🔎 Verity 🙂Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberBar modelsMulti-step word problemsOrder of operationsMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Truth Ledger
The Grand Verity Academy is in chaos! Someone has stolen the Great Ledger of Truth, threatening to replace all real facts with wild rumors. Chief Archivist Penelope needs your help to decode the clues, track down the untruth agent, and restore honesty to the realm.
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 | Fact Finder Gear | Trickster Tool | Writing Hand | Hair Style | Revealing Element |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluefinder Charles | Echo Bell | Shadow Cloak | right-handed writing | ink-black curls | lemon juice |
| Scribe Beatrice | Decoder Monocle | Wax Seal | right-handed writing | ink-black curls | lemon juice |
| Detective Martha | Fact Prism | Hologram Lens | right-handed writing | silver braids | bright sunlight |
| Scholar George | Echo Bell | Mirror Shield | left-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
| Agent Boole | Scribe Quill | Wax Seal | right-handed writing | ink-black curls | bright sunlight |
| Sleuth Winston | Scribe Quill | Ink Mist | left-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
| Scholar Bertrand | Echo Bell | Ink Mist | right-handed writing | copper waves | bright sunlight |
| Agent Constance | Fact Prism | Hologram Lens | left-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
| Scribe Eleanor | Scribe Quill | Mirror Shield | left-handed writing | silver braids | lemon juice |
| Agent Florence | Echo Bell | Mirror Shield | right-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
| Inspector Mary | Echo Bell | Ink Mist | left-handed writing | silver braids | lemon juice |
| Inspector Lewis | Scribe Quill | Wax Seal | left-handed writing | ink-black curls | bright sunlight |
| Inspector Francis | Scribe Quill | Wax Seal | left-handed writing | copper waves | bright sunlight |
| Scribe Venn | Fact Prism | Hologram Lens | right-handed writing | copper waves | bright sunlight |
| Detective Arthur | Fact Prism | Mirror Shield | right-handed writing | silver braids | bright sunlight |
| Investigator Ada | Fact Prism | Ink Mist | left-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
| Detective Verity | Cipher Compass | Shadow Cloak | right-handed writing | silver braids | magnetic dust |
| Sleuth Sophia | Cipher Compass | Mirror Shield | left-handed writing | ink-black curls | magnetic dust |
| Agent Raymond | Scribe Quill | Mirror Shield | left-handed writing | ink-black curls | magnetic dust |
| Scribe Gabriel | Echo Bell | Shadow Cloak | right-handed writing | copper waves | bright sunlight |
| Scholar Blaise | Decoder Monocle | Shadow Cloak | left-handed writing | copper waves | lemon juice |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To map out the suspect's escape path, Verity must calculate the total energy used by the academy steam boilers across multiple shifts and rooms.
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
29
39
4
T
29
9
2
30
4
T
29
14
38
4
15
11
38
T
29
6
15
4
9
39
38
3
38
30
2
9
19
3
4
11
15
4/8 of 58 =T
6/8 of 8 =U
1/6 of 66 =N
1/10 of 90 =A
1/4 of 76 =M
3/6 of 76 =O
1/4 of 8 =R
2/3 of 45 =G
3/6 of 6 =L
1/5 of 75 =S
1/2 of 8 =E
1/10 of 140 =D
1/3 of 117 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
The thief dropped a ripped diagram showing the academy library layout, which we can piece together using a grid of equal block models.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
63
17
69
39
22
93
120
D
17
D
W
R
I
39
I
120
G
One group collected 13 quill nibs and another group collected 50 quill nibs. How many quill nibs in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→L
The red team has 101 fact scrolls and the blue team has 8 fact scrolls. How many more fact scrolls does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
The red team has 49 quill nibs and the blue team has 32 quill nibs. How many more quill nibs does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→E
One group collected 20 decoder lenses and another group collected 2 decoder lenses. How many decoder lenses in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
Verity has 12 times as many truth crystals as a teammate. The teammate has 10 truth crystals. How many truth crystals does Verity have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
The red team has 64 fact scrolls and the blue team has 25 fact scrolls. How many more fact scrolls does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
One group collected 39 cipher keys and another group collected 30 cipher keys. How many cipher keys in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→F
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
A shattered ink jar left a dark spill, but we can measure exactly how much remains by calculating the fractional parts of the total volume.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
36
47
70
38
67
42
45
I
C
47
Verity collected 83 decoder lenses in the morning and 25 decoder lenses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Verity League. How many decoder lenses did each get?L
Verity collected 79 fact scrolls in the morning and 173 fact scrolls in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Verity League. How many fact scrolls did each get?J
Verity filled 2 boxes with 6 cipher keys each, then found 26 more cipher keys. How many cipher keys are there in all?O
Verity collected 140 cipher keys in the morning and 210 cipher keys in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Verity League. How many cipher keys did each get?M
There were 137 cipher keys in all. 2 cipher keys were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Verity League. How many cipher keys did each get?U
There were 237 fact scrolls in all. 1 Verity League used 36 fact scrolls each. The other 3 Verity League shared the rest equally. How many fact scrolls did each of the other Verity League get?N
There were 217 decoder lenses in all. 2 Verity League used 38 decoder lenses each. The other 3 Verity League shared the rest equally. How many decoder lenses did each of the other Verity League get?E
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To crack the lock on the thief's abandoned tool kit, we must solve a series of equations in the exact, proper sequence.
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
49
23
65
12
23
17
23
49
71
35
38
61
23
12
22
65
70
38
12
70
31
31
23
27
49
71
37
27
10 × 6 - 3 =T
10 × 5 - 23 =R
5 × 5 - 2 =E
1 + 3 × 7 =K
28 + 6 × 7 =O
26 + 7 × 5 =L
3 + 3 × 3 =C
51 + 2 × 7 =S
1 + 8 × 2 =N
8 × 8 - 29 =D
31 + 2 × 3 =I
34 + 5 × 3 =H
5 × 8 - 2 =F
12 × 6 - 1 =A
25 + 2 × 3 =P
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We found a weight balance scale used by the thief, where some counterweights are missing from the total sum needed to balance it.
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
12 + ___ = 19
33 + ___ = 42
14 + ___ = 26
38 + ___ = 49
9 + ___ = 13
31 + ___ = 33
11 + ___ = 19
10 + ___ = 15
36 + ___ = 37
7 + ___ = 17
1 + ___ = 7
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain grabbed the memory prism, then blended into the festival crowd.
2.The villain stole the truth ledger, then escaped through the skylight.
3.The villain lifted the fact cipher, then slipped into the rainy alley.
4.The villain stole the truth ledger, then vanished behind a secret bookcase.
5.The villain stole the truth ledger, then blended into the festival crowd.
6.The villain lifted the fact cipher, then fled in a steam-powered carriage.
7.The villain grabbed the memory prism, then escaped through the skylight.
8.The villain grabbed the memory prism, then slipped into the rainy alley.
9.The villain pocketed the whisper scroll, then escaped through the skylight.
10.The villain swiped the golden compass, then slipped into the rainy alley.
11.The villain swiped the golden compass, then blended into the festival crowd.
12.The villain swiped the golden compass, then vanished behind a secret bookcase.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Truth Ledger
Culprit: Scholar George (Echo Bell · Mirror Shield · left-handed writing · copper waves · lemon juice)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE TARGET DOES NOT USE A HOLOGRAM LENS"4/8 of 58 = 29 (T) · 6/8 of 8 = 6 (U) · 1/6 of 66 = 11 (N) · 1/10 of 90 = 9 (A) · 1/4 of 76 = 19 (M) · 3/6 of 76 = 38 (O) · 1/4 of 8 = 2 (R) · 2/3 of 45 = 30 (G) · 3/6 of 6 = 3 (L) · 1/5 of 75 = 15 (S) · 1/2 of 8 = 4 (E) · 1/10 of 140 = 14 (D) · 1/3 of 117 = 39 (H)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "LEFT HANDED WRITING"One group collected 13 quill nibs and another group collected 50 quill nibs. How many quill nibs in all? = 63 (L) · The red team has 101 fact scrolls and the blue team has 8 fact scrolls. How many more fact scrolls does the red team have? = 93 (A) · The red team has 49 quill nibs and the blue team has 32 quill nibs. How many more quill nibs does the red team have? = 17 (E) · One group collected 20 decoder lenses and another group collected 2 decoder lenses. How many decoder lenses in all? = 22 (H) · Verity has 12 times as many truth crystals as a teammate. The teammate has 10 truth crystals. How many truth crystals does Verity have? = 120 (N) · The red team has 64 fact scrolls and the blue team has 25 fact scrolls. How many more fact scrolls does the red team have? = 39 (T) · One group collected 39 cipher keys and another group collected 30 cipher keys. How many cipher keys in all? = 69 (F)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "LEMON JUICE"Verity collected 83 decoder lenses in the morning and 25 decoder lenses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Verity League. How many decoder lenses did each get? = 36 (L) · Verity collected 79 fact scrolls in the morning and 173 fact scrolls in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Verity League. How many fact scrolls did each get? = 42 (J) · Verity filled 2 boxes with 6 cipher keys each, then found 26 more cipher keys. How many cipher keys are there in all? = 38 (O) · Verity collected 140 cipher keys in the morning and 210 cipher keys in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Verity League. How many cipher keys did each get? = 70 (M) · There were 137 cipher keys in all. 2 cipher keys were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Verity League. How many cipher keys did each get? = 45 (U) · There were 237 fact scrolls in all. 1 Verity League used 36 fact scrolls each. The other 3 Verity League shared the rest equally. How many fact scrolls did each of the other Verity League get? = 67 (N) · There were 217 decoder lenses in all. 2 Verity League used 38 decoder lenses each. The other 3 Verity League shared the rest equally. How many decoder lenses did each of the other Verity League get? = 47 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE SCENE HAD FLECKS OF COPPER HAIR"10 × 6 - 3 = 57 (T) · 10 × 5 - 23 = 27 (R) · 5 × 5 - 2 = 23 (E) · 1 + 3 × 7 = 22 (K) · 28 + 6 × 7 = 70 (O) · 26 + 7 × 5 = 61 (L) · 3 + 3 × 3 = 12 (C) · 51 + 2 × 7 = 65 (S) · 1 + 8 × 2 = 17 (N) · 8 × 8 - 29 = 35 (D) · 31 + 2 × 3 = 37 (I) · 34 + 5 × 3 = 49 (H) · 5 × 8 - 2 = 38 (F) · 12 × 6 - 1 = 71 (A) · 25 + 2 × 3 = 31 (P)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Scholar George12 + ___ = 19 = 7 · 33 + ___ = 42 = 9 · 14 + ___ = 26 = 12 · 38 + ___ = 49 = 11 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4 · 31 + ___ = 33 = 2 · 11 + ___ = 19 = 8 · 10 + ___ = 15 = 5 · 36 + ___ = 37 = 1 · 7 + ___ = 17 = 10 · 1 + ___ = 7 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Bar models, Multi-step word problems, Order of operations, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Truth Ledger — set in The Grand Verity Academy
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects