Grade 7Reading: grades 1-2IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Case of the Missing Juice Box
Oh no! The Golden Juice Box is gone from the Secret Treehouse! The playground bandit left a trail of crumbs. We need to use our math clues to find out who did it before recess ends!
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 Toy | Super Skill | Shoe Strap | Hat Color | Silly Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rex | Pocket Chalk | Fast Dash | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Sam | Laser Pointer | Loud Whistle | Left Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Spiders |
| Meg | Pocket Chalk | Fast Dash | Left Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Mia | Laser Pointer | Silent Crawl | Right Shoe Loose | Red Cap | Spiders |
| Fay | Laser Pointer | Silent Crawl | Right Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Kai | Pocket Chalk | Fast Dash | Left Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Jon | Grappling Rope | Loud Whistle | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Joy | Laser Pointer | Loud Whistle | Left Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Hal | Pocket Chalk | Quick Climb | Right Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Broccoli |
| Zoe | Water Blaster | Loud Whistle | Left Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Ben | Water Blaster | Quick Climb | Left Shoe Loose | Red Cap | Spiders |
| Roy | Pocket Chalk | Quick Climb | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Amy | Pocket Chalk | Super Jump | Left Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Broccoli |
| Max | Laser Pointer | Quick Climb | Right Shoe Loose | Red Cap | Broccoli |
| Ned | Spy Camera | Super Jump | Left Shoe Loose | Red Cap | Broccoli |
| Leo | Laser Pointer | Fast Dash | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Eli | Pocket Chalk | Loud Whistle | Right Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Eva | Laser Pointer | Silent Crawl | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Squeaky Toys |
| Gus | Grappling Rope | Super Jump | Right Shoe Loose | Green Cap | Broccoli |
| Ted | Water Blaster | Quick Climb | Right Shoe Loose | Red Cap | Spiders |
| Ivy | Laser Pointer | Fast Dash | Right Shoe Loose | Blue Cap | Broccoli |
Clue 1
Integers
We look at the treehouse thermometer. The temperature went up and down. Let us count the change to find our first clue.
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
5
17
26
9
27
18
21
11
T
5
21
23
26
19
18
23
T
5
29
19
26
19
11
2
26
18
T
5
30
3
27
12
2
(-14) + 19 =T
(-13) + 34 =D
12 - (-15) =A
(-5) + 22 =H
17 - (-13) =C
(-12) + 21 =B
(-8) + 31 =O
(-12) + 14 =L
(-1) + 4 =R
3 - (-9) =W
8 - (-10) =N
2 - (-9) =I
(-1) + 30 =U
23 - (-3) =E
(-9) + 28 =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
We check our spy walkie-talkie. The battery screen shows how much power is left. Solve the math to read the signal.
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
21
28
9
7
23
30
42
45
T
21
28
23
35
23
13
17
17
35
9
46
45
22
28
T
21
35
28
17
9
20% of 105 =T
60% of 15 =E
5% of 140 =B
50% of 92 =R
40% of 70 =H
75% of 40 =N
50% of 46 =A
50% of 84 =D
50% of 90 =I
5% of 340 =O
20% of 110 =G
10% of 130 =L
50% of 70 =S
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
We find a secret box with a code. We must follow the rules in the right order to pop the lock.
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
96
59
20
87
44
42
30
105
T
96
105
79
44
57
71
44
105
30
83
57
79
55
74
20
44
100
90
T
96
83
90
79
42 + 6 × 9 =T
3 × 11 - 3 =D
11 × 11 - 21 =K
10 × 6 - 3 =F
9 × 9 - 26 =Q
9 × 12 - 3 =I
9 × 11 - 9 =Y
25 + 9 × 6 =S
9 × 10 - 16 =U
30 + 7 × 2 =A
77 + 2 × 3 =O
43 + 4 × 7 =R
11 × 9 - 12 =B
4 × 10 - 20 =E
22 + 4 × 5 =N
50 + 3 × 3 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
We look at the dusty ground. The bandit left footprints that double at each step. Let us count the power of the steps.
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
225
125
343
169
128
49
64
216
T
225
196
343
128
32
121
128
169
8
27
343
243
128
144
15^2 =T
8^2 =D
6^3 =I
3^3 =U
5^3 =H
3^5 =C
12^2 =P
2^7 =A
7^3 =E
2^3 =L
13^2 =B
11^2 =S
2^5 =R
14^2 =W
7^2 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We find a bag of gold stars. Some are missing from the total. Solve the puzzle to find the last 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
2x + 7 = 19, x = ?
3x + 1 = 37, x = ?
4x + 6 = 22, x = ?
3x + 4 = 31, x = ?
2x + 12 = 32, x = ?
6x + 9 = 57, x = ?
5x + 8 = 13, x = ?
6x + 6 = 72, x = ?
3x + 7 = 16, x = ?
2x + 4 = 14, x = ?
4x + 9 = 17, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain snapped photos of the map with a Spy Camera, then escaped by doing a Super Jump.
2.The villain snapped photos of the map with a Spy Camera, then zipped away with a Fast Dash.
3.The villain drew arrows on the path with Pocket Chalk, then startled the birds with a Loud Whistle.
4.The villain drew arrows on the path with Pocket Chalk, then zipped away with a Fast Dash.
5.The villain drew arrows on the path with Pocket Chalk, then sneaked past the swings with a Silent Crawl.
6.The villain drew arrows on the path with Pocket Chalk, then escaped up the ladder with a Quick Climb.
7.The villain shined a red beam with a Laser Pointer, then zipped away with a Fast Dash.
8.The villain swung across the swings with a Grappling Rope, then sneaked past the swings with a Silent Crawl.
9.The villain sprayed the slides with a Water Blaster, then escaped by doing a Super Jump.
10.The villain sprayed the slides with a Water Blaster, then zipped away with a Fast Dash.
11.The villain snapped photos of the map with a Spy Camera, then escaped up the ladder with a Quick Climb.
12.The villain swung across the swings with a Grappling Rope, then startled the birds with a Loud Whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Juice Box
Culprit: Leo (Laser Pointer · Fast Dash · Right Shoe Loose · Blue Cap · Squeaky Toys)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE SILENT CRAWL"(-14) + 19 = 5 (T) · (-13) + 34 = 21 (D) · 12 - (-15) = 27 (A) · (-5) + 22 = 17 (H) · 17 - (-13) = 30 (C) · (-12) + 21 = 9 (B) · (-8) + 31 = 23 (O) · (-12) + 14 = 2 (L) · (-1) + 4 = 3 (R) · 3 - (-9) = 12 (W) · 8 - (-10) = 18 (N) · 2 - (-9) = 11 (I) · (-1) + 30 = 29 (U) · 23 - (-3) = 26 (E) · (-9) + 28 = 19 (S)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE BANDIT HAS A LOOSE RIGHT SHOE"20% of 105 = 21 (T) · 60% of 15 = 9 (E) · 5% of 140 = 7 (B) · 50% of 92 = 46 (R) · 40% of 70 = 28 (H) · 75% of 40 = 30 (N) · 50% of 46 = 23 (A) · 50% of 84 = 42 (D) · 50% of 90 = 45 (I) · 5% of 340 = 17 (O) · 20% of 110 = 22 (G) · 10% of 130 = 13 (L) · 50% of 70 = 35 (S)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE BANDIT IS AFRAID OF SQUEAKY TOYS"42 + 6 × 9 = 96 (T) · 3 × 11 - 3 = 30 (D) · 11 × 11 - 21 = 100 (K) · 10 × 6 - 3 = 57 (F) · 9 × 9 - 26 = 55 (Q) · 9 × 12 - 3 = 105 (I) · 9 × 11 - 9 = 90 (Y) · 25 + 9 × 6 = 79 (S) · 9 × 10 - 16 = 74 (U) · 30 + 7 × 2 = 44 (A) · 77 + 2 × 3 = 83 (O) · 43 + 4 × 7 = 71 (R) · 11 × 9 - 12 = 87 (B) · 4 × 10 - 20 = 20 (E) · 22 + 4 × 5 = 42 (N) · 50 + 3 × 3 = 59 (H)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "THE BANDIT WEARS A BLUE CAP"15^2 = 225 (T) · 8^2 = 64 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (I) · 3^3 = 27 (U) · 5^3 = 125 (H) · 3^5 = 243 (C) · 12^2 = 144 (P) · 2^7 = 128 (A) · 7^3 = 343 (E) · 2^3 = 8 (L) · 13^2 = 169 (B) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 2^5 = 32 (R) · 14^2 = 196 (W) · 7^2 = 49 (N)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 7) → Leo2x + 7 = 19, x = 6 · 3x + 1 = 37, x = 12 · 4x + 6 = 22, x = 4 · 3x + 4 = 31, x = 9 · 2x + 12 = 32, x = 10 · 6x + 9 = 57, x = 8 · 5x + 8 = 13, x = 1 · 6x + 6 = 72, x = 11 · 3x + 7 = 16, x = 3 · 2x + 4 = 14, x = 5 · 4x + 9 = 17, x = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Juice Box — set in Sunny Valley Playground
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects