🐱 CatsGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremMulti-step word problemsSquare rootsExponents
The Case of the Golden Catnip Mouse
The legendary Golden Catnip Mouse has been swiped from the Whisker City Vault! A mysterious feline thief slipped past the laser grids. Officer Whiskers needs your help to crack the clues, solve the math, and identify the culprit from the lineup.
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 Skill | Special Utility | Distinguishing Feature | Fur Pattern | Known Detractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Cat | High Leap | Yarn Spin | No collar bell | Calico fur | Crinkly foil |
| Oliver | High Leap | Catnip Brew | No collar bell | Sleek black coat | Water mist |
| Fluffy | Super Purr | Box Hide | Wears collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Socky | High Leap | Mouse Hunt | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Mittens | High Leap | Box Hide | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Boots | Night Vision | Catnip Brew | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Vacuum noise |
| Sylvester | High Leap | Mouse Hunt | No collar bell | Calico fur | Crinkly foil |
| Garfield | Super Purr | Box Hide | No collar bell | Sleek black coat | Vacuum noise |
| Grumpy Cat | Super Purr | Catnip Brew | Wears collar bell | Sleek black coat | Vacuum noise |
| Salem | Super Purr | Yarn Spin | No collar bell | Calico fur | Crinkly foil |
| Mr Bigglesworth | Night Vision | Box Hide | Wears collar bell | Sleek black coat | Vacuum noise |
| Marie | Night Vision | Catnip Brew | No collar bell | Calico fur | Water mist |
| Paws | Super Purr | Catnip Brew | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Lil Bub | High Leap | Mouse Hunt | Wears collar bell | Calico fur | Crinkly foil |
| Nala | Super Purr | Mouse Hunt | Wears collar bell | Sleek black coat | Water mist |
| Cheshire | High Leap | Yarn Spin | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Vacuum noise |
| Bob the Cat | Super Purr | Yarn Spin | Wears collar bell | Sleek black coat | Water mist |
| Maru | Silent Paws | Yarn Spin | Wears collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Sassy | Super Purr | Mouse Hunt | No collar bell | Calico fur | Water mist |
| Choupette | Night Vision | Laser Dodge | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
| Whiskers | Super Purr | Mouse Hunt | No collar bell | Tabby stripes | Water mist |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
We tracked the thief's escape route across several roofs. The security team had to calculate the total energy spent over three distinct climbs and two descents to find where they rested.
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
51
15
25
30
17
5
5
52
17
82
100
20
25
34
82
20
T
51
10
75
25
40
58
52
T
51
82
17
41
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =T
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =A
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =W
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =I
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =C
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =D
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =E
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =S
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =R
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =N
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =H
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =B
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =V
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =L
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =P
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The suspect made a daring diagonal leap from the museum ledge directly to a high lamppost. We must calculate the straight-line distance of this jump using the wall height and ground distance.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
N
11
12
85
12
47
47
40
86
10
E
47
47
There were 84 scratching posts in all. 40 scratching posts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Feline Patrol Unit. How many scratching posts did each get?N
There were 72 catnip treats in all. 24 catnip treats were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Feline Patrol Unit. How many catnip treats did each get?O
There were 460 yarn balls in all. 2 Feline Patrol Unit used 15 yarn balls each. The other 5 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many yarn balls did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get?R
There were 208 catnip treats in all. 8 catnip treats were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 Feline Patrol Unit. How many catnip treats did each get?A
Officer Whiskers filled 7 boxes with 4 feather wands each, then found 57 more feather wands. How many feather wands are there in all?C
There were 166 toy mice in all. 4 Feline Patrol Unit used 18 toy mice each. The other 2 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many toy mice did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get?L
There were 67 toy mice in all. 3 Feline Patrol Unit used 9 toy mice each. The other 4 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many toy mice did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get?B
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
A mysterious square patch of spilled catnip was left on the lawn. To find the length of the suspect's stride, we need to determine the side length of this perfectly square botanical mess.
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
15
9
18
19
20
19
21
18
3
T
15
10
8
18
2
12
19
21
17
12
6
5
14
T
15
T
15
8
18
sqrt(225) =T
sqrt(324) =E
sqrt(64) =L
sqrt(81) =H
sqrt(4) =D
sqrt(100) =F
sqrt(196) =O
sqrt(441) =P
sqrt(289) =R
sqrt(144) =A
sqrt(25) =B
sqrt(36) =Y
sqrt(9) =C
sqrt(361) =S
sqrt(400) =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The bandit left a trail of toy mice that doubles at every block they ran. We can predict their final destination by calculating the total mice dropped using exponential powers of two.
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
441
625
484
169
81
25
256
36
324
484
49
100
S
441
36
729
324
512
256
729
512
625
361
25
125
25
256
9
25
21^2 =S
22^2 =R
9^2 =P
19^2 =H
5^3 =L
7^2 =W
3^2 =G
5^4 =T
4^4 =D
13^2 =I
6^2 =F
10^2 =A
5^2 =E
18^2 =U
3^6 =O
8^3 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The getaway vehicle was parked inside a fenced, square courtyard with a known area. Finding the perimeter will tell us how much tape we need to seal off the crime scene.
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
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain leaped from the highest rafter, then hid inside an empty cardboard box.
2.The villain used night vision to navigate the dark, then spilled aromatic catnip on the floor.
3.The villain purred loudly to disrupt the alarms, then chased a toy mouse to escape.
4.The villain scaled the steep brick wall, then hid inside an empty cardboard box.
5.The villain padded silently across the floor, then chased a toy mouse to escape.
6.The villain used night vision to navigate the dark, then hid inside an empty cardboard box.
7.The villain padded silently across the floor, then hid inside an empty cardboard box.
8.The villain used night vision to navigate the dark, then dodged the security lasers with ease.
9.The villain purred loudly to disrupt the alarms, then dodged the security lasers with ease.
10.The villain scaled the steep brick wall, then dodged the security lasers with ease.
11.The villain purred loudly to disrupt the alarms, then spilled aromatic catnip on the floor.
12.The villain leaped from the highest rafter, then chased a toy mouse to escape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Catnip Mouse
Culprit: Choupette (Night Vision · Laser Dodge · No collar bell · Tabby stripes · Water mist)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT BREW CATNIP"legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (T) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (A) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (W) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (I) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (C) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (D) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (E) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (S) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (R) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (N) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (H) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (B) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (V) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (L) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (P) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (O)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "NO COLLAR BELL"There were 84 scratching posts in all. 40 scratching posts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Feline Patrol Unit. How many scratching posts did each get? = 11 (N) · There were 72 catnip treats in all. 24 catnip treats were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Feline Patrol Unit. How many catnip treats did each get? = 12 (O) · There were 460 yarn balls in all. 2 Feline Patrol Unit used 15 yarn balls each. The other 5 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many yarn balls did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get? = 86 (R) · There were 208 catnip treats in all. 8 catnip treats were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 Feline Patrol Unit. How many catnip treats did each get? = 40 (A) · Officer Whiskers filled 7 boxes with 4 feather wands each, then found 57 more feather wands. How many feather wands are there in all? = 85 (C) · There were 166 toy mice in all. 4 Feline Patrol Unit used 18 toy mice each. The other 2 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many toy mice did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get? = 47 (L) · There were 67 toy mice in all. 3 Feline Patrol Unit used 9 toy mice each. The other 4 Feline Patrol Unit shared the rest equally. How many toy mice did each of the other Feline Patrol Unit get? = 10 (B)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT FLED A SPRAY BOTTLE"sqrt(225) = 15 (T) · sqrt(324) = 18 (E) · sqrt(64) = 8 (L) · sqrt(81) = 9 (H) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(100) = 10 (F) · sqrt(196) = 14 (O) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P) · sqrt(289) = 17 (R) · sqrt(144) = 12 (A) · sqrt(25) = 5 (B) · sqrt(36) = 6 (Y) · sqrt(9) = 3 (C) · sqrt(361) = 19 (S) · sqrt(400) = 20 (U)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "STRIPED FUR WAS FOUND ON THE LEDGE"21^2 = 441 (S) · 22^2 = 484 (R) · 9^2 = 81 (P) · 19^2 = 361 (H) · 5^3 = 125 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (W) · 3^2 = 9 (G) · 5^4 = 625 (T) · 4^4 = 256 (D) · 13^2 = 169 (I) · 6^2 = 36 (F) · 10^2 = 100 (A) · 5^2 = 25 (E) · 18^2 = 324 (U) · 3^6 = 729 (O) · 8^3 = 512 (N)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 8) → Choupettesqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(121) = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Multi-step word problems, Square roots, Exponents
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Catnip Mouse — set in Whisker City
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects