Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision

The Balloon Expedition Mystery

The legendary Golden Compass of Altia has been stolen right out of the flagship hot-air balloon! The thief left behind a trail of strange gadgets and mysterious footprints across the floating islands.

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 Gear	Survival Skill	Handedness	Hair Color	Major Fear
Sally Ride	Grappling Hook	Map Reading	Left Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Jane Goodall	Glider Wings	Rope Knotting	Left Handed	Sun Yellow	Fear of Dark
Steve Irwin	Rocket Boots	Camp Cooking	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Water
Robin Hood	Laser Pointer	Animal Calling	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Lara Croft	Grappling Hook	Camp Cooking	Left Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Noise
Sacagawea	Pocket Radar	Camp Cooking	Right Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Noise
Marco Polo	Pocket Radar	Rope Knotting	Right Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Dark
Hardy Boy	Pocket Radar	Rope Knotting	Right Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Water
Buzz Aldrin	Rocket Boots	Animal Calling	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Amelia Earhart	Grappling Hook	Map Reading	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Jim Hawkins	Grappling Hook	Rope Knotting	Left Handed	Sun Yellow	Fear of Water
Allan Quatermain	Grappling Hook	Animal Calling	Left Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Water
Sherlock Holmes	Grappling Hook	Animal Calling	Left Handed	Sun Yellow	Fear of Dark
Charles Darwin	Laser Pointer	Deep Diving	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Water
Indiana Jones	Pocket Radar	Deep Diving	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Dark
Peter Pan	Grappling Hook	Deep Diving	Left Handed	Sun Yellow	Fear of Water
Huckleberry Finn	Pocket Radar	Rope Knotting	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Nellie Bly	Glider Wings	Camp Cooking	Right Handed	Fiery Red	Fear of Noise
Tom Sawyer	Rocket Boots	Rope Knotting	Left Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Dark
Doctor Watson	Laser Pointer	Map Reading	Right Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Noise
Nancy Drew	Grappling Hook	Animal Calling	Right Handed	Ink Black	Fear of Water

Clue 1

Fractions of a number

The crew found a torn piece of the thief's escape map. To figure out how much territory is left to search, we must calculate the fractional part of the total area marked on this map segment.

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

2/6 of 105 =T

2/6 of 87 =R

4/8 of 24 =E

2/8 of 32 =D

1/2 of 62 =S

2/8 of 72 =P

7/8 of 24 =W

5/10 of 22 =K

1/3 of 117 =N

6/10 of 10 =G

1/5 of 110 =I

5/8 of 24 =O

2/3 of 30 =F

1/6 of 138 =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Order of operations

The ancient temple door has a strange multi-step locking mechanism. To solve the combination and peek inside, we must calculate the exact sequence using the strict order of operations.

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

7 + 3 × 2 =T

9 × 7 - 24 =W

11 × 8 - 10 =E

2 × 6 - 5 =N

10 × 10 - 26 =U

7 × 12 - 9 =C

36 + 6 × 5 =G

25 + 9 × 3 =I

3 + 8 × 4 =P

2 × 12 - 18 =H

15 + 5 × 2 =R

8 × 10 - 8 =S

28 + 2 × 7 =A

16 + 5 × 8 =D

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We discovered rows of identical gear teeth on the villain's dropped gadget. By counting the total number of gears and multiplying the teeth per gear, we can decode the signal.

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

100

120

121

100

110

120

121

11 × 6 =T

11 × 10 =U

7 × 9 =S

3 × 10 =H

10 × 5 =I

12 × 10 =N

2 × 1 =V

7 × 11 =O

6 × 9 =D

11 × 11 =R

5 × 1 =E

3 × 7 =L

10 × 10 =A

0/13 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

The runaway hot-air balloon's altimeter is glitching and only displays rounded numbers. We need to round our current altitude to the nearest hundred to match their radar signal.

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

230

3000

110

1300

200

7000

290

3700

200

7000

110

3000

2300

290

300

290

7000

1700

3700

2300

290

Round 234 to the nearest tenW

Round 53 to the nearest tenE

Round 1,670 to the nearest hundredH

Round 1,311 to the nearest hundredU

Round 23 to the nearest tenS

Round 3,661 to the nearest hundredA

Round 286 to the nearest tenR

Round 2,748 to the nearest thousandF

Round 2,271 to the nearest hundredI

Round 109 to the nearest tenO

Round 152 to the nearest hundredN

Round 268 to the nearest hundredY

Round 91 to the nearest tenT

Round 6,654 to the nearest thousandD

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

To divide our rescue supplies evenly among the search parties, we must split the remaining rations. Calculating this division will reveal the final clue's location.

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

1 ÷ 1 = ?

40 ÷ 5 = ?

77 ÷ 7 = ?

70 ÷ 7 = ?

60 ÷ 5 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

60 ÷ 10 = ?

15 ÷ 3 = ?

30 ÷ 10 = ?

12 ÷ 6 = ?

20 ÷ 5 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain flashed a bright green beam, then called a flock of parrots for help.

2.The villain flashed a bright green beam, then plotted a course out of the ruins.

3.The villain checked their digital screen, then plotted a course out of the ruins.

4.The villain blasted high into the canopy, then swam through the crocodile swamp.

5.The villain flashed a bright green beam, then cooked up some mystery stew.

6.The villain flashed a bright green beam, then tied up the guards with thick ropes.

7.The villain blasted high into the canopy, then tied up the guards with thick ropes.

8.The villain glided silently off the cliff, then cooked up some mystery stew.

9.The villain blasted high into the canopy, then called a flock of parrots for help.

10.The villain blasted high into the canopy, then plotted a course out of the ruins.

11.The villain swung from a jungle vine, then plotted a course out of the ruins.

12.The villain checked their digital screen, then swam through the crocodile swamp.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Balloon Expedition Mystery

Culprit: Buzz Aldrin (Rocket Boots · Animal Calling · Right Handed · Fiery Red · Fear of Noise)

Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE THIEF DOES NOT KNOW ROPE KNOTTING"
2/6 of 105 = 35 (T) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (R) · 4/8 of 24 = 12 (E) · 2/8 of 32 = 8 (D) · 1/2 of 62 = 31 (S) · 2/8 of 72 = 18 (P) · 7/8 of 24 = 21 (W) · 5/10 of 22 = 11 (K) · 1/3 of 117 = 39 (N) · 6/10 of 10 = 6 (G) · 1/5 of 110 = 22 (I) · 5/8 of 24 = 15 (O) · 2/3 of 30 = 20 (F) · 1/6 of 138 = 23 (H)
Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT WRITES WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"
7 + 3 × 2 = 13 (T) · 9 × 7 - 24 = 39 (W) · 11 × 8 - 10 = 78 (E) · 2 × 6 - 5 = 7 (N) · 10 × 10 - 26 = 74 (U) · 7 × 12 - 9 = 75 (C) · 36 + 6 × 5 = 66 (G) · 25 + 9 × 3 = 52 (I) · 3 + 8 × 4 = 35 (P) · 2 × 12 - 18 = 6 (H) · 15 + 5 × 2 = 25 (R) · 8 × 10 - 8 = 72 (S) · 28 + 2 × 7 = 42 (A) · 16 + 5 × 8 = 56 (D)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN SHIVERED AT THE LOUD THUNDER"
11 × 6 = 66 (T) · 11 × 10 = 110 (U) · 7 × 9 = 63 (S) · 3 × 10 = 30 (H) · 10 × 5 = 50 (I) · 12 × 10 = 120 (N) · 2 × 1 = 2 (V) · 7 × 11 = 77 (O) · 6 × 9 = 54 (D) · 11 × 11 = 121 (R) · 5 × 1 = 5 (E) · 3 × 7 = 21 (L) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF FIERY RED HAIR"
Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (W) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (E) · Round 1,670 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (H) · Round 1,311 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (U) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 3,661 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (A) · Round 286 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 2,748 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (F) · Round 2,271 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (I) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (O) · Round 152 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 268 to the nearest hundred = 300 (Y) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 6,654 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (D)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Buzz Aldrin
1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4

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 Balloon Expedition Mystery — set in The Cloud Kingdom of Altia
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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