain slices through the lane with a eurostep, then flashes neon glow laces in the dark locker room.
5.The villain fades away for a baseline jumper, then cushions the heavy landing with shock-absorbing gel.
6.The villain lofts a high skyhook over the defense, then leaves dusty tread marks from sticky grip outsoles.
7.The villain fades away for a baseline jumper, then leaps incredibly high using spring-loaded soles.
8.The villain fades away for a baseline jumper, then leaves dusty tread marks from sticky grip outsoles.
9.The villain slices through the lane with a eurostep, then adjusts tight high-top ankle straps before escaping.
10.The villain steps back for a deep three-pointer, then leaps incredibly high using spring-loaded soles.
11.The villain steps back for a deep three-pointer, then adjusts tight high-top ankle straps before escaping.
12.The villain steps back for a deep three-pointer, then leaves dusty tread marks from sticky grip outsoles.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The All-Star Trophy Heist
Culprit: Joel Embiid (Crossover Dribble · Neon Glow Laces · Right-Handed Shooter · Green Sweatband · Loud Crowd Noise)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR HIGH TOP STRAPS"20^2 = 400 (T) · 2^7 = 128 (U) · 16^2 = 256 (E) · 8^3 = 512 (W) · 22^2 = 484 (G) · 7^3 = 343 (C) · 2^5 = 32 (N) · 19^2 = 361 (D) · 3^4 = 81 (O) · 17^2 = 289 (A) · 7^2 = 49 (R) · 5^4 = 625 (H) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 10^2 = 100 (P) · 8^2 = 64 (I)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "RIGHT HANDED HOOP MARKS WERE ON THE BALL"sqrt(144) = 12 (R) · sqrt(49) = 7 (N) · sqrt(64) = 8 (T) · sqrt(441) = 21 (I) · sqrt(529) = 23 (E) · sqrt(256) = 16 (K) · sqrt(36) = 6 (L) · sqrt(324) = 18 (W) · sqrt(16) = 4 (B) · sqrt(4) = 2 (O) · sqrt(25) = 5 (G) · sqrt(361) = 19 (M) · sqrt(100) = 10 (P) · sqrt(121) = 11 (H) · sqrt(484) = 22 (A) · sqrt(289) = 17 (D) · sqrt(225) = 15 (S)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "LOUD CROWD NOISE TOTALLY RUINED THEIR SHOT"legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (L) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (I) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (H) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (W) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (T) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (Y) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (R) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (E) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (S) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (D) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (O) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (A) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (C) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (U) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (N)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "GREEN FABRIC WAS SNAGGED ON THE DISPLAY"35 + 6 × 6 = 71 (G) · 3 + 7 × 2 = 17 (T) · 6 + 3 × 2 = 12 (Y) · 17 + 4 × 6 = 41 (L) · 7 + 3 × 3 = 16 (I) · 3 + 3 × 8 = 27 (S) · 6 + 8 × 2 = 22 (F) · 8 × 11 - 18 = 70 (E) · 82 + 4 × 2 = 90 (O) · 3 × 11 - 27 = 6 (D) · 4 + 2 × 7 = 18 (N) · 2 + 2 × 3 = 8 (B) · 70 + 6 × 5 = 100 (C) · 82 + 3 × 8 = 106 (A) · 44 + 8 × 4 = 76 (R) · 11 × 8 - 11 = 77 (P) · 11 × 12 - 18 = 114 (H) · 10 × 12 - 10 = 110 (W)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 3) → Joel Embiid4x + 4 = 36, x = 8 · 4x + 2 = 42, x = 10 · 4x + 3 = 51, x = 12 · 3x + 11 = 32, x = 7 · 2x + 12 = 34, x = 11 · 4x + 12 = 48, x = 9 · 2x + 11 = 19, x = 4 · 6x + 10 = 46, x = 6 · 5x + 12 = 22, x = 2 · 2x + 11 = 21, x = 5 · 3x + 8 = 11, x = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The All-Star Trophy Heist — set in The National Hoop Summit in Chicago
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects