Math Mysteries
🚀 SpaceGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Case of the Missing Moonstone

A rare glowing moonstone has been stolen from the station museum! The Space Patrol needs your help to catch the Space Thief before they warp away.

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play
NameSpace GearSpaceship ToolOxygen Tank MeterSpacesuit Helmet ColorOrbital Weakness
Tim PeakeLaser WelderSolar DrillerGlowing Blue LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Kalpana ChawlaPlasma ShieldPhoton BlasterBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Peggy WhitsonPlasma ShieldCargo MagnetBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetThick Moon Dust
Alexei LeonovLaser WelderCosmic ScannerGlowing Blue LightBright Yellow HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Charles BoldenPlasma ShieldPhoton BlasterBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetStrong Magnetic Field
Chris HadfieldStellar CompassSolar DrillerBlinking Green LightNeon Orange HelmetThick Moon Dust
Ed WhiteJetpack HarnessCargo MagnetBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetThick Moon Dust
Gennady PadalkaPlasma ShieldPhoton BlasterGlowing Blue LightNeon Orange HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Guion BlufordLaser WelderCargo MagnetBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetThick Moon Dust
Christina KochJetpack HarnessAsteroid GrabberBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Alan ShepardJetpack HarnessSolar DrillerBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Roberta BondarPlasma ShieldPhoton BlasterBlinking Green LightNeon Orange HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Scott KellyStellar CompassCosmic ScannerBlinking Green LightNeon Orange HelmetStrong Magnetic Field
Jim LovellLaser WelderAsteroid GrabberBlinking Green LightNeon Orange HelmetStrong Magnetic Field
Buzz AldrinStellar CompassAsteroid GrabberBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Valentina TereshkovaStellar CompassCargo MagnetBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Neil ArmstrongStellar CompassPhoton BlasterGlowing Blue LightSilver Chrome HelmetFreezing Shadow Zone
Yuri GagarinStellar CompassPhoton BlasterBlinking Green LightBright Yellow HelmetStrong Magnetic Field
Sunita WilliamsJetpack HarnessCargo MagnetBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Ellen OchoaLaser WelderCosmic ScannerBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetThick Moon Dust
Michael CollinsGravity BootsCosmic ScannerBlinking Green LightSilver Chrome HelmetStrong Magnetic Field
Clue 1

Percentages

The museum door has a digital lock. It shows what percentage of power is left in the backup battery. Solve the math to unlock the door and find a 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
20
19
38
24
21
31
31
39
21
14
45
9
38
22
14
9
T
20
1
22
38
T
20
19
38
33
5
39
7
7
38
5
5% of 400 =T
20% of 155 =L
25% of 56 =N
50% of 42 =I
10% of 70 =B
60% of 40 =V
50% of 90 =D
10% of 90 =O
20% of 110 =S
10% of 10 =U
25% of 152 =E
5% of 100 =R
50% of 66 =G
25% of 156 =A
5% of 380 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 2

Exponents

A computer screen in the control room is blinking. It shows security code patterns written in exponents. Work out the numbers to read the security log.

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

W
343
361
125
216
W
343
216
16
100
361
361
36
64
9
16
121
196
144
36
196
121
361
128
216
25
32
324
216
25
32
7^3 =W
5^2 =C
2^7 =B
6^3 =A
14^2 =T
6^2 =N
2^4 =G
19^2 =E
8^2 =L
5^3 =S
3^2 =I
10^2 =R
12^2 =O
2^5 =K
11^2 =H
18^2 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 3

Order of operations

The thief left a trail of footprints. To find out which way they went, we must solve these multi-step math problems in the exact right order.

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
57
19
58
45
46
29
29
25
46
76
66
76
58
58
75
58
14
46
76
48
51
51
76
14
15
66
T
57
9 × 9 - 24 =T
5 × 6 - 15 =U
8 × 9 - 14 =E
16 + 8 × 4 =M
7 × 4 - 14 =D
3 × 9 - 8 =H
9 + 6 × 7 =O
32 + 7 × 2 =I
7 × 6 - 17 =A
9 × 9 - 6 =Z
9 + 6 × 6 =V
8 × 11 - 12 =N
5 × 9 - 16 =L
62 + 2 × 2 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found some dropped cargo crates in the hangar. They are stacked in equal rows. Multiply the rows to count the crates and find the hidden note inside.

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
8
33
49
25
48
2
33
25
6
28
108
120
49
108
6
14
108
121
22
A
8
33
33
108
108
48
2 × 4 =A
2 × 1 =Y
6 × 1 =L
7 × 7 =H
7 × 2 =M
10 × 12 =R
7 × 4 =V
12 × 9 =E
11 × 11 =T
5 × 5 =I
11 × 3 =S
6 × 8 =N
2 × 11 =W
0/13 letters found
Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The starship fuel cells must be shared equally among the emergency engines. Divide the fuel canisters to power up our radar and locate the thief.

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
11 ÷ 11 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired up their jetpack harness, then swiped the rare moonstone using a cargo magnet.
2.The villain fired up their jetpack harness, then drilled through the vault with a solar driller.
3.The villain turned on their high power laser welder, then drilled through the vault with a solar driller.
4.The villain fired up their jetpack harness, then spotted the security guards with a cosmic scanner.
5.The villain raised their glowing plasma shield, then plucked the crystal with an asteroid grabber.
6.The villain raised their glowing plasma shield, then swiped the rare moonstone using a cargo magnet.
7.The villain raised their glowing plasma shield, then spotted the security guards with a cosmic scanner.
8.The villain turned on their high power laser welder, then plucked the crystal with an asteroid grabber.
9.The villain checked their stellar compass directions, then plucked the crystal with an asteroid grabber.
10.The villain fired up their jetpack harness, then blasted through the blast doors with a photon blaster.
11.The villain raised their glowing plasma shield, then blasted through the blast doors with a photon blaster.
12.The villain turned on their high power laser welder, then spotted the security guards with a cosmic scanner.
Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

About this mystery

Grade level
Grade 6 math
Math topics
Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level
grades 3-4
Theme
The Case of the Missing Moonstone — set in The Asteroid Mining Station Alpha
Format
Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution
One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

6th grade worksheetsMultiplication worksheetsDivision worksheetsPercentages worksheetsExponents worksheetsOrder of operations worksheetsAll worksheets →
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Grade 6
The Great Block Mystery
Grade 6
The Sky-Pirate Cartographer's Compass
Grade 6
The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Grade 6