🏀 Basketball, CatsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Big Hoop Catastrophe

The Championship Cat-Basket Trophy has been swiped right before the big game! The entire Hoop-and-Whisker Arena is in a frenzy. We need to find the sneaky cat who did it before the final buzzer sounds!

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	sneaker gear	shooting style	fur type	major distraction
LeBron Meows	super jump	bounce tail	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Catlin Clark	super jump	glowing sneakers	right pawed	orange tabby fur	spray bottle
Candace Pawker	super jump	bounce tail	left pawed	sleek black fur	spray bottle
Jimmy Scratcher	laser pounce	glowing sneakers	left pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Julius Erwing	catnip blast	magnetic paws	left pawed	orange tabby fur	squeaky toy
Giannis Antetomeow	catnip blast	bounce tail	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Stephen Furry	laser pounce	glowing sneakers	right pawed	orange tabby fur	spray bottle
Meowgik Johnson	yarn spin	glowing sneakers	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Muggsy Pawgues	dribble dash	shadow cape	left pawed	calico patches	shiny flashlight
Larry Birdcat	dribble dash	bounce tail	right pawed	calico patches	squeaky toy
Yao Meow	yarn spin	shadow cape	right pawed	calico patches	shiny flashlight
Breanna Stewtail	laser pounce	shadow cape	right pawed	calico patches	spray bottle
Michael Clawdan	yarn spin	glowing sneakers	left pawed	sleek black fur	squeaky toy
Shaquille ONibble	super jump	whiskers radar	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Diana Taurasqueak	dribble dash	magnetic paws	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Luka Clawcic	catnip blast	glowing sneakers	right pawed	sleek black fur	squeaky toy
Nikola Jokitten	dribble dash	bounce tail	right pawed	orange tabby fur	spray bottle
Spud Webbclaw	dribble dash	bounce tail	left pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Sue Birdy	yarn spin	bounce tail	right pawed	sleek black fur	squeaky toy
Kyrie Purving	catnip blast	whiskers radar	right pawed	sleek black fur	shiny flashlight
Dirk Nowitzclaw	catnip blast	bounce tail	right pawed	orange tabby fur	spray bottle

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The thief left muddy pawprints in equal rows on the gym floor. We can multiply the rows to find how many steps they took to escape!

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

144

8 × 7 =T

9 × 7 =B

8 × 10 =I

8 × 11 =L

4 × 5 =H

6 × 9 =E

1 × 7 =D

8 × 3 =A

10 × 10 =V

12 × 12 =U

11 × 3 =C

8 × 9 =F

6 × 11 =O

1 × 5 =S

3 × 12 =N

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The scoreboard clock caught the thief on camera, but the screen only shows rounded numbers. Let us round the estimate to read the true 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.

430

1300

300

9000

110

300

370

2300

3000

170

300

2900

200

7000

4300

300

9000

700

7000

430

1300

430

1300

300

200

7000

1700

1300

430

5000

370

700

Round 428 to the nearest tenT

Round 8,636 to the nearest thousandS

Round 5,382 to the nearest thousandP

Round 371 to the nearest tenA

Round 108 to the nearest tenN

Round 2,824 to the nearest thousandF

Round 4,291 to the nearest hundredL

Round 6,635 to the nearest thousandI

Round 2,280 to the nearest hundredY

Round 1,684 to the nearest hundredG

Round 312 to the nearest hundredE

Round 168 to the nearest hundredR

Round 2,905 to the nearest hundredD

Round 74 to the nearest tenK

Round 684 to the nearest hundredW

Round 166 to the nearest tenO

Round 89 to the nearest tenB

Round 1,274 to the nearest hundredH

0/18 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

We gathered all the dropped basketballs left near the lockers. Adding the piles together will reveal our next 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.

5132

9232

3224

6130

6519

6261

6544

8971

5132

9232

3224

8971

6130

2960

3224

4410

2993

6130

8971

9232

4410

3615

9385

4410

3224

8313

3053

2933 + 2199 =A

5196 + 3117 =E

4997 + 4235 =S

1377 + 2238 =O

3755 + 2375 =I

1916 + 1308 =H

2965 + 3296 =Y

3775 + 5196 =L

2437 + 4082 =N

4898 + 4487 =P

2935 + 3609 =F

2873 + 1537 =T

1968 + 1025 =W

1676 + 1284 =G

1584 + 1469 =M

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The team gear trunk was raided during halftime. Subtracting the left behind jerseys from the starting total will tell us what the thief wore!

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

8908

1400

2800

2442

1684

8963

2660

5909

2164

1400

7667

8165

2164

4339

4478

7667

2800

1684

1833

2442

8963

5264

2807

1400

8165

4339

2164

13904 - 4996 =W

5866 - 3059 =H

5710 - 1232 =C

3211 - 1378 =R

4366 - 2966 =E

10587 - 2422 =B

9015 - 52 =N

3041 - 241 =F

4951 - 2787 =L

8846 - 1179 =K

8204 - 3865 =A

6494 - 4810 =U

9031 - 3122 =S

3832 - 1172 =D

8693 - 3429 =T

4682 - 2240 =O

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We need to divide our rookie search squad into equal feline teams so we can check every dark corner of the arena.

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 = ?

44 ÷ 4 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

99 ÷ 11 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

4 ÷ 4 = ?

80 ÷ 10 = ?

12 ÷ 3 = ?

10 ÷ 2 = ?

72 ÷ 12 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain unleashes a smelly catnip blast, then disappears into a dark shadow cape.

2.The villain does a super jump to the hoop, then bounces away on a springy tail.

3.The villain unleashes a smelly catnip blast, then tracks the exits with whiskers radar.

4.The villain leaps with a laser pounce, then tracks the exits with whiskers radar.

5.The villain leaps with a laser pounce, then bounces away on a springy tail.

6.The villain does a super jump to the hoop, then disappears into a dark shadow cape.

7.The villain leaps with a laser pounce, then speeds off in glowing sneakers.

8.The villain does a quick dribble dash, then bounces away on a springy tail.

9.The villain unleashes a smelly catnip blast, then speeds off in glowing sneakers.

10.The villain creates a wild yarn spin, then speeds off in glowing sneakers.

11.The villain does a quick dribble dash, then snatches the prize with magnetic paws.

12.The villain does a super jump to the hoop, then tracks the exits with whiskers radar.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Big Hoop Catastrophe

Culprit: Kyrie Purving (catnip blast · whiskers radar · right pawed · sleek black fur · shiny flashlight)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE A BOUNCE TAIL"
8 × 7 = 56 (T) · 9 × 7 = 63 (B) · 8 × 10 = 80 (I) · 8 × 11 = 88 (L) · 4 × 5 = 20 (H) · 6 × 9 = 54 (E) · 1 × 7 = 7 (D) · 8 × 3 = 24 (A) · 10 × 10 = 100 (V) · 12 × 12 = 144 (U) · 11 × 3 = 33 (C) · 8 × 9 = 72 (F) · 6 × 11 = 66 (O) · 1 × 5 = 5 (S) · 3 × 12 = 36 (N)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SNEAKY FOE DRIBBLES WITH THE RIGHT PAW"
Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (T) · Round 8,636 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 5,382 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (P) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (A) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (N) · Round 2,824 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (F) · Round 4,291 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (L) · Round 6,635 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (I) · Round 2,280 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (Y) · Round 1,684 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (G) · Round 312 to the nearest hundred = 300 (E) · Round 168 to the nearest hundred = 200 (R) · Round 2,905 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (K) · Round 684 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (O) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (B) · Round 1,274 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (H)
Clue 3 (Addition): "A SHINY FLASHLIGHT WILL STOP THEM"
2933 + 2199 = 5132 (A) · 5196 + 3117 = 8313 (E) · 4997 + 4235 = 9232 (S) · 1377 + 2238 = 3615 (O) · 3755 + 2375 = 6130 (I) · 1916 + 1308 = 3224 (H) · 2965 + 3296 = 6261 (Y) · 3775 + 5196 = 8971 (L) · 2437 + 4082 = 6519 (N) · 4898 + 4487 = 9385 (P) · 2935 + 3609 = 6544 (F) · 2873 + 1537 = 4410 (T) · 1968 + 1025 = 2993 (W) · 1676 + 1284 = 2960 (G) · 1584 + 1469 = 3053 (M)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND SLEEK BLACK FUR ON THE BALL"
13904 - 4996 = 8908 (W) · 5866 - 3059 = 2807 (H) · 5710 - 1232 = 4478 (C) · 3211 - 1378 = 1833 (R) · 4366 - 2966 = 1400 (E) · 10587 - 2422 = 8165 (B) · 9015 - 52 = 8963 (N) · 3041 - 241 = 2800 (F) · 4951 - 2787 = 2164 (L) · 8846 - 1179 = 7667 (K) · 8204 - 3865 = 4339 (A) · 6494 - 4810 = 1684 (U) · 9031 - 3122 = 5909 (S) · 3832 - 1172 = 2660 (D) · 8693 - 3429 = 5264 (T) · 4682 - 2240 = 2442 (O)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Kyrie Purving
70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Big Hoop Catastrophe — set in the Hoop-and-Whisker Arena
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Cloud Kingdom Caper

Grade 4

The Wembley Trophy Mystery

Grade 4

The Great Zero-Gravity Trophy Heist

Grade 4

The Golden Monkey Mystery

Grade 4