🔎 Well They Just Said They DonGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationRoundingSkip countingPlace valueDivision
The Case of the Reluctant Contestants
Welcome to the Glittering Dome of Doom! Or, as our suspects call it, 'The Place We Were Dragged Into For No Reason.' Someone has locked the exit doors and hidden the host's golden microphone. The suspects are all standing around looking confused, annoyed, and constantly muttering that they don't know what is going on and they do not want to do this. We must find out who actually took the microphone so we can all go home!
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 | Vibe | Distraction | Accessory | Hairstyle | Bribe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muttering Mark | Clueless shrug | Drinking free soda | Right-handed watch | Spiky gel | Loud buzzer noise |
| Puzzled Pam | Glaring at camera | Sitting on floor | Right-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Weary Wendy | Sighing loudly | Sitting on floor | Left-handed watch | Spiky gel | Complimentary taxi |
| Doubtful Dan | Clueless shrug | Drinking free soda | Right-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Shy Sarah | Clueless shrug | Drinking free soda | Left-handed watch | Spiky gel | Complimentary taxi |
| Hasty Harry | Glaring at camera | Taking a nap | Left-handed watch | Spiky gel | Loud buzzer noise |
| Reluctant Rita | Sighing loudly | Drinking free soda | Left-handed watch | Messy bun | Loud buzzer noise |
| Tired Tim | Checking phone | Taking a nap | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Restless Rose | Glaring at camera | Taking a nap | Right-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Bored Bella | Sighing loudly | Taking a nap | Right-handed watch | Neat parting | Loud buzzer noise |
| Silent Sally | Glaring at camera | Drafting complaint | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Moody Molly | Sighing loudly | Drinking free soda | Right-handed watch | Spiky gel | Loud buzzer noise |
| Annoyed Abby | Checking phone | Drafting complaint | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Anxious Anna | Glaring at camera | Drafting complaint | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Free pizza voucher |
| Yawning Yann | Clueless shrug | Untying shoes | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Passive Paul | Sighing loudly | Taking a nap | Right-handed watch | Spiky gel | Complimentary taxi |
| Gloomy Gary | Asking to leave | Sitting on floor | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Loud buzzer noise |
| Indifferent Ian | Clueless shrug | Taking a nap | Left-handed watch | Neat parting | Complimentary taxi |
| Boring Bob | Asking to leave | Sitting on floor | Right-handed watch | Messy bun | Complimentary taxi |
| Clueless Chris | Sighing loudly | Drinking free soda | Right-handed watch | Spiky gel | Free pizza voucher |
| Frowning Fiona | Asking to leave | Drinking free soda | Left-handed watch | Messy bun | Complimentary taxi |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We tried counting the rows of folding chairs the contestants were ignoring. Each row had the same number of chairs, making it easy to multiply.
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
8
64
84
108
28
3
3
60
28
6
28
9
6
96
T
8
2
6
T
8
50
28
6
90
9
64
96
84
9
2 × 4 =T
10 × 5 =Y
1 × 3 =L
1 × 2 =U
1 × 9 =S
8 × 8 =H
1 × 6 =N
4 × 7 =I
8 × 12 =O
5 × 12 =A
10 × 9 =G
9 × 12 =V
12 × 7 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The stadium scoreboard was glitched and only showed the total time rounded to the nearest ten minutes.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
1300
4300
200
1700
5000
900
1700
90
1100
20
1700
2900
900
7000
5000
900
20
200
2000
130
70
9000
290
230
1700
1100
4300
9000
2000
2000
2900
Round 1,297 to the nearest hundredL
Round 92 to the nearest tenC
Round 293 to the nearest tenB
Round 1,655 to the nearest hundredT
Round 23 to the nearest tenS
Round 129 to the nearest tenU
Round 6,969 to the nearest thousandP
Round 9,416 to the nearest thousandD
Round 74 to the nearest tenN
Round 943 to the nearest hundredA
Round 192 to the nearest hundredF
Round 5,206 to the nearest thousandW
Round 2,073 to the nearest thousandO
Round 229 to the nearest tenY
Round 1,136 to the nearest hundredH
Round 2,865 to the nearest hundredR
Round 4,305 to the nearest hundredE
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Skip counting
The floor tiles had numbers on them, and the suspect escaped by stepping only on multiples of three.
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
33
24
65
27
15
14
30
T
33
8
14
T
33
55
27
36
70
42
25
65
60
15
14
T
33
9
T
33
24
65
90
8
140
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39T
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160B
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110C
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35P
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33Y
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21I
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12A
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42J
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80D
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75E
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48M
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90U
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50S
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, ___, 27, 30H
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18N
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65L
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
A digital safe in the lobby required us to look at the tens and hundreds digits of the security code to unlock the 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.
W
80
100
10
70
900
30
3000
8000
60
100
4000
10
100
1000
200
500
50
2000
200
4000
8000
7000
90
400
200
1000
70
40
20
What is the value of the 8 in 72,082?W
What is the value of the 5 in 42,257?Y
What is the value of the 7 in 693,374?O
What is the value of the 6 in 853,263?P
What is the value of the 5 in 139,546?L
What is the value of the 9 in 456,943?U
What is the value of the 8 in 28,417?A
What is the value of the 1 in 755,102?E
What is the value of the 2 in 892,513?S
What is the value of the 4 in 69,545?M
What is the value of the 4 in 20,483?H
What is the value of the 2 in 73,420?B
What is the value of the 1 in 580,614?F
What is the value of the 3 in 986,639?N
What is the value of the 3 in 43,462?D
What is the value of the 4 in 24,380?R
What is the value of the 1 in 61,207?C
What is the value of the 2 in 18,258?T
What is the value of the 7 in 217,903?I
What is the value of the 9 in 21,693?G
0/20 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We had to divide the leftover pizza slices equally among the tired crew members to get them to talk.
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
60 ÷ 5 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
56 ÷ 8 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain glares directly at the camera, then drafts a long email complaint.
2.The villain checks their phone constantly, then drafts a long email complaint.
3.The villain sighs extremely loudly, then unties both of their shoes.
4.The villain checks their phone constantly, then drinks three cans of free soda.
5.The villain shrugs cluelessly, then takes a very loud nap.
6.The villain sighs extremely loudly, then drafts a long email complaint.
7.The villain asks how to leave, then drinks three cans of free soda.
8.The villain asks how to leave, then unties both of their shoes.
9.The villain checks their phone constantly, then sits flat on the dusty floor.
10.The villain glares directly at the camera, then drinks three cans of free soda.
11.The villain asks how to leave, then takes a very loud nap.
12.The villain checks their phone constantly, then takes a very loud nap.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Reluctant Contestants
Culprit: Annoyed Abby (Checking phone · Drafting complaint · Left-handed watch · Neat parting · Complimentary taxi)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN IS NOT UNTYING SHOES"2 × 4 = 8 (T) · 10 × 5 = 50 (Y) · 1 × 3 = 3 (L) · 1 × 2 = 2 (U) · 1 × 9 = 9 (S) · 8 × 8 = 64 (H) · 1 × 6 = 6 (N) · 4 × 7 = 28 (I) · 8 × 12 = 96 (O) · 5 × 12 = 60 (A) · 10 × 9 = 90 (G) · 9 × 12 = 108 (V) · 12 × 7 = 84 (E)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "LEFT WATCH STRAP WAS FOUND BY THE DOOR"Round 1,297 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (L) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (C) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (B) · Round 1,655 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (T) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (U) · Round 6,969 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (P) · Round 9,416 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 943 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 192 to the nearest hundred = 200 (F) · Round 5,206 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (W) · Round 2,073 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O) · Round 229 to the nearest ten = 230 (Y) · Round 1,136 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (H) · Round 2,865 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (R) · Round 4,305 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E)
- Clue 3 (Skip counting): "THEY INSTANTLY JUMPED INTO THE CAB"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (T) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (B) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110 = 90 (C) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (P) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (Y) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21 = 15 (I) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (A) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (J) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80 = 60 (D) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (E) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (M) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90 = 70 (U) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50 = 30 (S) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, ___, 27, 30 = 24 (H) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (N) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (L)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "WE FOUND A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT COMB"What is the value of the 8 in 72,082? = 80 (W) · What is the value of the 5 in 42,257? = 50 (Y) · What is the value of the 7 in 693,374? = 70 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 853,263? = 60 (P) · What is the value of the 5 in 139,546? = 500 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 456,943? = 900 (U) · What is the value of the 8 in 28,417? = 8000 (A) · What is the value of the 1 in 755,102? = 100 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 892,513? = 2000 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 69,545? = 40 (M) · What is the value of the 4 in 20,483? = 400 (H) · What is the value of the 2 in 73,420? = 20 (B) · What is the value of the 1 in 580,614? = 10 (F) · What is the value of the 3 in 986,639? = 30 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 43,462? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 4 in 24,380? = 4000 (R) · What is the value of the 1 in 61,207? = 1000 (C) · What is the value of the 2 in 18,258? = 200 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 217,903? = 7000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 21,693? = 90 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Annoyed Abby60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Skip counting, Place value, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Reluctant Contestants — set in The Unwanted Game Show Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects