🔎 Missing cupcakeGrade 2Reading: grades 1-2AdditionSubtractionWord problemsPlace valueMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Golden Cupcake
Oh no! The giant Golden Cupcake is gone from the display window. It had pink frosting and shiny sprinkles. Head Baker Ben is very sad. We must find the Cupcake Sneak before the big bake sale starts!
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 | Baking Trick | Frosting Trick | Chewing Style | Chef Hat Stripes | Sneeze Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy | high jump | lemon drizzle | right side chewer | blue hat stripes | black pepper |
| Gordon | high jump | strawberry splash | left side chewer | green hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
| Roy | silent steps | grape fizz | right side chewer | green hat stripes | black pepper |
| Cat | box hide | lemon drizzle | right side chewer | green hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
| Emeril | wall climb | lemon drizzle | right side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Alice | fast crawl | mint swirl | right side chewer | green hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Carla | high jump | lemon drizzle | left side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Duff | wall climb | chocolate drop | right side chewer | red hat stripes | black pepper |
| Alton | wall climb | mint swirl | right side chewer | blue hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
| Bobby | wall climb | chocolate drop | left side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Sara | fast crawl | mint swirl | left side chewer | red hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
| Christina | high jump | strawberry splash | left side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Noel | wall climb | mint swirl | left side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Joy | wall climb | mint swirl | right side chewer | red hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
| Sunny | silent steps | strawberry splash | left side chewer | red hat stripes | black pepper |
| Jacques | wall climb | lemon drizzle | left side chewer | red hat stripes | black pepper |
| Matt | wall climb | chocolate drop | left side chewer | red hat stripes | black pepper |
| Paul | silent steps | strawberry splash | left side chewer | blue hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Prue | high jump | chocolate drop | right side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Marcus | box hide | strawberry splash | left side chewer | red hat stripes | ginger powder |
| Martha | wall climb | grape fizz | right side chewer | blue hat stripes | cinnamon dust |
Clue 1
Addition
We count the spilled sprinkles on the floor. Let us add the pink ones and blue ones together to find our first hint.
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
47
68
36
45
91
36
83
25
23
46
36
45
91
46
T
47
44
45
36
90
36
89
46
91
23
97
35
58
58
90
36
22 + 25 =T
11 + 25 =E
61 + 36 =R
49 + 40 =M
29 + 16 =S
16 + 30 =O
9 + 16 =K
31 + 60 =N
51 + 32 =A
19 + 16 =I
62 + 28 =L
31 + 13 =U
36 + 32 =H
20 + 38 =Z
13 + 10 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We find a tray of mini tarts. Some are eaten! Subtract the eaten tarts from the full tray to see what is left.
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
82
23
85
51
49
84
83
33
T
82
23
58
85
57
51
23
85
73
62
37
84
T
82
23
85
65
85
57
T
82
62
58
83
85
102 - 20 =T
105 - 32 =W
65 - 8 =F
56 - 23 =Y
112 - 27 =E
39 - 2 =O
91 - 29 =S
96 - 12 =N
76 - 27 =A
86 - 21 =L
62 - 11 =C
27 - 4 =H
65 - 7 =I
109 - 26 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Baker Ben tells us a story about some flour bags. Solve his word puzzle to get closer to the thief.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
G
24
22
30
G
24
18
39
17
14
W
D
18
39
Baker lined up 3 rows of 8 cherries. How many cherries in all?G
Baker lined up 3 rows of 6 cookie trays. How many cookie trays in all?E
Baker found 4 sprinkles yesterday and 35 more today. How many sprinkles in all?R
Baker lined up 3 rows of 10 frosting bags. How many frosting bags in all?N
There were 22 cookie trays. 5 were used up. How many cookie trays are left?P
Baker lined up 2 rows of 11 frosting bags. How many frosting bags in all?I
Baker lined up 7 rows of 2 cookie trays. How many cookie trays in all?O
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
A locked box is under the counter. We must read the tens and ones blocks on the lock to open it.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
42
54
92
18
31
13
70
13
R
42
43
64
54
70
39
54
R
42
54
70
54
54
35
21
29
13
18
54
92
97
97
R
42
What number has 4 tens and 2 ones?R
What number has 2 tens and 9 ones?Y
What number has 3 tens and 5 ones?N
What number has 1 ten and 3 ones?T
What number has 3 tens and 9 ones?W
What number has 2 tens and 1 one?B
What number has 9 tens and 7 ones?O
What number has 1 ten and 8 ones?H
What number has 4 tens and 3 ones?I
What number has 5 tens and 4 ones?E
What number has 9 tens and 2 ones?D
What number has 7 tens and 0 ones?S
What number has 6 tens and 4 ones?P
What number has 3 tens and 1 one?A
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
There should be ten cherries on the counter, but some are missing. Find the missing number to get 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
1 + ___ = 8
4 + ___ = 15
7 + ___ = 16
10 + ___ = 11
8 + ___ = 14
5 + ___ = 7
6 + ___ = 18
9 + ___ = 12
6 + ___ = 11
3 + ___ = 13
3 + ___ = 11
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain does a quick box hide behind the flour, then makes a mint swirl on the glass.
2.The villain does a fast wall climb up the shelves, then leaves a lemon drizzle on the mat.
3.The villain does a fast crawl under the table, then makes a mint swirl on the glass.
4.The villain does a quick box hide behind the flour, then leaves a strawberry splash on the floor.
5.The villain takes silent steps across the kitchen, then makes a grape fizz cloud in the air.
6.The villain makes a high jump over the counter, then makes a grape fizz cloud in the air.
7.The villain makes a high jump over the counter, then leaves a strawberry splash on the floor.
8.The villain does a quick box hide behind the flour, then leaves a lemon drizzle on the mat.
9.The villain does a fast wall climb up the shelves, then drops a chocolate drop near the door.
10.The villain takes silent steps across the kitchen, then makes a mint swirl on the glass.
11.The villain does a fast wall climb up the shelves, then makes a mint swirl on the glass.
12.The villain does a quick box hide behind the flour, then drops a chocolate drop near the door.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Cupcake
Culprit: Marcus (box hide · strawberry splash · left side chewer · red hat stripes · ginger powder)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SNEAK DOES NOT USE LEMON DRIZZLE"22 + 25 = 47 (T) · 11 + 25 = 36 (E) · 61 + 36 = 97 (R) · 49 + 40 = 89 (M) · 29 + 16 = 45 (S) · 16 + 30 = 46 (O) · 9 + 16 = 25 (K) · 31 + 60 = 91 (N) · 51 + 32 = 83 (A) · 19 + 16 = 35 (I) · 62 + 28 = 90 (L) · 31 + 13 = 44 (U) · 36 + 32 = 68 (H) · 20 + 38 = 58 (Z) · 13 + 10 = 23 (D)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE CANDY THIEF CHEWS ON THE LEFT SIDE"102 - 20 = 82 (T) · 105 - 32 = 73 (W) · 65 - 8 = 57 (F) · 56 - 23 = 33 (Y) · 112 - 27 = 85 (E) · 39 - 2 = 37 (O) · 91 - 29 = 62 (S) · 96 - 12 = 84 (N) · 76 - 27 = 49 (A) · 86 - 21 = 65 (L) · 62 - 11 = 51 (C) · 27 - 4 = 23 (H) · 65 - 7 = 58 (I) · 109 - 26 = 83 (D)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "GINGER POWDER"Baker lined up 3 rows of 8 cherries. How many cherries in all? = 24 (G) · Baker lined up 3 rows of 6 cookie trays. How many cookie trays in all? = 18 (E) · Baker found 4 sprinkles yesterday and 35 more today. How many sprinkles in all? = 39 (R) · Baker lined up 3 rows of 10 frosting bags. How many frosting bags in all? = 30 (N) · There were 22 cookie trays. 5 were used up. How many cookie trays are left? = 17 (P) · Baker lined up 2 rows of 11 frosting bags. How many frosting bags in all? = 22 (I) · Baker lined up 7 rows of 2 cookie trays. How many cookie trays in all? = 14 (O)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "RED HAT STRIPES WERE SEEN BY THE DOOR"What number has 4 tens and 2 ones? = 42 (R) · What number has 2 tens and 9 ones? = 29 (Y) · What number has 3 tens and 5 ones? = 35 (N) · What number has 1 ten and 3 ones? = 13 (T) · What number has 3 tens and 9 ones? = 39 (W) · What number has 2 tens and 1 one? = 21 (B) · What number has 9 tens and 7 ones? = 97 (O) · What number has 1 ten and 8 ones? = 18 (H) · What number has 4 tens and 3 ones? = 43 (I) · What number has 5 tens and 4 ones? = 54 (E) · What number has 9 tens and 2 ones? = 92 (D) · What number has 7 tens and 0 ones? = 70 (S) · What number has 6 tens and 4 ones? = 64 (P) · What number has 3 tens and 1 one? = 31 (A)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 4) → Marcus1 + ___ = 8 = 7 · 4 + ___ = 15 = 11 · 7 + ___ = 16 = 9 · 10 + ___ = 11 = 1 · 8 + ___ = 14 = 6 · 5 + ___ = 7 = 2 · 6 + ___ = 18 = 12 · 9 + ___ = 12 = 3 · 6 + ___ = 11 = 5 · 3 + ___ = 13 = 10 · 3 + ___ = 11 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 2 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Word problems, Place value, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Cupcake — set in Sweet Treat Bakery
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects