🏀 BasketballGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing MVP Trophy
The golden MVP trophy has vanished from the display case right before the championship game! The Arena Commissioner is in a panic. Solve the math problems to uncover clues about the Court Phantom before tip-off!
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 Move | Super Gear | Dribble Hand | Hair Style | In-Game Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | No-look Behind-the-back Pass | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Left-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Kevin Durant | No-look Behind-the-back Pass | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Right-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Squeaky polished floors |
| Damian Lillard | Shutdown Full-court Press | Neon Lightning Sneakers | Left-handed dribbler | Frosted tips Mohawk | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Steph Curry | Half-court Buzzer-beater | Magnetic Hoop Wristband | Left-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Jalen Brunson | Gravity-defying Windmill Dunk | Magnetic Hoop Wristband | Left-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Double-team defense |
| Paul George | Shutdown Full-court Press | Magnetic Hoop Wristband | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Bam Adebayo | Shutdown Full-court Press | Anti-gravity Warmup Jacket | Left-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Anthony Davis | Half-court Buzzer-beater | Sticky Grip Basketball Gloves | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Donovan Mitchell | No-look Behind-the-back Pass | Anti-gravity Warmup Jacket | Right-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Double-team defense |
| Ja Morant | Ankle-breaker Crossover | Sticky Grip Basketball Gloves | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| DeAaron Fox | No-look Behind-the-back Pass | Neon Lightning Sneakers | Right-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Half-court Buzzer-beater | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Kawhi Leonard | Gravity-defying Windmill Dunk | Magnetic Hoop Wristband | Left-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Jayson Tatum | Gravity-defying Windmill Dunk | Anti-gravity Warmup Jacket | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Loud crowd airhorns |
| James Harden | Shutdown Full-court Press | Sticky Grip Basketball Gloves | Left-handed dribbler | Neon green buzzcut | Squeaky polished floors |
| Jimmy Butler | No-look Behind-the-back Pass | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Right-handed dribbler | Frosted tips Mohawk | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Domantas Sabonis | Ankle-breaker Crossover | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Right-handed dribbler | Frosted tips Mohawk | Double-team defense |
| Kyrie Irving | Gravity-defying Windmill Dunk | Neon Lightning Sneakers | Left-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Squeaky polished floors |
| Anthony Edwards | Shutdown Full-court Press | Sticky Grip Basketball Gloves | Left-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Squeaky polished floors |
| LeBron James | Half-court Buzzer-beater | Spring-loaded Jump Insoles | Right-handed dribbler | Frosted tips Mohawk | Loud crowd airhorns |
| Devin Booker | Shutdown Full-court Press | Anti-gravity Warmup Jacket | Right-handed dribbler | Braided cornrows | Squeaky polished floors |
Clue 1
Addition
We totaled up the championship jerseys left in the home locker room and the visitor locker room to get our first lead.
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
3496
5740
7771
7488
2139
7771
9053
5163
5163
7846
7771
9320
9053
7846
T
3496
2246
7771
6252
9821
9320
9125
9821
2139
9053
7240
4086
4381
5241
9125
2139
9053
9320
7846
3070
7771
9320
1339 + 2157 =T
783 + 1463 =W
4746 + 3100 =O
3497 + 1666 =D
3497 + 5556 =N
2179 + 3062 =M
670 + 1469 =I
2348 + 5423 =E
5949 + 3176 =P
1810 + 1260 =L
5022 + 4799 =R
3995 + 1745 =H
2389 + 1992 =U
3367 + 2885 =A
5011 + 2229 =G
4740 + 2748 =F
3917 + 5403 =S
2736 + 1350 =J
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The arena manager said a certain fraction of the basketballs in the equipment rack were deflated by the runaway culprit.
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
6
19
20
22
2
22
12
20
29
T
6
3
38
39
33
33
26
20
22
24
39
T
6
19
T
6
19
20
38
39
16
19
T
6
19
37
10
3
3/6 of 12 =T
1/3 of 114 =R
5/10 of 74 =A
4/8 of 20 =N
6/10 of 5 =D
2/8 of 132 =B
2/5 of 55 =S
1/6 of 174 =C
1/6 of 120 =E
3/8 of 32 =P
1/8 of 16 =U
1/3 of 78 =L
1/5 of 95 =H
3/6 of 78 =I
1/8 of 128 =G
5/10 of 48 =W
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The electronic scoreboard glitched out, displaying a complex mathematical equation that we need to solve in the correct 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
72
47
78
50
70
75
76
30
35
70
16
76
31
32
35
47
70
35
23
58
35
75
32
23
78
76
T
72
47
78
32
35
25
70
30
75
58
37 + 5 × 7 =T
23 + 5 × 7 =S
61 + 3 × 3 =O
2 × 12 - 1 =N
9 × 3 - 2 =F
17 + 6 × 3 =R
5 × 12 - 28 =I
6 + 4 × 6 =C
12 × 8 - 20 =D
8 × 10 - 30 =L
22 + 8 × 7 =E
4 + 3 × 4 =W
59 + 4 × 4 =U
20 + 3 × 9 =H
17 + 2 × 7 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found rows of energy drinks left near the court, and multiplying the rows by the cans in each row revealed our next 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.
A
96
77
49
121
A
96
54
100
20
30
33
121
A
96
60
100
5
100
6
A
96
60
121
70
A
96
77
20
54
49
6
5
121
60
36
12 × 8 =A
1 × 6 =H
1 × 5 =E
4 × 5 =O
9 × 6 =N
10 × 7 =W
3 × 10 =F
6 × 10 =I
11 × 11 =R
10 × 10 =D
3 × 11 =B
11 × 7 =S
7 × 7 =T
12 × 3 =M
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The referee divided the leftover practice pinnies equally among the team captains to crack the final security code.
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
30 ÷ 6 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swishes a buzzer-beater shot, then bolts away in lightning sneakers.
2.The villain passes without looking, then floats off in a warmup jacket.
3.The villain slams a windmill dunk, then floats off in a warmup jacket.
4.The villain crosses up the defender, then snatches the ball with sticky gloves.
5.The villain swishes a buzzer-beater shot, then snatches the ball with sticky gloves.
6.The villain swishes a buzzer-beater shot, then floats off in a warmup jacket.
7.The villain locks down the offense, then activates the magnetic wristband.
8.The villain passes without looking, then snatches the ball with sticky gloves.
9.The villain passes without looking, then activates the magnetic wristband.
10.The villain slams a windmill dunk, then bolts away in lightning sneakers.
11.The villain locks down the offense, then floats off in a warmup jacket.
12.The villain swishes a buzzer-beater shot, then activates the magnetic wristband.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing MVP Trophy
Culprit: Jayson Tatum (Gravity-defying Windmill Dunk · Anti-gravity Warmup Jacket · Right-handed dribbler · Braided cornrows · Loud crowd airhorns)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE FIEND DOES NOT WEAR SPRING JUMP INSOLES"1339 + 2157 = 3496 (T) · 783 + 1463 = 2246 (W) · 4746 + 3100 = 7846 (O) · 3497 + 1666 = 5163 (D) · 3497 + 5556 = 9053 (N) · 2179 + 3062 = 5241 (M) · 670 + 1469 = 2139 (I) · 2348 + 5423 = 7771 (E) · 5949 + 3176 = 9125 (P) · 1810 + 1260 = 3070 (L) · 5022 + 4799 = 9821 (R) · 3995 + 1745 = 5740 (H) · 2389 + 1992 = 4381 (U) · 3367 + 2885 = 6252 (A) · 5011 + 2229 = 7240 (G) · 4740 + 2748 = 7488 (F) · 3917 + 5403 = 9320 (S) · 2736 + 1350 = 4086 (J)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DRIBBLES WITH THE RIGHT HAND"3/6 of 12 = 6 (T) · 1/3 of 114 = 38 (R) · 5/10 of 74 = 37 (A) · 4/8 of 20 = 10 (N) · 6/10 of 5 = 3 (D) · 2/8 of 132 = 33 (B) · 2/5 of 55 = 22 (S) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (C) · 1/6 of 120 = 20 (E) · 3/8 of 32 = 12 (P) · 1/8 of 16 = 2 (U) · 1/3 of 78 = 26 (L) · 1/5 of 95 = 19 (H) · 3/6 of 78 = 39 (I) · 1/8 of 128 = 16 (G) · 5/10 of 48 = 24 (W)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE LOUD CROWD AIRHORNS RUINED THEIR FOCUS"37 + 5 × 7 = 72 (T) · 23 + 5 × 7 = 58 (S) · 61 + 3 × 3 = 70 (O) · 2 × 12 - 1 = 23 (N) · 9 × 3 - 2 = 25 (F) · 17 + 6 × 3 = 35 (R) · 5 × 12 - 28 = 32 (I) · 6 + 4 × 6 = 30 (C) · 12 × 8 - 20 = 76 (D) · 8 × 10 - 30 = 50 (L) · 22 + 8 × 7 = 78 (E) · 4 + 3 × 4 = 16 (W) · 59 + 4 × 4 = 75 (U) · 20 + 3 × 9 = 47 (H) · 17 + 2 × 7 = 31 (A)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A STRAND OF BRAIDED HAIR WAS ON THE RIM"12 × 8 = 96 (A) · 1 × 6 = 6 (H) · 1 × 5 = 5 (E) · 4 × 5 = 20 (O) · 9 × 6 = 54 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (W) · 3 × 10 = 30 (F) · 6 × 10 = 60 (I) · 11 × 11 = 121 (R) · 10 × 10 = 100 (D) · 3 × 11 = 33 (B) · 11 × 7 = 77 (S) · 7 × 7 = 49 (T) · 12 × 3 = 36 (M)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Jayson Tatum30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing MVP Trophy — set in The Championship Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects