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The Backstage Beatdown

The golden trophy microphones have vanished right before the festival headliners took the stage! The Stage Manager is in a panic. Only a true detective can trace the decibel levels 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	Signature Instrument	Stage Effect	Strumming Hand	Wig Color	Acoustic Disruption
Cobain	synthesizer	pyrotechnics	left handed	electric blue	broken string
Hendrix	laser drums	laser lightshow	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Dolly	laser drums	holograms	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Prince	synthesizer	laser lightshow	left handed	electric blue	out of tune note
Ariana	electric guitar	holograms	right handed	mohawk purple	broken string
Adele	laser drums	holograms	left handed	electric blue	broken string
Yo Yo Ma	laser drums	confetti cannon	right handed	mohawk purple	broken string
Elton	electric guitar	confetti cannon	left handed	mohawk purple	broken string
Sheeran	synthesizer	confetti cannon	left handed	electric blue	broken string
Lennon	electric guitar	holograms	right handed	neon pink	out of tune note
Wolfgang	laser drums	laser lightshow	right handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Taylor	electric guitar	confetti cannon	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Elvis	electric guitar	smoke machine	left handed	neon pink	feedback squeal
Jagger	electric guitar	pyrotechnics	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Zeppelin	keytar	pyrotechnics	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Santana	neon bass	confetti cannon	left handed	mohawk purple	out of tune note
McCartney	neon bass	laser lightshow	left handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Beethoven	neon bass	holograms	right handed	electric blue	feedback squeal
Freddie	synthesizer	holograms	left handed	mohawk purple	feedback squeal
Billie	neon bass	smoke machine	left handed	mohawk purple	out of tune note
Bruno	keytar	confetti cannon	right handed	electric blue	out of tune note

Clue 1

Addition

To trace the saboteur's path, we count the gear cases left open in the main lobby and the VIP lounge. Add the total number of cases together to reveal the first vital clue.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3145

4352

9827

6427

8296

9187

6645

3145

9827

6172

9823

5944

6645

9827

6427

2103

6645

3145

6172

6427

9827

3111

8296

6427

9827

9823

3111

8116

7897

4352

3145

6427

4352

6645

4654

1893 + 1252 =T

3053 + 4844 =G

4819 + 5008 =E

5024 + 4799 =R

2743 + 1911 =W

5338 + 2778 =I

2318 + 3626 =D

3979 + 4317 =A

3122 + 3050 =U

1821 + 2531 =H

796 + 1307 =N

5000 + 4187 =B

3811 + 2616 =S

3536 + 3109 =O

1506 + 1605 =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

The audio monitors recorded a sudden drop in the stage's decibel levels. Subtract the quietest level from the loudest level to pinpoint the saboteur's location.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4416

4731

5245

4429

6497

4429

6421

5245

4037

4416

4429

4416

5859

6497

8691

4429

2482

1762

4416

4731

4416

4731

5245

7882

5245

2127

4416

4731

8718

6095

8405

9154 - 4738 =T

10324 - 2442 =L

6048 - 3921 =F

11288 - 4867 =P

10706 - 1988 =A

8420 - 3991 =S

10236 - 3739 =U

9542 - 3683 =R

6893 - 2162 =H

5063 - 3301 =I

8209 - 4172 =C

9995 - 1590 =D

12276 - 3585 =M

9103 - 3008 =N

3883 - 1401 =W

6076 - 831 =E

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

A backstage rack of rare vinyl records was knocked over. Multiply the number of damaged shelves by the number of records on each shelf to unlock the next piece of evidence.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

121

108

121

120

7 × 10 =F

2 × 4 =D

4 × 10 =H

2 × 9 =I

9 × 12 =Q

8 × 11 =C

10 × 12 =P

5 × 5 =G

11 × 5 =B

11 × 11 =A

1 × 5 =K

7 × 9 =T

10 × 8 =U

8 × 9 =L

11 × 6 =E

7 × 7 =S

3 × 3 =O

10 × 6 =R

0/18 letters found

Clue 4

Word problems

The arena staff are analyzing ticket barcodes from the night of the heist to see who went backstage. Solve this word problem about venue seating to get closer to the culprit.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Astrandof

105

hairturnedupatthescene.

Sound Engineer found 10 drumsticks yesterday and 6 more today. How many drumsticks in all?E

There were 58 amplifier cables. 29 were used up. How many amplifier cables are left?I

Sound Engineer found 32 amplifier cables yesterday and 16 more today. How many amplifier cables in all?T

Sound Engineer found 2 drumsticks yesterday and 9 more today. How many drumsticks in all?R

Sound Engineer lined up 5 rows of 12 drumsticks. How many drumsticks in all?C

There were 129 guitar picks. 24 were used up. How many guitar picks are left?B

Sound Engineer found 17 guitar picks yesterday and 52 more today. How many guitar picks in all?L

0/7 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The security team is dividing up stacks of VIP backstage passes to hand out to guards. Divide the total number of passes equally among the gates to reveal the final clue.

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

70 ÷ 7 = ?

11 ÷ 11 = ?

24 ÷ 6 = ?

6 ÷ 1 = ?

3 ÷ 1 = ?

56 ÷ 8 = ?

9 ÷ 1 = ?

11 ÷ 1 = ?

24 ÷ 2 = ?

12 ÷ 6 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain solos on a double neck guitar, then fires off the pyrotechnics.

2.The villain blasts a heavy bass drop, then activates the laser lightshow.

3.The villain pounds a techno drum pattern, then blasts the confetti cannon.

4.The villain pounds a techno drum pattern, then summons a giant hologram.

5.The villain solos on a double neck guitar, then summons a giant hologram.

6.The villain swirls a synth melody, then blasts the confetti cannon.

7.The villain swirls a synth melody, then summons a giant hologram.

8.The villain shreds on a keytar, then fires off the pyrotechnics.

9.The villain shreds on a keytar, then summons a giant hologram.

10.The villain solos on a double neck guitar, then blasts the confetti cannon.

11.The villain shreds on a keytar, then activates the laser lightshow.

12.The villain pounds a techno drum pattern, then activates the laser lightshow.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Backstage Beatdown

Culprit: Zeppelin (keytar · pyrotechnics · left handed · electric blue · feedback squeal)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE LASER LIGHTSHOW"
1893 + 1252 = 3145 (T) · 3053 + 4844 = 7897 (G) · 4819 + 5008 = 9827 (E) · 5024 + 4799 = 9823 (R) · 2743 + 1911 = 4654 (W) · 5338 + 2778 = 8116 (I) · 2318 + 3626 = 5944 (D) · 3979 + 4317 = 8296 (A) · 3122 + 3050 = 6172 (U) · 1821 + 2531 = 4352 (H) · 796 + 1307 = 2103 (N) · 5000 + 4187 = 9187 (B) · 3811 + 2616 = 6427 (S) · 3536 + 3109 = 6645 (O) · 1506 + 1605 = 3111 (L)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT STRUMS WITH THE LEFT HAND"
9154 - 4738 = 4416 (T) · 10324 - 2442 = 7882 (L) · 6048 - 3921 = 2127 (F) · 11288 - 4867 = 6421 (P) · 10706 - 1988 = 8718 (A) · 8420 - 3991 = 4429 (S) · 10236 - 3739 = 6497 (U) · 9542 - 3683 = 5859 (R) · 6893 - 2162 = 4731 (H) · 5063 - 3301 = 1762 (I) · 8209 - 4172 = 4037 (C) · 9995 - 1590 = 8405 (D) · 12276 - 3585 = 8691 (M) · 9103 - 3008 = 6095 (N) · 3883 - 1401 = 2482 (W) · 6076 - 831 = 5245 (E)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "FEEDBACK SQUEAL STOPS THIS ROGUE"
7 × 10 = 70 (F) · 2 × 4 = 8 (D) · 4 × 10 = 40 (H) · 2 × 9 = 18 (I) · 9 × 12 = 108 (Q) · 8 × 11 = 88 (C) · 10 × 12 = 120 (P) · 5 × 5 = 25 (G) · 11 × 5 = 55 (B) · 11 × 11 = 121 (A) · 1 × 5 = 5 (K) · 7 × 9 = 63 (T) · 10 × 8 = 80 (U) · 8 × 9 = 72 (L) · 11 × 6 = 66 (E) · 7 × 7 = 49 (S) · 3 × 3 = 9 (O) · 10 × 6 = 60 (R)
Clue 4 (Word problems): "ELECTRIC BLUE"
Sound Engineer found 10 drumsticks yesterday and 6 more today. How many drumsticks in all? = 16 (E) · There were 58 amplifier cables. 29 were used up. How many amplifier cables are left? = 29 (I) · Sound Engineer found 32 amplifier cables yesterday and 16 more today. How many amplifier cables in all? = 48 (T) · Sound Engineer found 2 drumsticks yesterday and 9 more today. How many drumsticks in all? = 11 (R) · Sound Engineer lined up 5 rows of 12 drumsticks. How many drumsticks in all? = 60 (C) · There were 129 guitar picks. 24 were used up. How many guitar picks are left? = 105 (B) · Sound Engineer found 17 guitar picks yesterday and 52 more today. How many guitar picks in all? = 69 (L)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Zeppelin
70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 10 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Word problems, Division
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Backstage Beatdown — set in The Neon Groove Music Festival
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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