🔎 ActingGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Backstage Stage Snatcher
The opening night of the new Broadway musical is ruined! The Stage Snatcher has stolen the final scene of the script, leaving the cast in total chaos. We must search backstage and find the culprit before the curtain rises.
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 | Acting Style | Signature Prop | Preferred Stage Side | Wig Color | Stage Fright Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Downey | Action Stuntwork | Silver Tiara | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Zendaya | Musical Opera | Silver Tiara | Enters Stage Left | Powdered White Wig | Loud Hecklers |
| Anne Hathaway | Silent Pantomime | Leather Script Case | Enters Stage Right | Jet Black Wig | Loud Hecklers |
| Sadie Sink | Silent Pantomime | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Right | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Danny Devito | Improv Comedy | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Florence Pugh | Silent Pantomime | Golden Cane | Enters Stage Right | Crimson Red Wig | Bright Spotlight |
| Gaten Mataraz | Improv Comedy | Golden Cane | Enters Stage Left | Crimson Red Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Idris Elba | Improv Comedy | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Left | Crimson Red Wig | Bright Spotlight |
| Timothee Chal | Shakespearean Melodrama | Silver Tiara | Enters Stage Left | Powdered White Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Keanu Reeves | Shakespearean Melodrama | Velvet Cape | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Hugh Jackman | Action Stuntwork | Silver Tiara | Enters Stage Right | Powdered White Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Lin Manuel | Musical Opera | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Left | Powdered White Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Millie Brown | Improv Comedy | Leather Script Case | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Bright Spotlight |
| The Rock | Musical Opera | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Right | Powdered White Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Zac Efron | Silent Pantomime | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Left | Crimson Red Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Chris Evans | Silent Pantomime | Leather Script Case | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Emma Watson | Improv Comedy | Leather Script Case | Enters Stage Right | Jet Black Wig | Loud Hecklers |
| Tom Holland | Improv Comedy | Velvet Cape | Enters Stage Left | Jet Black Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
| Selena Gomez | Musical Opera | Silver Tiara | Enters Stage Right | Crimson Red Wig | Loud Hecklers |
| Will Smith | Musical Opera | Leather Script Case | Enters Stage Right | Jet Black Wig | Bright Spotlight |
| Jack Black | Shakespearean Melodrama | Feather Quill | Enters Stage Right | Crimson Red Wig | Squeaky Floorboards |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To find the first clue, we need to analyze the stack of stolen scripts. The thief took exactly a fraction of the total pages printed for the rehearsal.
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
23
6
38
13
4
28
26
30
31
T
23
37
5
38
17
7
5
T
23
25
38
34
30
34
17
31
28
11
38
30
T
23
31
34
30
34
1/5 of 115 =T
2/8 of 44 =V
3/6 of 74 =D
2/8 of 100 =W
2/10 of 85 =S
1/4 of 152 =E
1/3 of 39 =C
4/8 of 52 =P
1/8 of 48 =H
1/8 of 40 =O
2/8 of 124 =I
3/10 of 100 =R
3/6 of 8 =U
5/10 of 56 =L
2/5 of 85 =A
2/8 of 28 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
Next, we search the lighting booth. To unlock the safe with the suspect list, we must solve a multi-step sequence of operations in the director's logbook.
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
35
56
75
74
75
41
41
74
63
45
36
38
74
42
25
56
45
56
75
41
15
38
64
38
56
8
45
74
9
56
56
70
36
74
27 + 2 × 4 =L
31 + 8 × 4 =P
12 × 7 - 28 =E
5 × 3 - 7 =A
9 × 11 - 25 =T
57 + 2 × 9 =F
4 + 3 × 7 =W
6 + 4 × 8 =N
10 × 7 - 29 =O
64 + 3 × 2 =X
30 + 6 × 2 =S
7 × 10 - 25 =R
8 × 6 - 12 =I
2 × 7 - 5 =H
11 + 2 × 2 =U
9 × 9 - 17 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Under the trapdoor, we find rows of makeup vanity cases. Counting them row by row reveals a secret compartment holding the third 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.
S
30
15
22
4
49
18
44
55
88
42
42
144
99
42
49
144
80
S
30
4
28
14
42
S
30
4
80
40
72
4
40
72
9
4
55
6 × 5 =S
7 × 6 =O
11 × 4 =Y
5 × 11 =F
3 × 5 =Q
2 × 7 =P
11 × 2 =U
6 × 12 =H
10 × 8 =D
12 × 12 =R
11 × 8 =L
5 × 8 =T
7 × 4 =X
3 × 3 =I
9 × 2 =K
9 × 11 =B
7 × 7 =A
2 × 2 =E
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The decibel meter on the soundboard caught a mysterious whisper. The device only displays rounded numbers, but that estimate points us to the next hint.
