🔎 Stolen PencilsGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Case of the Missing Masterpiece Pencils
During the National Sketching Finals, the legendary Masterpiece Pencil Set was stolen from the display case. The Lead Curator needs your math skills to examine the clues left behind in the studio and catch the culprit from the twenty-four finalists.
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 Technique | Secret Gear | Eraser Wear Pattern | Pencil Smudge | Artistic Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Haring | Soft Shading | Flexible Curve | Flat Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Georgia OKeeffe | Cross Hatching | Chamois Cloth | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Banksy | Soft Shading | Mechanical Clutch | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Henri Matisse | Contour Sketching | Flexible Curve | Angled Wear | Charcoal Black Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Jackson Pollock | Soft Shading | Mechanical Clutch | Flat Wear | Charcoal Black Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Pablo Picasso | Contour Sketching | Battery Eraser | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Rembrandt | Cross Hatching | Dual Sharpener | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Torn Paper |
| Claude Monet | Soft Shading | Flexible Curve | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Torn Paper |
| Bob Ross | Gesture Drawing | Battery Eraser | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Rene Magritte | Stippling | Battery Eraser | Flat Wear | Graphite Grey Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Frida Kahlo | Soft Shading | Chamois Cloth | Angled Wear | Charcoal Black Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Salvador Dali | Soft Shading | Dual Sharpener | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Auguste Rodin | Cross Hatching | Battery Eraser | Flat Wear | Charcoal Black Smudge | Torn Paper |
| Mary Cassatt | Cross Hatching | Battery Eraser | Flat Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Torn Paper |
| Yayoi Kusama | Gesture Drawing | Battery Eraser | Flat Wear | Graphite Grey Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Edgar Degas | Cross Hatching | Flexible Curve | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Edvard Munch | Stippling | Battery Eraser | Flat Wear | Charcoal Black Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Marc Chagall | Contour Sketching | Flexible Curve | Angled Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Dull Lead |
| Michelangelo | Gesture Drawing | Mechanical Clutch | Flat Wear | Graphite Grey Smudge | Smudged Edge |
| Leo DaVinci | Soft Shading | Flexible Curve | Flat Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Torn Paper |
| Yoko Ono | Contour Sketching | Dual Sharpener | Flat Wear | Pastel Pink Smudge | Smudged Edge |
Clue 1
Exponents
The security lock on the sketch vault requires calculating the exponential growth of the automated lead-dispensing bins over time.
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
144
441
121
64
81
289
289
484
81
32
729
400
121
216
32
400
T
144
49
216
121
484
100
484
T
144
T
144
121
8
36
121
8
484
216
121
8
12^2 =T
11^2 =E
17^2 =L
21^2 =H
9^3 =D
22^2 =A
2^5 =N
4^3 =V
10^2 =B
6^2 =Y
20^2 =O
7^2 =U
2^3 =R
6^3 =S
9^2 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
To map the crime scene grid, you must find the square root of the total area of the studio floor to find its side lengths.
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
3
7
17
16
21
16
6
17
18
T
3
10
17
4
23
17
16
4
12
4
12
11
10
17
2
13
17
4
22
6
4
T
3
T
3
17
22
12
sqrt(9) =T
sqrt(441) =U
sqrt(144) =N
sqrt(121) =G
sqrt(36) =P
sqrt(169) =W
sqrt(484) =R
sqrt(100) =L
sqrt(256) =S
sqrt(289) =E
sqrt(49) =H
sqrt(16) =A
sqrt(4) =D
sqrt(529) =V
sqrt(324) =C
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
To trace the quick getaway path of the suspect across the studio, you must use the Pythagorean theorem to find the diagonal distance between two desks.
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
68
51
58
T
68
51
25
58
20
74
26
17
17
T
68
5
75
75
58
15
82
40
26
15
85
37
37
37
58
26
15
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =T
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =O
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =E
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =B
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =D
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =Y
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =H
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =I
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =P
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =U
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =L
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =F
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The master digital art archives require you to enter an access code solved using the exact order of operations to view the suspect registry.
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
29
40
A
29
51
44
82
28
40
60
78
36
51
91
9
64
63
82
112
A
29
51
28
82
90
44
24
82
13
60
78
64
8 × 6 - 19 =A
54 + 2 × 3 =I
48 + 7 × 6 =F
12 × 6 - 8 =D
7 × 9 - 19 =T
2 × 9 - 9 =U
12 + 2 × 8 =L
10 × 8 - 17 =G
7 × 11 - 26 =S
11 × 12 - 20 =W
63 + 7 × 4 =M
7 × 8 - 16 =P
18 + 2 × 9 =K
11 × 2 - 9 =H
62 + 8 × 2 =N
10 × 3 - 6 =B
66 + 8 × 2 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The final lockbox contains a scrap of evidence, which you can retrieve by solving a two-step equation representing the shared art supplies.
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
5x + 10 = 15, x = ?
4x + 3 = 23, x = ?
2x + 11 = 33, x = ?
3x + 1 = 19, x = ?
4x + 7 = 47, x = ?
5x + 5 = 15, x = ?
5x + 1 = 41, x = ?
5x + 7 = 67, x = ?
2x + 11 = 25, x = ?
6x + 1 = 19, x = ?
5x + 4 = 49, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain traces the contour lines, then bends a flexible curve.
2.The villain shades the background softly, then activates a battery eraser.
3.The villain sketches a rapid gesture drawing, then empties a dual sharpener.
4.The villain shades the background softly, then empties a dual sharpener.
5.The villain cross hatches the canvas, then buffs with a chamois cloth.
6.The villain cross hatches the canvas, then activates a battery eraser.
7.The villain traces the contour lines, then buffs with a chamois cloth.
8.The villain traces the contour lines, then empties a dual sharpener.
9.The villain traces the contour lines, then activates a battery eraser.
10.The villain stipples the design, then activates a battery eraser.
11.The villain cross hatches the canvas, then bends a flexible curve.
12.The villain shades the background softly, then bends a flexible curve.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Masterpiece Pencils
Culprit: Salvador Dali (Soft Shading · Dual Sharpener · Angled Wear · Pastel Pink Smudge · Dull Lead)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A BATTERY ERASER"12^2 = 144 (T) · 11^2 = 121 (E) · 17^2 = 289 (L) · 21^2 = 441 (H) · 9^3 = 729 (D) · 22^2 = 484 (A) · 2^5 = 32 (N) · 4^3 = 64 (V) · 10^2 = 100 (B) · 6^2 = 36 (Y) · 20^2 = 400 (O) · 7^2 = 49 (U) · 2^3 = 8 (R) · 6^3 = 216 (S) · 9^2 = 81 (I)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT LEAVES AN ANGLED WEAR PATTERN"sqrt(9) = 3 (T) · sqrt(441) = 21 (U) · sqrt(144) = 12 (N) · sqrt(121) = 11 (G) · sqrt(36) = 6 (P) · sqrt(169) = 13 (W) · sqrt(484) = 22 (R) · sqrt(100) = 10 (L) · sqrt(256) = 16 (S) · sqrt(289) = 17 (E) · sqrt(49) = 7 (H) · sqrt(16) = 4 (A) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(529) = 23 (V) · sqrt(324) = 18 (C)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE THIEF WAS STOPPED BY A DULL LEAD"legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (T) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (O) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (A) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (E) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (B) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (D) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (Y) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (H) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (I) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (P) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (U) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (L) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (F) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (S)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A PASTEL PINK SMUDGE WAS LEFT BEHIND"8 × 6 - 19 = 29 (A) · 54 + 2 × 3 = 60 (I) · 48 + 7 × 6 = 90 (F) · 12 × 6 - 8 = 64 (D) · 7 × 9 - 19 = 44 (T) · 2 × 9 - 9 = 9 (U) · 12 + 2 × 8 = 28 (L) · 10 × 8 - 17 = 63 (G) · 7 × 11 - 26 = 51 (S) · 11 × 12 - 20 = 112 (W) · 63 + 7 × 4 = 91 (M) · 7 × 8 - 16 = 40 (P) · 18 + 2 × 9 = 36 (K) · 11 × 2 - 9 = 13 (H) · 62 + 8 × 2 = 78 (N) · 10 × 3 - 6 = 24 (B) · 66 + 8 × 2 = 82 (E)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 4) → Salvador Dali5x + 10 = 15, x = 1 · 4x + 3 = 23, x = 5 · 2x + 11 = 33, x = 11 · 3x + 1 = 19, x = 6 · 4x + 7 = 47, x = 10 · 5x + 5 = 15, x = 2 · 5x + 1 = 41, x = 8 · 5x + 7 = 67, x = 12 · 2x + 11 = 25, x = 7 · 6x + 1 = 19, x = 3 · 5x + 4 = 49, x = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Masterpiece Pencils — set in Oak Creek Art Academy
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects