🔎 Missing #2 PencilsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionMulti-step word problemsSubtractionMultiplicationDivision

The Case of the Missing Number Twos

Someone has emptied all the supply boxes right before the big spelling test! Every single yellow number two pencil is gone. Only yellow sawdust is left behind. We need to find the Pencil Snatcher before the test bell rings!

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	Stealing Tool	Secret Hiding Spot	Writing Hand	Dropped Accessory	Foil Item
Leo	velcro sneakers	sneaker box	left handed writer	green headband	metal pencil sharpeners
Fay	grabber claw	hollow binder	right handed writer	blue baseball cap	smelly cherry erasers
Eva	grabber claw	sneaker box	right handed writer	green headband	smelly cherry erasers
Mia	grabber claw	secret locker	right handed writer	green headband	neon pencil grips
Ben	magnetic ruler	backpack pocket	left handed writer	red hair clip	neon pencil grips
Ted	magnetic ruler	sneaker box	right handed writer	red hair clip	metal pencil sharpeners
Jan	velcro sneakers	hollow binder	right handed writer	red hair clip	neon pencil grips
Ava	pocket slingshot	secret locker	right handed writer	blue baseball cap	smelly cherry erasers
Eli	pocket slingshot	backpack pocket	right handed writer	blue baseball cap	smelly cherry erasers
Gus	pocket slingshot	pencil pouch	right handed writer	red hair clip	neon pencil grips
Val	pocket slingshot	backpack pocket	right handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Jax	grabber claw	pencil pouch	right handed writer	green headband	smelly cherry erasers
Roy	sticky tape glove	pencil pouch	right handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Kim	sticky tape glove	secret locker	right handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Dan	pocket slingshot	pencil pouch	left handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Meg	sticky tape glove	backpack pocket	right handed writer	green headband	metal pencil sharpeners
Ned	velcro sneakers	pencil pouch	left handed writer	blue baseball cap	metal pencil sharpeners
Zoe	magnetic ruler	hollow binder	right handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Max	velcro sneakers	hollow binder	left handed writer	red hair clip	metal pencil sharpeners
Ian	magnetic ruler	pencil pouch	right handed writer	red hair clip	smelly cherry erasers
Joy	velcro sneakers	sneaker box	left handed writer	red hair clip	neon pencil grips

Clue 1

Addition

We count the empty pencil boxes. Two boxes had twelve pencils each, but five were dropped. We do some quick steps to find how many are missing, which reveals 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.

6791

6073

6222

3826

7811

6498

6791

4034

6073

6222

8651

2900

2981

6222

3826

7811

2981

6791

5369

3826

6222

6498

3826

6222

4034

8651

6222

6791

4239

2981

4034

9098

6222

8651

4649 + 2142 =T

2564 + 1262 =S

2608 + 1426 =C

2033 + 948 =O

3574 + 4237 =N

2761 + 2608 =U

1173 + 1727 =D

3622 + 2451 =H

3871 + 2627 =A

2579 + 1660 =L

6192 + 2906 =K

3200 + 3022 =E

5330 + 3321 =R

0/13 letters found

Clue 2

Multi-step word problems

The detective finds two piles of yellow shavings on the floor. Adding the shavings from both piles gives us a magic number that opens a secret clue container.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Awitnesssawthevillainwas

Hall monitor collected 23 sharpeners in the morning and 245 sharpeners in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 pencil patrol. How many sharpeners did each get?R

Hall monitor earned 2 erasers in each of 6 rounds, plus 15 bonus erasers. Then 13 erasers were lost. How many erasers are left?H

There were 178 crayons in all. 3 pencil patrol used 8 crayons each. The other 2 pencil patrol shared the rest equally. How many crayons did each of the other pencil patrol get?N

Hall monitor collected 25 notepads in the morning and 139 notepads in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 pencil patrol. How many notepads did each get?T

Hall monitor filled 6 boxes with 3 erasers each, then found 36 more erasers. How many erasers are there in all?G

Hall monitor collected 352 crayons in the morning and 3 crayons in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 pencil patrol. How many crayons did each get?I

There were 238 crayons in all. 3 pencil patrol used 26 crayons each. The other 4 pencil patrol shared the rest equally. How many crayons did each of the other pencil patrol get?A

0/7 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

There were fifty erasers this morning but now there are far fewer. We subtract the leftover erasers to see how many were taken, pointing us to a new 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.

7273

2054

8888

2868

7949

6515

8070

7949

2868

5767

7273

5852

4821

5694

5852

2856

5767

3415

8888

6515

2868

1674

2054

8888

2856

2868

8888

2856

7949

5767

8888

2856

5767

10517 - 3244 =T

6627 - 3771 =R

3593 - 178 =M

12372 - 4423 =A

3945 - 1077 =Y

3841 - 1787 =H

9420 - 3726 =F

9370 - 1300 =W

1712 - 38 =C

5170 - 349 =P

13347 - 4459 =E

9082 - 3315 =S

8115 - 2263 =O

7036 - 521 =L

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We look at the desks. They are arranged in four neat rows with six desks in each row. Multiplying these rows helps us map out where the thief dropped 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.

108

132

108

132

108

132

5 × 7 =W

12 × 7 =A

1 × 11 =U

10 × 2 =N

3 × 11 =H

11 × 12 =D

7 × 7 =C

8 × 8 =P

12 × 9 =E

11 × 7 =I

12 × 2 =T

5 × 8 =L

7 × 10 =R

4 × 8 =O

9 × 3 =F

3 × 3 =Y

3 × 5 =S

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The teacher shares thirty-six cool sticker sheets equally among nine students. Dividing them up perfectly shows us the final piece of evidence.

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

14 ÷ 2 = ?

30 ÷ 5 = ?

16 ÷ 4 = ?

30 ÷ 10 = ?

40 ÷ 5 = ?

2 ÷ 2 = ?

22 ÷ 2 = ?

54 ÷ 6 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

108 ÷ 9 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain creeps past the teacher desk, then swipes the box of graphite.

2.The villain unzips the supply bags, then stuffs their pockets with lead.

3.The villain creeps past the teacher desk, then scoops up the fresh yellow pencils.

4.The villain unzips the supply bags, then swipes the box of graphite.

5.The villain creeps past the teacher desk, then stuffs their pockets with lead.

6.The villain tiptoes down the hallway, then scoops up the fresh yellow pencils.

7.The villain sneaks into the classroom, then swipes the box of graphite.

8.The villain tiptoes down the hallway, then swipes the box of graphite.

9.The villain tiptoes down the hallway, then stuffs their pockets with lead.

10.The villain sneaks into the classroom, then grabs every single wooden pencil.

11.The villain climbs through the window, then scoops up the fresh yellow pencils.

12.The villain unzips the supply bags, then scoops up the fresh yellow pencils.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Number Twos

Culprit: Zoe (magnetic ruler · hollow binder · right handed writer · red hair clip · smelly cherry erasers)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SNATCHER DOES NOT USE A SECRET LOCKER"
4649 + 2142 = 6791 (T) · 2564 + 1262 = 3826 (S) · 2608 + 1426 = 4034 (C) · 2033 + 948 = 2981 (O) · 3574 + 4237 = 7811 (N) · 2761 + 2608 = 5369 (U) · 1173 + 1727 = 2900 (D) · 3622 + 2451 = 6073 (H) · 3871 + 2627 = 6498 (A) · 2579 + 1660 = 4239 (L) · 6192 + 2906 = 9098 (K) · 3200 + 3022 = 6222 (E) · 5330 + 3321 = 8651 (R)
Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED WRITER"
Hall monitor collected 23 sharpeners in the morning and 245 sharpeners in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 pencil patrol. How many sharpeners did each get? = 67 (R) · Hall monitor earned 2 erasers in each of 6 rounds, plus 15 bonus erasers. Then 13 erasers were lost. How many erasers are left? = 14 (H) · There were 178 crayons in all. 3 pencil patrol used 8 crayons each. The other 2 pencil patrol shared the rest equally. How many crayons did each of the other pencil patrol get? = 77 (N) · Hall monitor collected 25 notepads in the morning and 139 notepads in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 pencil patrol. How many notepads did each get? = 82 (T) · Hall monitor filled 6 boxes with 3 erasers each, then found 36 more erasers. How many erasers are there in all? = 54 (G) · Hall monitor collected 352 crayons in the morning and 3 crayons in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 pencil patrol. How many crayons did each get? = 71 (I) · There were 238 crayons in all. 3 pencil patrol used 26 crayons each. The other 4 pencil patrol shared the rest equally. How many crayons did each of the other pencil patrol get? = 40 (A)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THEY ALWAYS STOP FOR SMELLY CHERRY ERASERS"
10517 - 3244 = 7273 (T) · 6627 - 3771 = 2856 (R) · 3593 - 178 = 3415 (M) · 12372 - 4423 = 7949 (A) · 3945 - 1077 = 2868 (Y) · 3841 - 1787 = 2054 (H) · 9420 - 3726 = 5694 (F) · 9370 - 1300 = 8070 (W) · 1712 - 38 = 1674 (C) · 5170 - 349 = 4821 (P) · 13347 - 4459 = 8888 (E) · 9082 - 3315 = 5767 (S) · 8115 - 2263 = 5852 (O) · 7036 - 521 = 6515 (L)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A SHINY RED HAIR CLIP IN THE DUST"
5 × 7 = 35 (W) · 12 × 7 = 84 (A) · 1 × 11 = 11 (U) · 10 × 2 = 20 (N) · 3 × 11 = 33 (H) · 11 × 12 = 132 (D) · 7 × 7 = 49 (C) · 8 × 8 = 64 (P) · 12 × 9 = 108 (E) · 11 × 7 = 77 (I) · 12 × 2 = 24 (T) · 5 × 8 = 40 (L) · 7 × 10 = 70 (R) · 4 × 8 = 32 (O) · 9 × 3 = 27 (F) · 3 × 3 = 9 (Y) · 3 × 5 = 15 (S)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Zoe
14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Addition, Multi-step word problems, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Number Twos — set in Oak Creek Elementary
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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