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
1700
170
3700
110
200
900
A
1700
130
5000
1300
A
1700
20
4300
700
A
1700
230
900
3700
7000
110
200
3700
1300
20
2900
370
Round 1,713 to the nearest hundredA
Round 729 to the nearest hundredW
Round 6,632 to the nearest thousandF
Round 910 to the nearest hundredL
Round 4,349 to the nearest hundredR
Round 172 to the nearest tenJ
Round 5,124 to the nearest thousandK
Round 108 to the nearest tenT
Round 232 to the nearest tenS
Round 133 to the nearest tenC
Round 2,921 to the nearest hundredN
Round 3,737 to the nearest hundredE
Round 17 to the nearest tenI
Round 1,320 to the nearest hundredH
Round 157 to the nearest hundredB
Round 374 to the nearest tenD
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Finally, we divide a box of costume buttons evenly among the stagehands. The remaining buttons point to the final piece of evidence.
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
40 ÷ 8 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
35 ÷ 5 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain performs a daring high wire leap, then taps a golden cane.
2.The villain cracks a hilarious joke, then swishes a velvet cape.
3.The villain silently mimes escaping, then polishes a silver tiara.
4.The villain silently mimes escaping, then zips up a leather script case.
5.The villain cracks a hilarious joke, then drops a feather quill.
6.The villain cracks a hilarious joke, then zips up a leather script case.
7.The villain sings a booming high C note, then zips up a leather script case.
8.The villain cracks a hilarious joke, then polishes a silver tiara.
9.The villain sings a booming high C note, then drops a feather quill.
10.The villain dramatically recites a monolog, then zips up a leather script case.
11.The villain dramatically recites a monolog, then swishes a velvet cape.
12.The villain performs a daring high wire leap, then drops a feather quill.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Backstage Stage Snatcher
Culprit: Keanu Reeves (Shakespearean Melodrama · Velvet Cape · Enters Stage Left · Jet Black Wig · Squeaky Floorboards)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE CULPRIT DOES NOT WEAR A SILVER TIARA"1/5 of 115 = 23 (T) · 2/8 of 44 = 11 (V) · 3/6 of 74 = 37 (D) · 2/8 of 100 = 25 (W) · 2/10 of 85 = 17 (S) · 1/4 of 152 = 38 (E) · 1/3 of 39 = 13 (C) · 4/8 of 52 = 26 (P) · 1/8 of 48 = 6 (H) · 1/8 of 40 = 5 (O) · 2/8 of 124 = 31 (I) · 3/10 of 100 = 30 (R) · 3/6 of 8 = 4 (U) · 5/10 of 56 = 28 (L) · 2/5 of 85 = 34 (A) · 2/8 of 28 = 7 (N)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "LEFT FOOTPRINTS WERE FOUND NEAR THE EXIT"27 + 2 × 4 = 35 (L) · 31 + 8 × 4 = 63 (P) · 12 × 7 - 28 = 56 (E) · 5 × 3 - 7 = 8 (A) · 9 × 11 - 25 = 74 (T) · 57 + 2 × 9 = 75 (F) · 4 + 3 × 7 = 25 (W) · 6 + 4 × 8 = 38 (N) · 10 × 7 - 29 = 41 (O) · 64 + 3 × 2 = 70 (X) · 30 + 6 × 2 = 42 (S) · 7 × 10 - 25 = 45 (R) · 8 × 6 - 12 = 36 (I) · 2 × 7 - 5 = 9 (H) · 11 + 2 × 2 = 15 (U) · 9 × 9 - 17 = 64 (D)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SQUEAKY FLOORBOARDS EXPOSED THE THIEF"6 × 5 = 30 (S) · 7 × 6 = 42 (O) · 11 × 4 = 44 (Y) · 5 × 11 = 55 (F) · 3 × 5 = 15 (Q) · 2 × 7 = 14 (P) · 11 × 2 = 22 (U) · 6 × 12 = 72 (H) · 10 × 8 = 80 (D) · 12 × 12 = 144 (R) · 11 × 8 = 88 (L) · 5 × 8 = 40 (T) · 7 × 4 = 28 (X) · 3 × 3 = 9 (I) · 9 × 2 = 18 (K) · 9 × 11 = 99 (B) · 7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 2 × 2 = 4 (E)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A JET BLACK HAIR WAS LEFT BEHIND"Round 1,713 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 729 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 6,632 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F) · Round 910 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 4,349 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (R) · Round 172 to the nearest ten = 170 (J) · Round 5,124 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (K) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (T) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (S) · Round 133 to the nearest ten = 130 (C) · Round 2,921 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (N) · Round 3,737 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (I) · Round 1,320 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (H) · Round 157 to the nearest hundred = 200 (B) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Keanu Reeves40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Backstage Stage Snatcher — set in The Grand Broadway Theater
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects