The Case of the Star Port Pirate
Last night someone snatched the Star Captain right off the docking deck of Orbit-9. The thief left behind a trail of clues, a chipped helmet, and one scared robot guard. You are the station's youngest detective, and the math machines are the only witnesses you have.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Pirate Trick | Gadget | Crew Type | Helmet Color | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milo Asteroid | Plasma Whip | Magnet Glove | Human Pirate | Blue Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Gus Galaxy | Gravity Hook | Cloaking Cape | Alien Pirate | Red Helmet | Bright Light |
| Polly Plasma | Rocket Boots | Cloaking Cape | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Luna Blackbolt | Star Net | Magnet Glove | Human Pirate | Blue Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Stella Cutlass | Star Net | Robot Parrot | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Loud Bells |
| Finn Rocket | Star Net | Cloaking Cape | Human Pirate | Red Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Rana Nyx | Star Net | Cloaking Cape | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Orbit Kate | Gravity Hook | Magnet Glove | Human Pirate | Green Helmet | Loud Bells |
| Dash Quasar | Gravity Hook | Robot Parrot | Human Pirate | Red Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Rex Meteor | Plasma Whip | Magnet Glove | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Loud Bells |
| Captain Nova | Gravity Hook | Magnet Glove | Alien Pirate | Green Helmet | Loud Bells |
| Pip Stardust | Star Net | Robot Parrot | Human Pirate | Red Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Vega Quill | Rocket Boots | Magnet Glove | Human Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Nebula Sue | Laser Cutlass | Warp Jump | Human Pirate | Blue Helmet | Sticky Goo |
| Comet Joe | Laser Cutlass | Robot Parrot | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Zara Starblade | Plasma Whip | Warp Jump | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Mira Comet | Star Net | Warp Jump | Human Pirate | Green Helmet | Bright Light |
| Sol Marlow | Rocket Boots | Robot Parrot | Alien Pirate | Green Helmet | Bright Light |
| Juno Blaze | Laser Cutlass | Cloaking Cape | Alien Pirate | Blue Helmet | Bright Light |
| Buzz Halley | Rocket Boots | Magnet Glove | Human Pirate | Blue Helmet | Loud Bells |
| Astra Vex | Star Net | Warp Jump | Alien Pirate | Green Helmet | Loud Bells |
Rounding
The station radar tracked the thief's ship, but the old screen only shows speeds rounded to the nearest ten. Round the reading to learn one gadget the pirate did not use.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
You hurry to the cargo bay and find stolen crates in two messy piles. Add the crates in each pile to figure out if a human or alien pirate did the job.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
The dock log says how many escape pods started the night and how many are still parked. Subtract to see how many pods are missing, and which weakness scared the pirate off.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Behind the lockers you spot rows of tiny helmet chips. Count the rows and the chips in each row, then multiply to match the helmet color left behind.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Time to search the station. Split the guards into equal teams for each hallway by dividing them up, and the last clue will point straight at the pirate.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Star Port Pirate
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN CANNOT WARP JUMP"Round 192 to the nearest hundred = 200 (T) · Round 707 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 5,225 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 2,945 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (W) · Round 8,769 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 379 to the nearest hundred = 400 (H) · Round 61 to the nearest ten = 60 (J) · Round 273 to the nearest hundred = 300 (N) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (V) · Round 5,890 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (P) · Round 3,660 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (U) · Round 864 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 757 to the nearest hundred = 800 (E) · Round 8,003 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (C) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (M) · Round 1,553 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS SAW AN ALIEN PIRATE FLEE"93 + 113 = 206 (A) · 229 + 470 = 699 (I) · 289 + 179 = 468 (N) · 350 + 402 = 752 (L) · 534 + 422 = 956 (W) · 515 + 444 = 959 (R) · 295 + 224 = 519 (E) · 183 + 260 = 443 (T) · 434 + 427 = 861 (S) · 241 + 323 = 564 (P) · 165 + 348 = 513 (F)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A GUARD FOUGHT BACK WITH BRIGHT LIGHT"434 - 324 = 110 (A) · 740 - 271 = 469 (O) · 712 - 224 = 488 (F) · 801 - 256 = 545 (T) · 905 - 330 = 575 (H) · 860 - 257 = 603 (L) · 1088 - 265 = 823 (U) · 197 - 77 = 120 (R) · 795 - 134 = 661 (C) · 780 - 19 = 761 (G) · 841 - 73 = 768 (D) · 868 - 346 = 522 (W) · 784 - 88 = 696 (I) · 484 - 90 = 394 (K) · 959 - 363 = 596 (B)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A BLUE HELMET CHIP WAS LEFT BEHIND"11 × 12 = 132 (A) · 4 × 1 = 4 (T) · 12 × 1 = 12 (M) · 8 × 12 = 96 (U) · 6 × 8 = 48 (E) · 11 × 7 = 77 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (B) · 2 × 7 = 14 (P) · 2 × 11 = 22 (H) · 6 × 11 = 66 (W) · 3 × 5 = 15 (S) · 11 × 9 = 99 (C) · 6 × 10 = 60 (D) · 9 × 4 = 36 (L) · 11 × 3 = 33 (I) · 11 × 4 = 44 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Rana Nyx24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Star Port Pirate — set in the busy space station Orbit-9
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects