🔎 Science, surgery, crimeGrade 6Reading: grades 7-9MultiplicationMulti-step word problemsWord problemsFractions of a numberDivision
The Bio-Lab Blackout
An emergency alarm echoes through the sterile corridors of the research wing. Someone has breached the high-security cryo-vault and stolen the revolutionary nanotech suture prototype. The Trauma Team is on high alert, and the Chief Resident needs your sharp analytical mind to trace the clues left behind in the operating theaters.
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 | Lab Specialty | Heist Tool | Suture Knot Style | Hair Sample | Allergen Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Gertrude Elion | micro stitching | bypass chip | right handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Alexis Carrel | neural mapping | bypass chip | right handed knot | dark curls | iodine scent |
| Dr Virginia Apgar | neural mapping | bypass chip | left handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Hideyo Noguchi | bio electronics | plasma torch | right handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Michael DeBakey | neural mapping | emp scalpel | right handed knot | shaved head | bright surgical lights |
| Dr William Harvey | micro stitching | sonic drill | right handed knot | silver streak | bright surgical lights |
| Dr Sigmund Freud | bio electronics | emp scalpel | left handed knot | silver streak | bright surgical lights |
| Dr Harvey Cushing | bio electronics | bypass chip | left handed knot | dark curls | latex gloves |
| Dr Andreas Vesalius | micro stitching | plasma torch | right handed knot | silver streak | bright surgical lights |
| Dr Florence Nightingale | bio electronics | plasma torch | left handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Jonas Salk | micro stitching | bypass chip | right handed knot | shaved head | iodine scent |
| Dr Walter Reed | laser surgery | freeze gel | right handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Gerty Cori | neural mapping | plasma torch | right handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Carlos Finlay | bio electronics | emp scalpel | left handed knot | dark curls | iodine scent |
| Dr Elizabeth Blackwell | micro stitching | bypass chip | left handed knot | dark curls | latex gloves |
| Dr Christiaan Barnard | neural mapping | sonic drill | left handed knot | silver streak | latex gloves |
| Dr Alexander Fleming | bio electronics | emp scalpel | right handed knot | dark curls | latex gloves |
| Dr Rosalind Franklin | neural mapping | sonic drill | right handed knot | shaved head | latex gloves |
| Dr Edward Jenner | bio electronics | emp scalpel | right handed knot | dark curls | bright surgical lights |
| Dr Marie Curie | laser surgery | freeze gel | right handed knot | shaved head | bright surgical lights |
| Dr Charles Drew | gene therapy | sonic drill | right handed knot | dark curls | latex gloves |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To inspect the broken locks, we must count the storage trays. Each shelf in the bio-vault holds multiple rows of petri dishes. Let's multiply the rows to find the total number of tampered dishes.
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
132
64
10
11
49
11
35
10
33
T
132
24
88
24
50
81
T
132
49
11
10
T
132
64
10
30
120
35
21
11
11
33
64
88
35
12 × 11 =T
11 × 1 =S
12 × 10 =Y
3 × 11 =C
10 × 5 =N
7 × 5 =P
7 × 7 =U
2 × 12 =D
5 × 6 =B
2 × 5 =E
9 × 9 =O
11 × 8 =I
8 × 8 =H
7 × 3 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The thief raided the pharmacy cabinet. We need to calculate how many vials of anesthetic were taken, factoring in the broken bottles left on the floor and the unopened boxes remaining.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
51
65
9
60
81
60
15
36
D
E
D
K
36
O
81
There were 195 forceps in all. 2 Trauma Team used 21 forceps each. The other 3 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many forceps did each of the other Trauma Team get?R
There were 87 scalpels in all. 1 Trauma Team used 12 scalpels each. The other 5 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many scalpels did each of the other Trauma Team get?A
Chief Resident collected 152 vials in the morning and 148 vials in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Trauma Team. How many vials did each get?H
Chief Resident earned 8 forceps in each of 5 rounds, plus 40 bonus forceps. Then 15 forceps were lost. How many forceps are left?I
There were 50 syringes in all. 4 Trauma Team used 8 syringes each. The other 2 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many syringes did each of the other Trauma Team get?G
There were 480 syringes in all. 4 Trauma Team used 39 syringes each. The other 4 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many syringes did each of the other Trauma Team get?T
Chief Resident earned 2 forceps in each of 6 rounds, plus 33 bonus forceps. Then 9 forceps were lost. How many forceps are left?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
A temperature alarm is ringing in the cryo-lab. We must solve a quick problem about the rate of temperature drop to see exactly when the cooling system was shut down.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
67
73
23
31
120
59
L
67
29
V
31
S
There were 89 sutures. 22 were used up. How many sutures are left?L
There were 88 forceps. 15 were used up. How many forceps are left?A
There were 63 vials. 4 were used up. How many vials are left?G
Chief Resident found 3 syringes yesterday and 28 more today. How many syringes in all?E
Chief Resident lined up 10 rows of 12 syringes. How many syringes in all?X
There were 30 vials. 7 were used up. How many vials are left?T
Chief Resident found 4 forceps yesterday and 25 more today. How many forceps in all?O
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
Only a fraction of the experimental healing serum is left in the beaker. We need to calculate what fraction of the original dosage was stolen to estimate the thief's escape weight.
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
5
18
40
23
14
2
18
40
32
31
S
5
33
27
6
6
7
14
29
40
S
5
38
17
33
18
14
S
5
34
31
27
6
S
5
27
32
33
5/10 of 10 =S
4/10 of 85 =C
2/10 of 200 =A
2/8 of 28 =L
1/4 of 128 =I
2/10 of 70 =E
1/4 of 8 =D
3/10 of 20 =B
1/4 of 92 =V
1/6 of 102 =N
3/10 of 90 =U
3/8 of 88 =T
2/3 of 57 =O
1/3 of 87 =W
3/4 of 24 =H
1/6 of 186 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To preserve the remaining culture samples, we must divide them equally among our sterile backup containers. Let's see how many samples fit into each test tube rack.
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
36 ÷ 9 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
120 ÷ 10 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain disrupted the cryo chamber, then escaped with the micro chip.
2.The villain sliced the secure bio vault, then stole the experimental serum.
3.The villain bypassed the neural lock, then grabbed the nanotech thread.
4.The villain hacked the incubator, then swiped the synthetic organ.
5.The villain disrupted the cryo chamber, then stole the experimental serum.
6.The villain hacked the incubator, then stole the experimental serum.
7.The villain bypassed the neural lock, then swiped the synthetic organ.
8.The villain sliced the secure bio vault, then grabbed the nanotech thread.
9.The villain hacked the incubator, then grabbed the nanotech thread.
10.The villain bypassed the neural lock, then pocketed the laser scalpel.
11.The villain sliced the secure bio vault, then swiped the synthetic organ.
12.The villain bypassed the neural lock, then escaped with the micro chip.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Bio-Lab Blackout
Culprit: Dr Hideyo Noguchi (bio electronics · plasma torch · right handed knot · shaved head · latex gloves)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DID NOT USE THE BYPASS CHIP"12 × 11 = 132 (T) · 11 × 1 = 11 (S) · 12 × 10 = 120 (Y) · 3 × 11 = 33 (C) · 10 × 5 = 50 (N) · 7 × 5 = 35 (P) · 7 × 7 = 49 (U) · 2 × 12 = 24 (D) · 5 × 6 = 30 (B) · 2 × 5 = 10 (E) · 9 × 9 = 81 (O) · 11 × 8 = 88 (I) · 8 × 8 = 64 (H) · 7 × 3 = 21 (A)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED KNOT"There were 195 forceps in all. 2 Trauma Team used 21 forceps each. The other 3 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many forceps did each of the other Trauma Team get? = 51 (R) · There were 87 scalpels in all. 1 Trauma Team used 12 scalpels each. The other 5 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many scalpels did each of the other Trauma Team get? = 15 (A) · Chief Resident collected 152 vials in the morning and 148 vials in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Trauma Team. How many vials did each get? = 60 (H) · Chief Resident earned 8 forceps in each of 5 rounds, plus 40 bonus forceps. Then 15 forceps were lost. How many forceps are left? = 65 (I) · There were 50 syringes in all. 4 Trauma Team used 8 syringes each. The other 2 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many syringes did each of the other Trauma Team get? = 9 (G) · There were 480 syringes in all. 4 Trauma Team used 39 syringes each. The other 4 Trauma Team shared the rest equally. How many syringes did each of the other Trauma Team get? = 81 (T) · Chief Resident earned 2 forceps in each of 6 rounds, plus 33 bonus forceps. Then 9 forceps were lost. How many forceps are left? = 36 (N)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "LATEX GLOVES"There were 89 sutures. 22 were used up. How many sutures are left? = 67 (L) · There were 88 forceps. 15 were used up. How many forceps are left? = 73 (A) · There were 63 vials. 4 were used up. How many vials are left? = 59 (G) · Chief Resident found 3 syringes yesterday and 28 more today. How many syringes in all? = 31 (E) · Chief Resident lined up 10 rows of 12 syringes. How many syringes in all? = 120 (X) · There were 30 vials. 7 were used up. How many vials are left? = 23 (T) · Chief Resident found 4 forceps yesterday and 25 more today. How many forceps in all? = 29 (O)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "SHAVED HAIR STUBBLE WAS ON THE SCRUB SUIT"5/10 of 10 = 5 (S) · 4/10 of 85 = 34 (C) · 2/10 of 200 = 40 (A) · 2/8 of 28 = 7 (L) · 1/4 of 128 = 32 (I) · 2/10 of 70 = 14 (E) · 1/4 of 8 = 2 (D) · 3/10 of 20 = 6 (B) · 1/4 of 92 = 23 (V) · 1/6 of 102 = 17 (N) · 3/10 of 90 = 27 (U) · 3/8 of 88 = 33 (T) · 2/3 of 57 = 38 (O) · 1/3 of 87 = 29 (W) · 3/4 of 24 = 18 (H) · 1/6 of 186 = 31 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Dr Hideyo Noguchi36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Word problems, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Bio-Lab Blackout — set in Metropolitan University Hospital Research Wing
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects