🔎 The case of the missing micrGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Case of the Missing Microphone

The Golden Microphone has disappeared right before the biggest concert of the year! Someone snuck backstage and snatched it from its velvet case. We need to find the thief before the spotlight turns on!

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 Instrument	Stage Effect	Microphone Grip	Hair Style	Sound Weakness
Lizzo Loop	drum pad	neon fireworks	right handed grip	neon green dreads	static shock
Post Malone-star	laser guitar	sparkler kick	left handed grip	blue curls	loud bass drop
Dua Lipap	vocal pedal	neon fireworks	left handed grip	blue curls	loud bass drop
Cardi Beat	beat machine	neon fireworks	left handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Bruno Marsbar	synth keyboard	sparkler kick	right handed grip	pink spikes	loud bass drop
Justin Beaver	drum pad	laser lightshow	left handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Olivia Road	laser guitar	sparkler kick	left handed grip	pink spikes	loud bass drop
Snoop Doggie	laser guitar	autotune echo	right handed grip	blue curls	static shock
Pitbull Pup	laser guitar	neon fireworks	left handed grip	pink spikes	loud bass drop
Ed Sheerun	synth keyboard	sparkler kick	left handed grip	neon green dreads	static shock
Drake Dragon	synth keyboard	autotune echo	left handed grip	neon green dreads	static shock
The Weekday	synth keyboard	neon fireworks	left handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Taylor Swiftbeat	synth keyboard	laser lightshow	left handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Lady Gagaga	laser guitar	neon fireworks	right handed grip	pink spikes	high pitch squeal
Shakira Shake	laser guitar	autotune echo	right handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Katy Perrywinkle	drum pad	fog machine	left handed grip	pink spikes	loud bass drop
Beyonce Bounce	synth keyboard	sparkler kick	left handed grip	neon green dreads	high pitch squeal
Harry Stylespin	drum pad	fog machine	left handed grip	pink spikes	static shock
Lil Nas Xray	drum pad	autotune echo	left handed grip	neon green dreads	static shock
Billie Eyelasher	drum pad	laser lightshow	left handed grip	blue curls	static shock
Selena Gomezzo	beat machine	fog machine	left handed grip	blue curls	static shock

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found the VIP seating chart. The rows and chairs form a giant grid. Let us multiply them to find how many seats are in the front section.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

132

11 × 2 =T

11 × 12 =A

5 × 12 =D

5 × 3 =I

7 × 4 =N

7 × 7 =G

7 × 8 =M

1 × 9 =E

11 × 8 =F

9 × 7 =C

5 × 11 =U

3 × 8 =S

8 × 12 =O

5 × 5 =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The soundboard screen is cracked. It only displays rounded numbers now. Let us estimate the total volume levels to get our next big 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.

7000

700

5000

130

300

130

110

5000

4300

7000

700

430

130

430

5000

230

7000

700

430

1100

5000

290

3000

1700

110

Round 7,089 to the nearest thousandT

Round 669 to the nearest hundredH

Round 49 to the nearest tenL

Round 130 to the nearest tenS

Round 4,276 to the nearest hundredC

Round 5,119 to the nearest thousandE

Round 428 to the nearest tenA

Round 108 to the nearest tenP

Round 2,895 to the nearest thousandR

Round 286 to the nearest tenG

Round 227 to the nearest tenF

Round 1,669 to the nearest hundredI

Round 311 to the nearest hundredU

Round 1,117 to the nearest hundredN

Round 87 to the nearest tenD

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

A friendly roadie handed us two lists of suspicious gear boxes. We must add the counts from both lists to find the total number of clues.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

7066

8194

6525

2624

6525

2623

6525

8855

2197

8397

6917

6525

8397

6917

6525

6917

8855

5572

8397

6120

8354

5572

2624

3435 + 3631 =W

2099 + 3473 =C

4093 + 2432 =A

1564 + 1060 =K

1168 + 1029 =N

5697 + 3158 =I

5590 + 2764 =O

2560 + 5634 =E

5783 + 2614 =S

4027 + 2890 =T

3936 + 2184 =H

1665 + 958 =G

0/12 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The backup dancers had a pile of sparkly hats, but some went missing. We need to subtract the stolen hats to see what is left behind.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

8346

7760

7787

3407

8193

5031

8248

3407

3752

7060

5031

8248

3752

1186

7060

2300

3180

1894

1186

7060

3790

1186

3407

1186

11923 - 3577 =F

2099 - 913 =E

4828 - 1038 =C

6519 - 1488 =P

12321 - 4534 =U

4461 - 2567 =H

8224 - 4472 =K

7874 - 4467 =N

7833 - 73 =O

5737 - 2557 =T

10443 - 3383 =S

4570 - 2270 =A

9828 - 1635 =D

10599 - 2351 =I

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The band has a box of guitar picks to share equally among the players. Let us divide them up to see how many picks each person gets.

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

16 ÷ 8 = ?

8 ÷ 1 = ?

28 ÷ 4 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

5 ÷ 1 = ?

36 ÷ 4 = ?

66 ÷ 6 = ?

1 ÷ 1 = ?

40 ÷ 10 = ?

120 ÷ 12 = ?

27 ÷ 9 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain tunes the laser guitar, then fires the laser lightshow.

2.The villain taps the drum pad, then fires the laser lightshow.

3.The villain clicks the vocal pedal, then lights the neon fireworks.

4.The villain taps the drum pad, then lights the neon fireworks.

5.The villain cranks the beat machine, then starts the fog machine.

6.The villain plays the synth keyboard, then fires the laser lightshow.

7.The villain plays the synth keyboard, then lights the neon fireworks.

8.The villain cranks the beat machine, then lights the neon fireworks.

9.The villain cranks the beat machine, then triggers a sparkler kick.

10.The villain cranks the beat machine, then turns on the autotune echo.

11.The villain plays the synth keyboard, then turns on the autotune echo.

12.The villain plays the synth keyboard, then starts the fog machine.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Microphone

Culprit: Taylor Swiftbeat (synth keyboard · laser lightshow · left handed grip · pink spikes · static shock)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A FOG MACHINE"
11 × 2 = 22 (T) · 11 × 12 = 132 (A) · 5 × 12 = 60 (D) · 5 × 3 = 15 (I) · 7 × 4 = 28 (N) · 7 × 7 = 49 (G) · 7 × 8 = 56 (M) · 1 × 9 = 9 (E) · 11 × 8 = 88 (F) · 9 × 7 = 63 (C) · 5 × 11 = 55 (U) · 3 × 8 = 24 (S) · 8 × 12 = 96 (O) · 5 × 5 = 25 (H)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT HAS A LEFT HANDED GRIP"
Round 7,089 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (T) · Round 669 to the nearest hundred = 700 (H) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (S) · Round 4,276 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (C) · Round 5,119 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (A) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (P) · Round 2,895 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (R) · Round 286 to the nearest ten = 290 (G) · Round 227 to the nearest ten = 230 (F) · Round 1,669 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (I) · Round 311 to the nearest hundred = 300 (U) · Round 1,117 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (N) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (D)
Clue 3 (Addition): "WEAK AGAINST A STATIC SHOCK"
3435 + 3631 = 7066 (W) · 2099 + 3473 = 5572 (C) · 4093 + 2432 = 6525 (A) · 1564 + 1060 = 2624 (K) · 1168 + 1029 = 2197 (N) · 5697 + 3158 = 8855 (I) · 5590 + 2764 = 8354 (O) · 2560 + 5634 = 8194 (E) · 5783 + 2614 = 8397 (S) · 4027 + 2890 = 6917 (T) · 3936 + 2184 = 6120 (H) · 1665 + 958 = 2623 (G)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "FOUND PINK SPIKES AT THE SCENE"
11923 - 3577 = 8346 (F) · 2099 - 913 = 1186 (E) · 4828 - 1038 = 3790 (C) · 6519 - 1488 = 5031 (P) · 12321 - 4534 = 7787 (U) · 4461 - 2567 = 1894 (H) · 8224 - 4472 = 3752 (K) · 7874 - 4467 = 3407 (N) · 7833 - 73 = 7760 (O) · 5737 - 2557 = 3180 (T) · 10443 - 3383 = 7060 (S) · 4570 - 2270 = 2300 (A) · 9828 - 1635 = 8193 (D) · 10599 - 2351 = 8248 (I)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Taylor Swiftbeat
16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Microphone — set in The Neon Arena Stage
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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