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🏀 BasketballGrade 9Reading: grades 7-9Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers

The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy

Just hours before the championship tip-off, the golden MVP trophy went missing from its locked display case. Security footage shows a mysterious figure moving across the hardwood with incredible basketball skills. The Arena Custodian found a basketball signed with a cryptic code. We must solve the clues to identify which player sneaked into the arena and swiped the trophy!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play
NameSignature MoveSuper Court GearShooting HandHairstyleTactical Weakness
LeBron VanceAnkle-Breaking CrossoverShatterproof VisorRight-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsDouble-Teaming Defenders
Victor HayesGravity-Defying Windmill DunkSpring-Loaded SneakersRight-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsLoud Blaring Horns
Damian FoxAnkle-Breaking CrossoverHeated Shooting SleeveLeft-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutSlippery Polished Floors
Jayson WellsHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterShatterproof VisorLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
Paolo FinchHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterHeated Shooting SleeveLeft-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutSlippery Polished Floors
Kawhi RiversHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterSpring-Loaded SneakersLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
DeAaron ColeGravity-Defying Windmill DunkSpring-Loaded SneakersRight-Handed ShooterHigh Top FadeSlippery Polished Floors
Nikola VanceGravity-Defying Windmill DunkGrip-Enhancing ChalkLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
Anthony GrayNo-Look Behind-the-Back PassSpring-Loaded SneakersRight-Handed ShooterHigh Top FadeLoud Blaring Horns
Jimmy BriggsHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterSpring-Loaded SneakersLeft-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutSlippery Polished Floors
Giannis OkaforHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterShatterproof VisorRight-Handed ShooterHigh Top FadeSlippery Polished Floors
Donovan CruzHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterSmart-Tracking WristbandLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsLoud Blaring Horns
Cade SterlingGravity-Defying Windmill DunkGrip-Enhancing ChalkLeft-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutDouble-Teaming Defenders
Luka BarrettGravity-Defying Windmill DunkSmart-Tracking WristbandLeft-Handed ShooterHigh Top FadeDouble-Teaming Defenders
Kyrie BrooksLockdown Full-Court PressHeated Shooting SleeveLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
Zion FletcherLockdown Full-Court PressHeated Shooting SleeveRight-Handed ShooterHigh Top FadeLoud Blaring Horns
Devin HarrisHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterHeated Shooting SleeveRight-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutLoud Blaring Horns
Joel SimmonsNo-Look Behind-the-Back PassHeated Shooting SleeveLeft-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
Steph MillerHalf-Court Buzzer-BeaterGrip-Enhancing ChalkLeft-Handed ShooterNeat Buzz CutSlippery Polished Floors
LaMelo ParkLockdown Full-Court PressShatterproof VisorRight-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsDouble-Teaming Defenders
Ja CarterLockdown Full-Court PressSmart-Tracking WristbandRight-Handed ShooterBraided CornrowsSlippery Polished Floors
Clue 1

Two-step equations

The head coach calculates the locker room supply totals using a simple formula. Solve for the missing shipment of basketballs to reveal our first suspect lead.

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

V
3
2
9
9
7
2
4
16
14
17
15
4
14
6
22
17
7
12
6
10
17
15
10
7
6
6
17
12
11
12
14
14
5
V
3
2
15
14
12
3x + 7 = 16, x =V
4x + 1 = 41, x =H
5x + 10 = 65, x =P
7x + 7 = 49, x =T
8x + 2 = 138, x =E
9x + 8 = 206, x =W
9x + 1 = 145, x =D
4x + 4 = 60, x =O
6x + 10 = 82, x =R
7x + 8 = 22, x =I
5x + 1 = 21, x =N
4x + 8 = 36, x =A
2x + 1 = 19, x =L
6x + 9 = 39, x =F
6x + 5 = 95, x =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2

Exponents

The court's digital scoreboard power grid is arranged in square networks. Calculate the total energy wattage using exponents to bring the arena camera system back online.

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
100
49
512
36
9
484
81
400
4
T
100
4
243
16
484
512
216
T
100
49
16
121
289
512
289
243
49
441
441
T
100
512
400
10^2 =T
21^2 =O
6^3 =F
22^2 =L
7^2 =H
3^2 =U
20^2 =R
11^2 =N
8^3 =E
6^2 =C
17^2 =D
4^2 =A
3^4 =P
3^5 =S
2^2 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 3

Square roots

To check the exact area of the key, we need to find the side lengths of the square floor tiles. Solve the square roots to crack the lock on the team equipment trunk.

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
11
17
3
24
24
22
20
4
16
17
8
8
20
S
11
6
3
17
17
S
11
17
8
6
23
14
22
23
14
3
22
16
19
8
6
12
sqrt(121) =S
sqrt(400) =R
sqrt(16) =Y
sqrt(36) =W
sqrt(64) =O
sqrt(256) =F
sqrt(576) =P
sqrt(529) =T
sqrt(196) =H
sqrt(484) =E
sqrt(361) =D
sqrt(289) =L
sqrt(9) =I
sqrt(144) =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 4

Integers

We analyzed the team's plus-minus rating system tracking positive gains and negative losses. Calculate the net integer score to trace the suspect's movement across the court.

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
12
39
14
T
12
39
40
14
34
18
14
36
20
24
28
20
36
40
4
14
4
38
2
20
26
20
2
18
24
9 - (-3) =T
(-7) + 9 =O
(-11) + 29 =W
(-3) + 42 =H
23 - (-5) =B
(-15) + 29 =E
(-8) + 28 =R
(-13) + 17 =D
(-12) + 38 =N
(-6) + 44 =C
(-13) + 49 =A
(-14) + 38 =S
(-4) + 44 =I
30 - (-4) =F
0/14 letters found
Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The ticket office needs to balance the VIP seat revenue equations to find out who bought the ticket near the trophy stand. Solve the algebra to reveal the final clue.

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
4x + 11 = 23, x = ?
9x + 6 = 15, x = ?
7x + 11 = 39, x = ?
4x + 7 = 43, x = ?
6x + 9 = 81, x = ?
2x + 2 = 16, x = ?
3x + 10 = 25, x = ?
5x + 3 = 13, x = ?
3x + 10 = 40, x = ?
4x + 2 = 46, x = ?
5x + 10 = 40, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain locks down the court with a full-court press, then warms up using a heated shooting sleeve.
2.The villain locks down the court with a full-court press, then adjusts a durable shatterproof visor.
3.The villain drains a stunning half-court buzzer-beater, then leaps high using spring-loaded sneakers.
4.The villain flashes a slick no-look behind-the-back pass, then warms up using a heated shooting sleeve.
5.The villain locks down the court with a full-court press, then leaps high using spring-loaded sneakers.
6.The villain flashes a slick no-look behind-the-back pass, then leaps high using spring-loaded sneakers.
7.The villain executes a lightning ankle-breaking crossover, then adjusts a durable shatterproof visor.
8.The villain unleashes a gravity-defying windmill dunk, then gains control with grip-enhancing chalk.
9.The villain unleashes a gravity-defying windmill dunk, then adjusts a durable shatterproof visor.
10.The villain locks down the court with a full-court press, then taps a high-tech smart-tracking wristband.
11.The villain unleashes a gravity-defying windmill dunk, then warms up using a heated shooting sleeve.
12.The villain drains a stunning half-court buzzer-beater, then warms up using a heated shooting sleeve.
Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy

Culprit: Nikola Vance (Gravity-Defying Windmill Dunk · Grip-Enhancing Chalk · Left-Handed Shooter · Braided Cornrows · Slippery Polished Floors)
  1. Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR THE SHATTERPROOF VISOR"
    3x + 7 = 16, x = 3 (V) · 4x + 1 = 41, x = 10 (H) · 5x + 10 = 65, x = 11 (P) · 7x + 7 = 49, x = 6 (T) · 8x + 2 = 138, x = 17 (E) · 9x + 8 = 206, x = 22 (W) · 9x + 1 = 145, x = 16 (D) · 4x + 4 = 60, x = 14 (O) · 6x + 10 = 82, x = 12 (R) · 7x + 8 = 22, x = 2 (I) · 5x + 1 = 21, x = 4 (N) · 4x + 8 = 36, x = 7 (A) · 2x + 1 = 19, x = 9 (L) · 6x + 9 = 39, x = 5 (F) · 6x + 5 = 95, x = 15 (S)
  2. Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE CULPRIT IS A LEFT HANDED SHOOTER"
    10^2 = 100 (T) · 21^2 = 441 (O) · 6^3 = 216 (F) · 22^2 = 484 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (H) · 3^2 = 9 (U) · 20^2 = 400 (R) · 11^2 = 121 (N) · 8^3 = 512 (E) · 6^2 = 36 (C) · 17^2 = 289 (D) · 4^2 = 16 (A) · 3^4 = 81 (P) · 3^5 = 243 (S) · 2^2 = 4 (I)
  3. Clue 3 (Square roots): "SLIPPERY FLOORS WILL SLOW THE THIEF DOWN"
    sqrt(121) = 11 (S) · sqrt(400) = 20 (R) · sqrt(16) = 4 (Y) · sqrt(36) = 6 (W) · sqrt(64) = 8 (O) · sqrt(256) = 16 (F) · sqrt(576) = 24 (P) · sqrt(529) = 23 (T) · sqrt(196) = 14 (H) · sqrt(484) = 22 (E) · sqrt(361) = 19 (D) · sqrt(289) = 17 (L) · sqrt(9) = 3 (I) · sqrt(144) = 12 (N)
  4. Clue 4 (Integers): "THE THIEF WEARS BRAIDED CORNROWS"
    9 - (-3) = 12 (T) · (-7) + 9 = 2 (O) · (-11) + 29 = 18 (W) · (-3) + 42 = 39 (H) · 23 - (-5) = 28 (B) · (-15) + 29 = 14 (E) · (-8) + 28 = 20 (R) · (-13) + 17 = 4 (D) · (-12) + 38 = 26 (N) · (-6) + 44 = 38 (C) · (-13) + 49 = 36 (A) · (-14) + 38 = 24 (S) · (-4) + 44 = 40 (I) · 30 - (-4) = 34 (F)
  5. Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 8) → Nikola Vance
    4x + 11 = 23, x = 3 · 9x + 6 = 15, x = 1 · 7x + 11 = 39, x = 4 · 4x + 7 = 43, x = 9 · 6x + 9 = 81, x = 12 · 2x + 2 = 16, x = 7 · 3x + 10 = 25, x = 5 · 5x + 3 = 13, x = 2 · 3x + 10 = 40, x = 10 · 4x + 2 = 46, x = 11 · 5x + 10 = 40, x = 6

About this mystery

Grade level
Grade 9 math
Math topics
Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
Reading level
grades 7-9
Theme
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in The gleaming court of the Metro Arena during the All-Star Tournament
Format
Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution
One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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