🐱 CatsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Anchovy
The Golden Anchovy has been swiped from the Mewplex Museum! The Head Curator is in a panic. Only a clever detective can track down the sneaky cat burglar.
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 | Super Skill | Secret Gadget | Habit | Fur Pattern | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | wall climbing | catnip bomb | wears a bell | striped tabby | cardboard box |
| Garfield | silent stalking | feather wand | wears a bell | calico patches | scratching post |
| Buster | wall climbing | laser pointer | no bell worn | calico patches | cardboard box |
| Mittens | laser chasing | yarn launcher | no bell worn | striped tabby | cardboard box |
| Smokey | wall climbing | squeaky mouse | wears a bell | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Ziggy | silent stalking | squeaky mouse | no bell worn | solid black | cardboard box |
| Felix | super purring | feather wand | no bell worn | calico patches | cardboard box |
| Tom | high jumping | catnip bomb | no bell worn | calico patches | cardboard box |
| Peanut | high jumping | catnip bomb | no bell worn | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Whiskers | silent stalking | yarn launcher | wears a bell | striped tabby | tuna flakes |
| Morris | super purring | feather wand | no bell worn | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Gizmo | super purring | yarn launcher | wears a bell | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Bella | silent stalking | feather wand | wears a bell | solid black | cardboard box |
| Sylvester | silent stalking | yarn launcher | wears a bell | calico patches | cardboard box |
| Luna | silent stalking | yarn launcher | no bell worn | striped tabby | cardboard box |
| Fluffy | laser chasing | catnip bomb | wears a bell | calico patches | tuna flakes |
| Milo | super purring | laser pointer | wears a bell | solid black | cardboard box |
| Socks | silent stalking | laser pointer | wears a bell | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Nala | super purring | feather wand | wears a bell | striped tabby | scratching post |
| Simba | silent stalking | squeaky mouse | no bell worn | calico patches | cardboard box |
| Rusty | high jumping | catnip bomb | wears a bell | striped tabby | scratching post |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
We found a torn bag of kitty treats. The thief ate a fraction of the treats inside. Help us count how many are left to narrow down the gear they left behind!
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
18
9
29
6
24
T
18
25
21
29
31
4
21
T
18
26
31
29
24
28
24
36
4
2
24
26
4
6
9
29
36
1/2 of 36 =T
3/5 of 40 =A
2/3 of 6 =N
4/8 of 42 =O
4/8 of 4 =L
1/4 of 112 =Y
1/5 of 125 =D
2/3 of 9 =C
1/3 of 87 =E
6/10 of 60 =R
2/6 of 93 =S
2/8 of 36 =H
1/2 of 52 =U
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To unlock the security camera footage, we need to solve the keypad puzzle. Solve these steps in the exact order to see if the thief wore a collar bell.
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
34
20
78
12
66
12
68
78
63
T
34
63
65
79
53
44
78
47
36
T
34
79
53
27
63
23
65
65
36
45
32
78
65
65
7 × 8 - 22 =T
8 × 11 - 22 =U
6 × 9 - 1 =N
4 + 2 × 4 =S
32 + 9 × 4 =P
57 + 2 × 3 =C
5 × 9 - 22 =O
8 × 7 - 20 =A
33 + 7 × 2 =D
10 × 4 - 20 =H
8 × 7 - 29 =Y
5 × 10 - 18 =B
17 + 4 × 7 =R
9 × 9 - 2 =I
28 + 4 × 4 =K
49 + 8 × 2 =L
58 + 4 × 5 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The thief knocked over stacks of canned salmon. If there are several equal rows of cans, we can count the total to find what distracted the thief!
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
24
45
6
21
45
36
21
99
11
1
80
21
T
15
25
45
50
77
50
T
15
9
50
36
25
9
T
15
36
24
77
80
30
55
21
50
T
15
3 × 5 =T
3 × 12 =C
5 × 9 =E
5 × 11 =P
3 × 3 =A
8 × 10 =N
7 × 11 =I
5 × 5 =R
3 × 10 =G
7 × 3 =O
11 × 9 =U
5 × 10 =S
1 × 1 =D
1 × 6 =F
1 × 11 =L
6 × 4 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The getaway scale shows a fuzzy weight because of dirt. The scale always rounds to the nearest ten. Round the number to find the thief's fur type.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
50
170
3000
290
300
370
1300
1700
500
110
2300
200
170
1300
500
900
4300
4300
430
3000
300
110
290
370
500
90
170
20
90
900
2300
110
Round 53 to the nearest tenW
Round 369 to the nearest tenN
Round 856 to the nearest hundredA
Round 110 to the nearest tenR
Round 4,325 to the nearest hundredB
Round 480 to the nearest hundredT
Round 2,267 to the nearest hundredI
Round 291 to the nearest tenO
Round 283 to the nearest hundredU
Round 191 to the nearest hundredP
Round 91 to the nearest tenH
Round 1,287 to the nearest hundredD
Round 429 to the nearest tenY
Round 18 to the nearest tenC
Round 1,715 to the nearest hundredS
Round 168 to the nearest tenE
Round 2,674 to the nearest thousandF
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The detective assistants need to share the leftover milk cartons equally. Divide them up to find the final secret!
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
56 ÷ 8 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
6 ÷ 1 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain leaps over the high fence, then waves a colorful feather wand.
2.The villain leaps over the high fence, then drops a smelly catnip bomb.
3.The villain zooms after a red dot, then flashes a bright laser pointer.
4.The villain scales the brick wall easily, then flashes a bright laser pointer.
5.The villain zooms after a red dot, then shoots a sticky yarn launcher.
6.The villain sneaks through the doggy door, then flashes a bright laser pointer.
7.The villain scales the brick wall easily, then winds up a squeaky toy mouse.
8.The villain sneaks through the doggy door, then shoots a sticky yarn launcher.
9.The villain purrs loudly to confuse guards, then waves a colorful feather wand.
10.The villain sneaks through the doggy door, then drops a smelly catnip bomb.
11.The villain zooms after a red dot, then drops a smelly catnip bomb.
12.The villain purrs loudly to confuse guards, then drops a smelly catnip bomb.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Anchovy
Culprit: Nala (super purring · feather wand · wears a bell · striped tabby · scratching post)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE CAT DOES NOT USE A YARN LAUNCHER"1/2 of 36 = 18 (T) · 3/5 of 40 = 24 (A) · 2/3 of 6 = 4 (N) · 4/8 of 42 = 21 (O) · 4/8 of 4 = 2 (L) · 1/4 of 112 = 28 (Y) · 1/5 of 125 = 25 (D) · 2/3 of 9 = 6 (C) · 1/3 of 87 = 29 (E) · 6/10 of 60 = 36 (R) · 2/6 of 93 = 31 (S) · 2/8 of 36 = 9 (H) · 1/2 of 52 = 26 (U)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT CLINKED A TINY COLLAR BELL"7 × 8 - 22 = 34 (T) · 8 × 11 - 22 = 66 (U) · 6 × 9 - 1 = 53 (N) · 4 + 2 × 4 = 12 (S) · 32 + 9 × 4 = 68 (P) · 57 + 2 × 3 = 63 (C) · 5 × 9 - 22 = 23 (O) · 8 × 7 - 20 = 36 (A) · 33 + 7 × 2 = 47 (D) · 10 × 4 - 20 = 20 (H) · 8 × 7 - 29 = 27 (Y) · 5 × 10 - 18 = 32 (B) · 17 + 4 × 7 = 45 (R) · 9 × 9 - 2 = 79 (I) · 28 + 4 × 4 = 44 (K) · 49 + 8 × 2 = 65 (L) · 58 + 4 × 5 = 78 (E)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE FOE COULD NOT RESIST A SCRATCHING POST"3 × 5 = 15 (T) · 3 × 12 = 36 (C) · 5 × 9 = 45 (E) · 5 × 11 = 55 (P) · 3 × 3 = 9 (A) · 8 × 10 = 80 (N) · 7 × 11 = 77 (I) · 5 × 5 = 25 (R) · 3 × 10 = 30 (G) · 7 × 3 = 21 (O) · 11 × 9 = 99 (U) · 5 × 10 = 50 (S) · 1 × 1 = 1 (D) · 1 × 6 = 6 (F) · 1 × 11 = 11 (L) · 6 × 4 = 24 (H)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRIPED TABBY FUR ON THE CHAIR"Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (W) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (N) · Round 856 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 110 to the nearest ten = 110 (R) · Round 4,325 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (B) · Round 480 to the nearest hundred = 500 (T) · Round 2,267 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (I) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (O) · Round 283 to the nearest hundred = 300 (U) · Round 191 to the nearest hundred = 200 (P) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 1,287 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (D) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (Y) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (C) · Round 1,715 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (S) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 2,674 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Nala56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Anchovy — set in The Mewplex Museum of Fine Fish
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects