🎵 Dave Matthews BandGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberMulti-step word problemsOrder of operationsMultiplication
The Case of the Missing Golden Saxophone
Just before the big encore, someone slipped into the instrument vault and swiped the legendary Golden Saxophone! The show cannot go on without it, and the arena is packed with ninety thousand waiting fans. It is up to you to crack the case, interview the touring crew, and save the concert!
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 | Signature Instrument | Stage Performance Style | Stage Habit | Hairstyle | Acoustic Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim | Violin Arpeggio | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Dave | Electric Bassline | Dancing Feet | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Carter | Heavy Drum Beats | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Short Spikes | Feedback Screech |
| Danny | Saxophone Solo | Stage Echo | Barefoot on Stage | Short Spikes | Broken Guitar String |
| Boyd | Electric Bassline | Scat Singing | Barefoot on Stage | Short Spikes | Feedback Screech |
| Otis | Electric Bassline | Brass Power | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Rashawn | Heavy Drum Beats | Spotlight Beam | Wears Sunglasses | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Sarah | Acoustic Guitar | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Curly Afro | Feedback Screech |
| Greg | Violin Arpeggio | Stage Echo | Wears Sunglasses | Curly Afro | Broken Guitar String |
| Blue | Saxophone Solo | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Feedback Screech |
| Bobby | Acoustic Guitar | Brass Power | Barefoot on Stage | Curly Afro | Too Much Reverb |
| Grace | Heavy Drum Beats | Scat Singing | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Al | Violin Arpeggio | Brass Power | Barefoot on Stage | Short Spikes | Broken Guitar String |
| Granny | Electric Bassline | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Feedback Screech |
| Joy | Acoustic Guitar | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Curly Afro | Broken Guitar String |
| Stefan | Saxophone Solo | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Bill | Electric Bassline | Spotlight Beam | Barefoot on Stage | Short Spikes | Broken Guitar String |
| Jimi | Violin Arpeggio | Dancing Feet | Barefoot on Stage | Curly Afro | Too Much Reverb |
| Jeff | Acoustic Guitar | Brass Power | Wears Sunglasses | Backstage Cap | Feedback Screech |
| Penny | Heavy Drum Beats | Dancing Feet | Wears Sunglasses | Backstage Cap | Too Much Reverb |
| Miles | Saxophone Solo | Dancing Feet | Wears Sunglasses | Curly Afro | Too Much Reverb |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
We counted the audience members holding glowing neon signs. A fraction of the crowd spotted someone sneaking out the stage door. Let us calculate this group.
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
4
9
30
32
14
32
25
30
5
T
4
13
24
30
32
27
24
T
4
14
32
30
35
23
2
32
32
25
24
8
30
23
1/2 of 8 =T
5/10 of 48 =O
4/8 of 4 =A
2/8 of 32 =W
3/6 of 70 =B
3/8 of 72 =N
1/5 of 65 =D
1/5 of 45 =H
6/8 of 40 =E
2/8 of 92 =R
5/8 of 8 =C
5/6 of 30 =P
1/4 of 56 =U
1/2 of 64 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The tour buses need to fuel up for the next city. The road crew tracked the total gallons used and the price per mile to find a hidden slip of paper.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
B
29
9
55
60
38
33
33
34
33
N
S
34
9
G
60
Roadie earned 3 stage passes in each of 3 rounds, plus 26 bonus stage passes. Then 6 stage passes were lost. How many stage passes are left?B
There were 455 guitar picks in all. 15 guitar picks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Tour Crew. How many guitar picks did each get?R
There were 409 stage passes in all. 29 stage passes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Tour Crew. How many stage passes did each get?F
There were 123 guitar picks in all. 4 Tour Crew used 24 guitar picks each. The other 3 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many guitar picks did each of the other Tour Crew get?A
There were 363 drumsticks in all. 33 drumsticks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Tour Crew. How many drumsticks did each get?O
There were 272 tour tshirts in all. 4 Tour Crew used 8 tour tshirts each. The other 4 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many tour tshirts did each of the other Tour Crew get?E
There were 208 stage passes in all. 2 Tour Crew used 36 stage passes each. The other 4 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many stage passes did each of the other Tour Crew get?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The audio team is balancing the speakers. We must follow the correct steps to calculate the sound level and reveal a clue about the thief's escape path.
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
35
49
69
49
R
35
47
53
79
57
57
28
74
22
9
74
23
79
28
69
79
57
57
44
79
62
12 × 4 - 13 =R
3 + 9 × 6 =L
14 + 2 × 4 =O
39 + 5 × 6 =V
26 + 6 × 3 =A
5 + 2 × 2 =P
59 + 4 × 5 =I
4 × 8 - 4 =S
6 × 10 - 7 =W
7 × 12 - 10 =T
56 + 3 × 2 =N
20 + 3 × 9 =B
29 + 4 × 5 =E
9 × 5 - 22 =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
A stack of concert posters is arranged in even rows backstage. By multiplying the rows, we can count how many flyers are missing.
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
81
24
108
T
81
24
48
108
144
121
63
54
110
110
108
121
28
7
70
28
120
14
120
28
110
9 × 9 =T
12 × 12 =F
10 × 7 =L
11 × 11 =D
10 × 12 =C
1 × 7 =B
11 × 10 =P
7 × 2 =K
12 × 9 =E
9 × 7 =R
4 × 7 =A
12 × 2 =H
8 × 6 =I
9 × 6 =O
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The drummer divided a bin of custom guitar picks among the front row. Finding the fraction that remained gives us the final detail we need.
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
1/6 of 18 = ?
4/5 of 10 = ?
1/3 of 33 = ?
4/10 of 25 = ?
6/10 of 20 = ?
3/6 of 8 = ?
1/10 of 20 = ?
1/4 of 4 = ?
2/10 of 45 = ?
2/6 of 15 = ?
2/8 of 24 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sweeps a violin arpeggio, then sings a wild scat chorus.
2.The villain sweeps a violin arpeggio, then dances across the wooden floor.
3.The villain pounds a heavy drum beat, then sings a wild scat chorus.
4.The villain thumps an electric bassline, then creates a huge stage echo.
5.The villain thumps an electric bassline, then sings a wild scat chorus.
6.The villain blasts a saxophone solo, then creates a huge stage echo.
7.The villain thumps an electric bassline, then dances across the wooden floor.
8.The villain blasts a saxophone solo, then flashes a bright spotlight beam.
9.The villain pounds a heavy drum beat, then blows a loud brass note.
10.The villain plays a loud acoustic guitar, then dances across the wooden floor.
11.The villain sweeps a violin arpeggio, then flashes a bright spotlight beam.
12.The villain pounds a heavy drum beat, then flashes a bright spotlight beam.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Saxophone
Culprit: Dave (Electric Bassline · Dancing Feet · Barefoot on Stage · Backstage Cap · Too Much Reverb)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE BRASS POWER"1/2 of 8 = 4 (T) · 5/10 of 48 = 24 (O) · 4/8 of 4 = 2 (A) · 2/8 of 32 = 8 (W) · 3/6 of 70 = 35 (B) · 3/8 of 72 = 27 (N) · 1/5 of 65 = 13 (D) · 1/5 of 45 = 9 (H) · 6/8 of 40 = 30 (E) · 2/8 of 92 = 23 (R) · 5/8 of 8 = 5 (C) · 5/6 of 30 = 25 (P) · 1/4 of 56 = 14 (U) · 1/2 of 64 = 32 (S)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "BAREFOOT ON STAGE"Roadie earned 3 stage passes in each of 3 rounds, plus 26 bonus stage passes. Then 6 stage passes were lost. How many stage passes are left? = 29 (B) · There were 455 guitar picks in all. 15 guitar picks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Tour Crew. How many guitar picks did each get? = 55 (R) · There were 409 stage passes in all. 29 stage passes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Tour Crew. How many stage passes did each get? = 38 (F) · There were 123 guitar picks in all. 4 Tour Crew used 24 guitar picks each. The other 3 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many guitar picks did each of the other Tour Crew get? = 9 (A) · There were 363 drumsticks in all. 33 drumsticks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Tour Crew. How many drumsticks did each get? = 33 (O) · There were 272 tour tshirts in all. 4 Tour Crew used 8 tour tshirts each. The other 4 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many tour tshirts did each of the other Tour Crew get? = 60 (E) · There were 208 stage passes in all. 2 Tour Crew used 36 stage passes each. The other 4 Tour Crew shared the rest equally. How many stage passes did each of the other Tour Crew get? = 34 (T)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "REVERB WILL STOP THIS VILLAIN"12 × 4 - 13 = 35 (R) · 3 + 9 × 6 = 57 (L) · 14 + 2 × 4 = 22 (O) · 39 + 5 × 6 = 69 (V) · 26 + 6 × 3 = 44 (A) · 5 + 2 × 2 = 9 (P) · 59 + 4 × 5 = 79 (I) · 4 × 8 - 4 = 28 (S) · 6 × 10 - 7 = 53 (W) · 7 × 12 - 10 = 74 (T) · 56 + 3 × 2 = 62 (N) · 20 + 3 × 9 = 47 (B) · 29 + 4 × 5 = 49 (E) · 9 × 5 - 22 = 23 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DROPPED A BLACK CAP"9 × 9 = 81 (T) · 12 × 12 = 144 (F) · 10 × 7 = 70 (L) · 11 × 11 = 121 (D) · 10 × 12 = 120 (C) · 1 × 7 = 7 (B) · 11 × 10 = 110 (P) · 7 × 2 = 14 (K) · 12 × 9 = 108 (E) · 9 × 7 = 63 (R) · 4 × 7 = 28 (A) · 12 × 2 = 24 (H) · 8 × 6 = 48 (I) · 9 × 6 = 54 (O)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 7) → Dave1/6 of 18 = 3 · 4/5 of 10 = 8 · 1/3 of 33 = 11 · 4/10 of 25 = 10 · 6/10 of 20 = 12 · 3/6 of 8 = 4 · 1/10 of 20 = 2 · 1/4 of 4 = 1 · 2/10 of 45 = 9 · 2/6 of 15 = 5 · 2/8 of 24 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Multi-step word problems, Order of operations, Multiplication
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Saxophone — set in The Firefly Music Arena during a massive summer tour
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects