Grade 6Reading: grades 3-4PercentagesMulti-step word problemsExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Someone snaked the legendary Golden Compass from the main cabin! Our Head Ranger needs the camp's best trackers to solve the mystery. We must follow the clues left behind on the jungle trails to find the culprit.
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 | Special Gear | Camp Badge | Compass Hand | Cap Color | Silly Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nellie | Laser Pointer | Map Maker | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Loud Noises |
| Diego | Grappling Hook | Star Tracker | Left Handed | Green Cap | Tickles |
| Jacques | Climbing Rope | Star Tracker | Right Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Lewis | Grappling Hook | Jungle Guide | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Shiny Things |
| Indiana | Grappling Hook | Camp Cook | Right Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Zane | Climbing Rope | Knot Master | Right Handed | Green Cap | Tickles |
| Evie | Flashlight | Camp Cook | Right Handed | Red Cap | Tickles |
| Nathan | Flashlight | Jungle Guide | Right Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Marco | Grappling Hook | Map Maker | Left Handed | Red Cap | Loud Noises |
| Brody | Climbing Rope | Jungle Guide | Right Handed | Red Cap | Tickles |
| Wendy | Laser Pointer | Jungle Guide | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Loud Noises |
| Lara | Grappling Hook | Knot Master | Left Handed | Red Cap | Shiny Things |
| Flynn | Night Visor | Knot Master | Right Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Roald | Night Visor | Map Maker | Right Handed | Red Cap | Shiny Things |
| Rick | Climbing Rope | Map Maker | Left Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Ernest | Night Visor | Jungle Guide | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Loud Noises |
| Clara | Flashlight | Knot Master | Left Handed | Red Cap | Shiny Things |
| Dora | Flashlight | Map Maker | Right Handed | Green Cap | Tickles |
| Edmund | Climbing Rope | Map Maker | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Shiny Things |
| Hudson | Climbing Rope | Map Maker | Right Handed | Green Cap | Loud Noises |
| Sylvia | Grappling Hook | Map Maker | Right Handed | Green Cap | Tickles |
Clue 1
Percentages
We found a messy gear log inside the main cabin. We must count the total packs and subtract the lost ones to find the suspect's direction.
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
31
43
19
10
23
19
1
28
43
1
10
23
18
14
1
8
17
14
18
18
28
36
1
27
30
19
20% of 155 =T
10% of 230 =N
25% of 72 =O
20% of 40 =M
5% of 540 =D
20% of 50 =S
5% of 20 =A
10% of 140 =C
10% of 190 =E
40% of 70 =K
10% of 360 =B
50% of 34 =P
25% of 172 =H
5% of 600 =G
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
Our tracking radar is losing power quickly. We must calculate the percentage of battery life left to lock onto the trail.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
18
86
36
20
76
20
33
79
D
E
D
Ranger Leo collected 40 jungle maps in the morning and 14 jungle maps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Junior Pathfinders. How many jungle maps did each get?R
Ranger Leo earned 6 trail markers in each of 6 rounds, plus 55 bonus trail markers. Then 12 trail markers were lost. How many trail markers are left?N
Ranger Leo filled 4 boxes with 6 canteen cups each, then found 12 more canteen cups. How many canteen cups are there in all?G
There were 181 compasses in all. 29 compasses were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 Junior Pathfinders. How many compasses did each get?T
Ranger Leo earned 2 compasses in each of 6 rounds, plus 16 bonus compasses. Then 8 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left?H
Ranger Leo earned 6 compasses in each of 2 rounds, plus 81 bonus compasses. Then 7 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left?I
Ranger Leo filled 4 boxes with 6 canteen cups each, then found 9 more canteen cups. How many canteen cups are there in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
A locked metal chest blocks the jungle path. We need to solve the repeated multiplication code to pop the lock open.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
125
289
216
4
16
289
49
324
400
324
9
49
L
125
L
125
324
25
196
81
400
32
243
49
324
121
49
L
125
L
125
196
49
16
5^3 =L
17^2 =O
20^2 =E
18^2 =S
5^2 =C
4^2 =N
14^2 =A
2^5 =T
2^2 =D
3^2 =W
3^4 =R
6^3 =U
7^2 =I
11^2 =V
3^5 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The old stone gate has four glowing buttons. We have to solve the equation in the exact right order to slide the gate open safely.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
61
73
41
36
11
22
25
11
41
28
28
66
56
A
61
51
10
36
73
28
41
59
A
61
54
32
28
10
25
10 × 8 - 19 =A
26 + 8 × 5 =N
29 + 2 × 6 =R
1 + 5 × 2 =G
7 × 10 - 11 =W
9 × 7 - 7 =C
5 × 8 - 15 =T
24 + 5 × 6 =S
10 + 6 × 2 =H
11 × 7 - 26 =P
7 × 11 - 4 =B
7 + 5 × 5 =L
1 + 3 × 3 =F
10 × 5 - 14 =I
7 + 3 × 7 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We discovered a wooden box of ancient trail markers. Sharing them equally among the crew reveals our final path.
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
28 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
72 ÷ 8 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain coils a climbing rope, then bakes a camp cookie.
2.The villain swings a grappling hook, then leads the way.
3.The villain coils a climbing rope, then draws a map.
4.The villain shines a laser pointer, then ties a double knot.
5.The villain shines a night visor, then ties a double knot.
6.The villain coils a climbing rope, then ties a double knot.
7.The villain coils a climbing rope, then checks the stars.
8.The villain clicks a flashlight, then draws a map.
9.The villain clicks a flashlight, then bakes a camp cookie.
10.The villain swings a grappling hook, then ties a double knot.
11.The villain clicks a flashlight, then leads the way.
12.The villain shines a laser pointer, then leads the way.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Culprit: Hudson (Climbing Rope · Map Maker · Right Handed · Green Cap · Loud Noises)
- Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE SNEAK HAS NO CAMP COOK BADGE"20% of 155 = 31 (T) · 10% of 230 = 23 (N) · 25% of 72 = 18 (O) · 20% of 40 = 8 (M) · 5% of 540 = 27 (D) · 20% of 50 = 10 (S) · 5% of 20 = 1 (A) · 10% of 140 = 14 (C) · 10% of 190 = 19 (E) · 40% of 70 = 28 (K) · 10% of 360 = 36 (B) · 50% of 34 = 17 (P) · 25% of 172 = 43 (H) · 5% of 600 = 30 (G)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"Ranger Leo collected 40 jungle maps in the morning and 14 jungle maps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Junior Pathfinders. How many jungle maps did each get? = 18 (R) · Ranger Leo earned 6 trail markers in each of 6 rounds, plus 55 bonus trail markers. Then 12 trail markers were lost. How many trail markers are left? = 79 (N) · Ranger Leo filled 4 boxes with 6 canteen cups each, then found 12 more canteen cups. How many canteen cups are there in all? = 36 (G) · There were 181 compasses in all. 29 compasses were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 Junior Pathfinders. How many compasses did each get? = 76 (T) · Ranger Leo earned 2 compasses in each of 6 rounds, plus 16 bonus compasses. Then 8 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left? = 20 (H) · Ranger Leo earned 6 compasses in each of 2 rounds, plus 81 bonus compasses. Then 7 compasses were lost. How many compasses are left? = 86 (I) · Ranger Leo filled 4 boxes with 6 canteen cups each, then found 9 more canteen cups. How many canteen cups are there in all? = 33 (A)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "LOUD NOISES WILL SCARE THIS VILLAIN"5^3 = 125 (L) · 17^2 = 289 (O) · 20^2 = 400 (E) · 18^2 = 324 (S) · 5^2 = 25 (C) · 4^2 = 16 (N) · 14^2 = 196 (A) · 2^5 = 32 (T) · 2^2 = 4 (D) · 3^2 = 9 (W) · 3^4 = 81 (R) · 6^3 = 216 (U) · 7^2 = 49 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (V) · 3^5 = 243 (H)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A BRIGHT GREEN CAP FIBER WAS LEFT"10 × 8 - 19 = 61 (A) · 26 + 8 × 5 = 66 (N) · 29 + 2 × 6 = 41 (R) · 1 + 5 × 2 = 11 (G) · 7 × 10 - 11 = 59 (W) · 9 × 7 - 7 = 56 (C) · 5 × 8 - 15 = 25 (T) · 24 + 5 × 6 = 54 (S) · 10 + 6 × 2 = 22 (H) · 11 × 7 - 26 = 51 (P) · 7 × 11 - 4 = 73 (B) · 7 + 5 × 5 = 32 (L) · 1 + 3 × 3 = 10 (F) · 10 × 5 - 14 = 36 (I) · 7 + 3 × 7 = 28 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Hudson28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Percentages, Multi-step word problems, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Compass — set in Explorer Camp on Dino Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects