✨ Magic, mysteryGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRounding
The Case of the Vanished Chronos Hourglass
The Grand Academy of Arcanum is in an uproar! The precious Chronos Hourglass has been swiped from the central vault. Headmaster Alistair needs your help. A rogue illusionist is behind the heist, and they have left a trail of magical runes behind. Decode the clues, check the suspect list, and save the academy's timeline before it's too late!
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 | Magic Spell | Magic Item | Casting Hand | Hair Dye | Counter Magic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedric Diggory | conjuring | glowing amulet | left handed caster | sparkling silver hair | cold iron charms |
| Sybill Trelawney | mind reading | crystal staff | left handed caster | burning copper hair | anti magic dust |
| Morgan le Fay | levitation | silver wand | right handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Minerva McGonagall | mind reading | shadow boots | right handed caster | burning copper hair | starlight mirrors |
| John Dee | teleportation | invisibility cloak | right handed caster | deep purple hair | cold iron charms |
| Ursula Le Guin | mind reading | glowing amulet | right handed caster | sparkling silver hair | starlight mirrors |
| Ged Earthsea | levitation | shadow boots | right handed caster | sparkling silver hair | starlight mirrors |
| Nymphadora Tonks | levitation | glowing amulet | left handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Fleur Delacour | mind reading | crystal staff | left handed caster | sparkling silver hair | starlight mirrors |
| Hermione Granger | pyromancy | shadow boots | left handed caster | burning copper hair | starlight mirrors |
| Garrick Ollivander | teleportation | glowing amulet | right handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Arthur Pendragon | pyromancy | invisibility cloak | left handed caster | deep purple hair | anti magic dust |
| Prospero Duke | teleportation | silver wand | right handed caster | burning copper hair | cold iron charms |
| Merlin Ambrosius | teleportation | silver wand | right handed caster | sparkling silver hair | cold iron charms |
| Harry Houdini | teleportation | shadow boots | left handed caster | deep purple hair | cold iron charms |
| Severus Snape | pyromancy | glowing amulet | left handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Remus Lupin | pyromancy | crystal staff | right handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Marie Laveau | pyromancy | shadow boots | right handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Nicholas Flamel | conjuring | shadow boots | right handed caster | deep purple hair | starlight mirrors |
| Diana Wynne | levitation | invisibility cloak | left handed caster | sparkling silver hair | cold iron charms |
| Gwen Jones | conjuring | glowing amulet | right handed caster | burning copper hair | anti magic dust |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You find a spellbook with magic runes arranged in neat rows. To count the symbols quickly, you group them together.
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
121
7
56
T
121
7
4
56
90
96
33
56
18
110
33
T
121
64
18
56
14
144
28
54
18
T
121
14
108
18
T
121
14
90
90
11 × 11 =T
12 × 8 =D
2 × 2 =I
7 × 8 =E
10 × 9 =F
4 × 7 =R
12 × 9 =L
12 × 12 =C
7 × 1 =H
11 × 3 =O
6 × 9 =Y
7 × 2 =A
8 × 8 =U
6 × 3 =S
10 × 11 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
To reveal the next clue, you must pour a precise fraction of a glowing blue potion into the stone basin.
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
15
2
20
19
23
3
29
9
28
37
10
20
29
39
35
30
7
20
6
35
19
10
2
T
15
2
6
23
37
20
37
13
6
29
T
15
20
35
3/10 of 50 =T
2/8 of 116 =S
5/10 of 46 =N
4/10 of 50 =E
1/2 of 18 =M
2/4 of 70 =R
1/6 of 78 =C
3/6 of 74 =D
3/10 of 100 =O
1/2 of 56 =U
1/3 of 6 =H
3/6 of 38 =I
4/8 of 6 =K
2/8 of 156 =P
1/5 of 50 =G
7/10 of 10 =V
2/10 of 30 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
A magical lock requires pressing the brass buttons in the exact order of the academy's ancient laws.
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
63
33
20
77
43
35
35
20
77
49
30
54
35
62
42
65
74
20
74
35
39
54
T
63
30
77
62
42
69
33
T
63
34
42
77
77
43
77
54
15 + 6 × 8 =T
3 + 5 × 6 =H
12 × 4 - 18 =A
4 + 7 × 5 =Y
7 × 11 - 12 =N
6 × 9 - 19 =B
31 + 4 × 3 =O
8 × 12 - 22 =D
22 + 3 × 4 =M
13 + 6 × 6 =W
5 × 11 - 1 =S
10 × 3 - 10 =E
50 + 3 × 9 =R
22 + 4 × 5 =I
8 × 10 - 18 =L
10 × 9 - 21 =G
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
A foggy crystal ball shows a blurry number that you must round to the nearest ten to get a clear image.
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
2900
500
200
2000
90
430
1300
3000
1300
1300
20
20
4300
170
20
430
1300
2300
A
2900
200
170
110
A
2900
500
430
1300
3700
300
5000
1300
2300
200
2000
3000
Round 2,923 to the nearest hundredA
Round 432 to the nearest tenL
Round 3,654 to the nearest hundredF
Round 2,776 to the nearest thousandD
Round 177 to the nearest hundredI
Round 549 to the nearest hundredS
Round 113 to the nearest tenW
Round 5,466 to the nearest thousandB
Round 167 to the nearest tenR
Round 2,303 to the nearest hundredH
Round 21 to the nearest tenP
Round 4,339 to the nearest hundredU
Round 2,225 to the nearest thousandN
Round 1,272 to the nearest hundredE
Round 276 to the nearest hundredT
Round 90 to the nearest tenG
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
To crack the final seal, you take a fraction of the enchanted cards strewn across the laboratory table.
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
1/8 of 96 = ?
5/10 of 10 = ?
5/10 of 14 = ?
4/5 of 10 = ?
2/5 of 10 = ?
2/10 of 5 = ?
1/4 of 8 = ?
1/3 of 30 = ?
3/4 of 12 = ?
2/6 of 33 = ?
3/10 of 20 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain melted the lock with bright pyromancy, then tapped the stone floor with a crystal staff.
2.The villain conjured a giant key out of thin air, then tapped the stone floor with a crystal staff.
3.The villain melted the lock with bright pyromancy, then slipped into the darkness with shadow boots.
4.The villain conjured a giant key out of thin air, then faded away using an invisibility cloak.
5.The villain conjured a giant key out of thin air, then slipped into the darkness with shadow boots.
6.The villain conjured a giant key out of thin air, then unlocked the secure cabinet using a silver wand.
7.The villain teleported past the heavy oak doors, then blinded the security gargoyle with a glowing amulet.
8.The villain conjured a giant key out of thin air, then blinded the security gargoyle with a glowing amulet.
9.The villain levitated across the high vaulted ceiling, then tapped the stone floor with a crystal staff.
10.The villain melted the lock with bright pyromancy, then unlocked the secure cabinet using a silver wand.
11.The villain teleported past the heavy oak doors, then slipped into the darkness with shadow boots.
12.The villain levitated across the high vaulted ceiling, then unlocked the secure cabinet using a silver wand.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Vanished Chronos Hourglass
Culprit: Marie Laveau (pyromancy · shadow boots · right handed caster · deep purple hair · starlight mirrors)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A CRYSTAL STAFF"11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 12 × 8 = 96 (D) · 2 × 2 = 4 (I) · 7 × 8 = 56 (E) · 10 × 9 = 90 (F) · 4 × 7 = 28 (R) · 12 × 9 = 108 (L) · 12 × 12 = 144 (C) · 7 × 1 = 7 (H) · 11 × 3 = 33 (O) · 6 × 9 = 54 (Y) · 7 × 2 = 14 (A) · 8 × 8 = 64 (U) · 6 × 3 = 18 (S) · 10 × 11 = 110 (N)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE INK SMUDGES PROVE A RIGHT HANDED CASTER"3/10 of 50 = 15 (T) · 2/8 of 116 = 29 (S) · 5/10 of 46 = 23 (N) · 4/10 of 50 = 20 (E) · 1/2 of 18 = 9 (M) · 2/4 of 70 = 35 (R) · 1/6 of 78 = 13 (C) · 3/6 of 74 = 37 (D) · 3/10 of 100 = 30 (O) · 1/2 of 56 = 28 (U) · 1/3 of 6 = 2 (H) · 3/6 of 38 = 19 (I) · 4/8 of 6 = 3 (K) · 2/8 of 156 = 39 (P) · 1/5 of 50 = 10 (G) · 7/10 of 10 = 7 (V) · 2/10 of 30 = 6 (A)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE ROBBER WAS BLINDED BY STARLIGHT MIRRORS"15 + 6 × 8 = 63 (T) · 3 + 5 × 6 = 33 (H) · 12 × 4 - 18 = 30 (A) · 4 + 7 × 5 = 39 (Y) · 7 × 11 - 12 = 65 (N) · 6 × 9 - 19 = 35 (B) · 31 + 4 × 3 = 43 (O) · 8 × 12 - 22 = 74 (D) · 22 + 3 × 4 = 34 (M) · 13 + 6 × 6 = 49 (W) · 5 × 11 - 1 = 54 (S) · 10 × 3 - 10 = 20 (E) · 50 + 3 × 9 = 77 (R) · 22 + 4 × 5 = 42 (I) · 8 × 10 - 18 = 62 (L) · 10 × 9 - 21 = 69 (G)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A SINGLE DEEP PURPLE HAIR WAS LEFT BEHIND"Round 2,923 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (A) · Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (L) · Round 3,654 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (F) · Round 2,776 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 177 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 549 to the nearest hundred = 500 (S) · Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (W) · Round 5,466 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B) · Round 167 to the nearest ten = 170 (R) · Round 2,303 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (H) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (P) · Round 4,339 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (U) · Round 2,225 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (N) · Round 1,272 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (E) · Round 276 to the nearest hundred = 300 (T) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (G)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 3) → Marie Laveau1/8 of 96 = 12 · 5/10 of 10 = 5 · 5/10 of 14 = 7 · 4/5 of 10 = 8 · 2/5 of 10 = 4 · 2/10 of 5 = 1 · 1/4 of 8 = 2 · 1/3 of 30 = 10 · 3/4 of 12 = 9 · 2/6 of 33 = 11 · 3/10 of 20 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Vanished Chronos Hourglass — set in The Grand Academy of Arcanum
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects