🔎 SportsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueMultiplicationRoundingAdditionMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Golden Trophy
The biggest game of the year is about to start at the Mega-Dome, but someone has stolen the Golden Trophy! The Head Coach needs your help right away. Solve the sports math, crack the clues, and find out which athlete took 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
| Name | Favorite Sport | Special Gear | Throwing Hand | Headwear Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaquille ONeal | throwing passes | sticky gloves | uses left hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Chloe Kim | throwing passes | high tech stopwatch | uses left hand | blue sweatband | sports drinks |
| LeBron James | hitting homers | glow in the dark visor | uses left hand | green visor | sports drinks |
| Kylian Mbappe | running sprints | high tech stopwatch | uses left hand | red helmet | chewing gum |
| Coco Gauff | dunking balls | glow in the dark visor | uses left hand | red helmet | sports drinks |
| Sydney McLaughlin | running sprints | sticky gloves | uses right hand | blue sweatband | salty pretzels |
| Stephen Curry | throwing passes | super spring shoes | uses left hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Travis Kelce | running sprints | turbo water bottle | uses left hand | green visor | sports drinks |
| Giannis Anteto | dunking balls | super spring shoes | uses left hand | blue sweatband | sports drinks |
| Usain Bolt | dunking balls | sticky gloves | uses left hand | blue sweatband | sports drinks |
| Alex Morgan | kicking goals | super spring shoes | uses left hand | red helmet | chewing gum |
| Serena Williams | kicking goals | glow in the dark visor | uses right hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Venus Williams | running sprints | turbo water bottle | uses left hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Naomi Osaka | throwing passes | glow in the dark visor | uses left hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Luka Doncic | running sprints | super spring shoes | uses right hand | green visor | sports drinks |
| Harry Kane | dunking balls | super spring shoes | uses left hand | red helmet | chewing gum |
| Shohei Ohtani | throwing passes | glow in the dark visor | uses right hand | red helmet | chewing gum |
| Megan Rapinoe | running sprints | high tech stopwatch | uses right hand | blue sweatband | salty pretzels |
| Simone Biles | dunking balls | sticky gloves | uses left hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
| Tony Hawk | throwing passes | sticky gloves | uses left hand | red helmet | chewing gum |
| Tom Brady | hitting homers | turbo water bottle | uses right hand | blue sweatband | chewing gum |
Clue 1
Place value
We need to unlock the locker room door to search for clues. The digital lock screen shows a code, but we must find the digit in the tens place 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.
T
20
70
5000
T
20
70
3000
5000
80
7000
40
5000
2000
200
40
T
20
8000
5000
900
10
900
100
30
40
8000
6000
3000
2000
40
10
What is the value of the 2 in 527?T
What is the value of the 8 in 48,349?W
What is the value of the 3 in 9,439?L
What is the value of the 7 in 2,479?H
What is the value of the 1 in 159?G
What is the value of the 1 in 414?R
What is the value of the 3 in 3,909?I
What is the value of the 4 in 5,048?O
What is the value of the 9 in 988?A
What is the value of the 2 in 9,293?N
What is the value of the 8 in 2,189?F
What is the value of the 2 in 72,873?S
What is the value of the 6 in 6,271?V
What is the value of the 7 in 7,188?D
What is the value of the 5 in 5,170?E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The coach is setting up training cones on the practice field. There are several rows with a set number of cones in each row. Let us multiply to count them!
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
50
108
32
40
T
50
108
88
32
70
T
50
108
32
27
84
22
22
70
120
T
50
108
T
50
108
32
120
88
22
32
63
T
50
108
84
14
3
10 × 5 =T
1 × 3 =D
12 × 9 =H
8 × 4 =E
11 × 8 =R
2 × 7 =N
7 × 12 =A
10 × 7 =W
7 × 9 =F
3 × 9 =B
2 × 11 =L
10 × 4 =Y
10 × 12 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The giant stadium radar just clocked the thief running past the gate. The radar only displays speeds rounded to the nearest ten, so let us check the readout!
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
1300
20
1700
900
500
1700
3700
50
90
T
1300
20
7000
1700
290
300
130
4300
170
170
1700
300
2300
20
1700
2000
7000
500
5000
5000
370
200
Round 1,291 to the nearest hundredT
Round 6,729 to the nearest thousandI
Round 901 to the nearest hundredS
Round 54 to the nearest tenK
Round 473 to the nearest hundredN
Round 368 to the nearest tenU
Round 24 to the nearest tenH
Round 174 to the nearest tenP
Round 92 to the nearest tenY
Round 190 to the nearest hundredM
Round 4,318 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,721 to the nearest hundredA
Round 1,699 to the nearest hundredE
Round 4,798 to the nearest thousandG
Round 132 to the nearest tenR
Round 294 to the nearest tenF
Round 2,441 to the nearest thousandW
Round 2,282 to the nearest hundredC
Round 271 to the nearest hundredD
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
We need to tally up all the extra equipment we found dropped by the bleachers. Let us add them together to find the total!
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
2505
2369
9829
5553
8144
9829
4335
T
2505
5860
3323
8144
4183
9829
9038
9384
9829
5860
T
2505
3323
5860
7545
4927
3323
9829
2369
6426
7545
4927
755 + 1750 =T
3950 + 1910 =A
4148 + 4890 =S
5728 + 3656 =W
2188 + 2739 =D
1353 + 2982 =F
2566 + 5578 =L
811 + 1558 =H
2819 + 1364 =U
2115 + 1208 =B
3455 + 4090 =N
3144 + 2409 =Y
3932 + 2494 =I
4102 + 5727 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The team needs a specific number of clean towels for the game. We only have some of them. Let us find how many more we need to get!
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
23 + ___ = 32
28 + ___ = 31
40 + ___ = 52
16 + ___ = 21
16 + ___ = 23
27 + ___ = 37
37 + ___ = 39
33 + ___ = 44
20 + ___ = 26
37 + ___ = 45
20 + ___ = 24
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain throws a perfect touchdown pass, then swipes the trophy using sticky gloves.
2.The villain runs a super fast sprint down the track, then swipes the trophy using sticky gloves.
3.The villain dunks a basketball over the defense, then swipes the trophy using sticky gloves.
4.The villain runs a super fast sprint down the track, then times their getaway with a high tech stopwatch.
5.The villain dunks a basketball over the defense, then sips from a turbo water bottle to escape.
6.The villain hits a massive home run over the wall, then runs into the dark wearing a glow visor.
7.The villain hits a massive home run over the wall, then swipes the trophy using sticky gloves.
8.The villain hits a massive home run over the wall, then times their getaway with a high tech stopwatch.
9.The villain throws a perfect touchdown pass, then leaps over the stadium fence with super spring shoes.
10.The villain kicks a soccer ball into the top corner, then swipes the trophy using sticky gloves.
11.The villain kicks a soccer ball into the top corner, then times their getaway with a high tech stopwatch.
12.The villain runs a super fast sprint down the track, then sips from a turbo water bottle to escape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Trophy
Culprit: Shaquille ONeal (throwing passes · sticky gloves · uses left hand · blue sweatband · chewing gum)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A GLOW VISOR"What is the value of the 2 in 527? = 20 (T) · What is the value of the 8 in 48,349? = 8000 (W) · What is the value of the 3 in 9,439? = 30 (L) · What is the value of the 7 in 2,479? = 70 (H) · What is the value of the 1 in 159? = 100 (G) · What is the value of the 1 in 414? = 10 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,909? = 3000 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 5,048? = 40 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 988? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 9,293? = 200 (N) · What is the value of the 8 in 2,189? = 80 (F) · What is the value of the 2 in 72,873? = 2000 (S) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,271? = 6000 (V) · What is the value of the 7 in 7,188? = 7000 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,170? = 5000 (E)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY THREW THE BALL WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"10 × 5 = 50 (T) · 1 × 3 = 3 (D) · 12 × 9 = 108 (H) · 8 × 4 = 32 (E) · 11 × 8 = 88 (R) · 2 × 7 = 14 (N) · 7 × 12 = 84 (A) · 10 × 7 = 70 (W) · 7 × 9 = 63 (F) · 3 × 9 = 27 (B) · 2 × 11 = 22 (L) · 10 × 4 = 40 (Y) · 10 × 12 = 120 (I)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE SNEAKY THIEF DROPPED CHEWING GUM"Round 1,291 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (T) · Round 6,729 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (I) · Round 901 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (K) · Round 473 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N) · Round 368 to the nearest ten = 370 (U) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 174 to the nearest ten = 170 (P) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (Y) · Round 190 to the nearest hundred = 200 (M) · Round 4,318 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 3,721 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (A) · Round 1,699 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (E) · Round 4,798 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (G) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (R) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (F) · Round 2,441 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (W) · Round 2,282 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (C) · Round 271 to the nearest hundred = 300 (D)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "THEY LEFT A BLUE SWEATBAND BEHIND"755 + 1750 = 2505 (T) · 3950 + 1910 = 5860 (A) · 4148 + 4890 = 9038 (S) · 5728 + 3656 = 9384 (W) · 2188 + 2739 = 4927 (D) · 1353 + 2982 = 4335 (F) · 2566 + 5578 = 8144 (L) · 811 + 1558 = 2369 (H) · 2819 + 1364 = 4183 (U) · 2115 + 1208 = 3323 (B) · 3455 + 4090 = 7545 (N) · 3144 + 2409 = 5553 (Y) · 3932 + 2494 = 6426 (I) · 4102 + 5727 = 9829 (E)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 1) → Shaquille ONeal23 + ___ = 32 = 9 · 28 + ___ = 31 = 3 · 40 + ___ = 52 = 12 · 16 + ___ = 21 = 5 · 16 + ___ = 23 = 7 · 27 + ___ = 37 = 10 · 37 + ___ = 39 = 2 · 33 + ___ = 44 = 11 · 20 + ___ = 26 = 6 · 37 + ___ = 45 = 8 · 20 + ___ = 24 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Trophy — set in the Mega-Dome Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects