🏀 BasketballGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Championship Trophy Heist

The golden MVP Trophy has vanished from the arena lobby display case right before the tip-off of the championship game! A cheeky note left behind suggests one of the All-Star players pulled off the heist to secure their own glory. Security has locked down the court, and we have a roster of suspects. We need to crack the math clues left behind to unmask the Hoop Bandit before the final buzzer sounds.

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	Signature Move	Lucky Gear	Shooting Hand	Hairstyle	Defensive Flaw
Klay Robinson	No-Look Pass	Patterned Grip Tape	Left-Handed Shooter	Dreadlocks	Double Team
Devin Walker	Crossover Dribble	Patterned Grip Tape	Right-Handed Shooter	Shaved Head	Full Court Press
Donovan Banks	Crossover Dribble	Red High-Top Shoes	Left-Handed Shooter	Dreadlocks	Double Team
Zach Miller	Windmill Dunk	Red High-Top Shoes	Right-Handed Shooter	Dreadlocks	Double Team
Zion Vance	No-Look Pass	Patterned Grip Tape	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Andre Evans	No-Look Pass	Red High-Top Shoes	Left-Handed Shooter	Dreadlocks	Zone Defense
Isaiah Cooper	No-Look Pass	Neon Green Sneakers	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Deandre Hall	No-Look Pass	Black Headband	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Jaden Brooks	Windmill Dunk	Patterned Grip Tape	Left-Handed Shooter	Shaved Head	Double Team
Jordan Reed	Windmill Dunk	Red High-Top Shoes	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Double Team
Devon Harris	Crossover Dribble	Neon Green Sneakers	Left-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Zone Defense
Camron Diaz	Crossover Dribble	Neon Green Sneakers	Left-Handed Shooter	Shaved Head	Full Court Press
Trey Parker	Windmill Dunk	Red High-Top Shoes	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Malik Carter	Step-Back Three	Red High-Top Shoes	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Luka Hayes	Crossover Dribble	Neon Green Sneakers	Right-Handed Shooter	Shaved Head	Full Court Press
RJ Hampton	Euro-Step Layup	Patterned Grip Tape	Left-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Dame Taylor	Crossover Dribble	Black Headband	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Full Court Press
Lamelo West	Step-Back Three	Gold Arm Sleeve	Left-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Zone Defense
Marcus Thompson	Windmill Dunk	Neon Green Sneakers	Left-Handed Shooter	Dreadlocks	Double Team
Kyrie Jones	No-Look Pass	Black Headband	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Double Team
Tyler Cruz	Euro-Step Layup	Red High-Top Shoes	Right-Handed Shooter	High Top Fade	Double Team

Clue 1

Integers

To find the first clue, we examine the arena's scoreboard logs, which track score changes as positive and negative integers during the chaotic blackout.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

(-5) + 8 =T

15 - (-7) =H

22 - (-6) =G

1 - (-4) =A

(-3) + 19 =P

18 - (-6) =S

(-13) + 14 =B

17 - (-10) =O

(-10) + 17 =W

(-9) + 39 =N

(-8) + 14 =I

(-7) + 17 =E

27 - (-2) =R

1 - (-3) =D

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

For the second clue, the assistant coach analyzes the players' field-goal percentages from the warm-up drills recorded on the stat sheet.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

50% of 34 =T

40% of 95 =R

5% of 140 =E

75% of 44 =S

5% of 320 =N

20% of 125 =H

25% of 48 =O

75% of 48 =I

50% of 42 =A

20% of 175 =D

5% of 840 =P

50% of 98 =G

5% of 540 =U

5% of 440 =C

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

To unlock the third clue, we must calculate the complex tournament seeding formula, carefully following the correct order of operations.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

117

120

117

109

117

116

117

89 + 4 × 7 =T

93 + 9 × 3 =D

4 + 2 × 2 =U

81 + 4 × 7 =G

6 × 9 - 5 =N

9 × 10 - 1 =E

28 + 4 × 6 =I

5 × 5 - 13 =A

9 × 8 - 11 =H

35 + 4 × 8 =C

29 + 3 × 7 =F

13 + 2 × 3 =L

42 + 9 × 5 =R

11 × 12 - 16 =O

10 × 10 - 28 =S

6 × 11 - 7 =B

57 + 8 × 5 =P

7 × 10 - 19 =M

0/18 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The fourth clue is hidden inside a secure digital locker, requiring a passcode equal to the exponential growth rate of the tournament's viral video views.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

128

125

144

196

256

128

100

121

128

125

169

256

125

121

169

128

121

169

196

324

2^7 =A

10^2 =D

2^5 =B

2^4 =H

3^3 =N

2^2 =T

13^2 =R

7^2 =S

11^2 =E

18^2 =Y

5^3 =I

14^2 =P

6^2 =W

4^4 =F

12^2 =G

5^2 =O

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

For the final clue, the referee sets up a two-step equation to balance the total weight of the basketballs and the team equipment bags.

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

6x + 3 = 69, x = ?

5x + 12 = 37, x = ?

5x + 7 = 57, x = ?

6x + 7 = 55, x = ?

5x + 2 = 22, x = ?

6x + 4 = 22, x = ?

4x + 2 = 30, x = ?

5x + 11 = 56, x = ?

3x + 7 = 43, x = ?

5x + 5 = 15, x = ?

3x + 9 = 12, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain fakes a step-back three, then adjusts their gold arm sleeve.

2.The villain throws a flashy no-look pass, then scuffs their red high-top shoes.

3.The villain breaks ankles with a crossover dribble, then adjusts their gold arm sleeve.

4.The villain racks the rim with a windmill dunk, then flashes their neon green sneakers.

5.The villain breaks ankles with a crossover dribble, then tightens their black headband.

6.The villain throws a flashy no-look pass, then flashes their neon green sneakers.

7.The villain throws a flashy no-look pass, then adjusts their gold arm sleeve.

8.The villain fakes a step-back three, then tightens their black headband.

9.The villain fakes a step-back three, then wraps their patterned grip tape.

10.The villain throws a flashy no-look pass, then wraps their patterned grip tape.

11.The villain throws a flashy no-look pass, then tightens their black headband.

12.The villain glides past defenders with a euro-step layup, then wraps their patterned grip tape.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Championship Trophy Heist

Culprit: Isaiah Cooper (No-Look Pass · Neon Green Sneakers · Right-Handed Shooter · High Top Fade · Full Court Press)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT WEAR RED HIGH TOP SHOES"
(-5) + 8 = 3 (T) · 15 - (-7) = 22 (H) · 22 - (-6) = 28 (G) · 1 - (-4) = 5 (A) · (-3) + 19 = 16 (P) · 18 - (-6) = 24 (S) · (-13) + 14 = 1 (B) · 17 - (-10) = 27 (O) · (-10) + 17 = 7 (W) · (-9) + 39 = 30 (N) · (-8) + 14 = 6 (I) · (-7) + 17 = 10 (E) · 27 - (-2) = 29 (R) · 1 - (-3) = 4 (D)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT SHOT RIGHT HANDED ON THE COURT"
50% of 34 = 17 (T) · 40% of 95 = 38 (R) · 5% of 140 = 7 (E) · 75% of 44 = 33 (S) · 5% of 320 = 16 (N) · 20% of 125 = 25 (H) · 25% of 48 = 12 (O) · 75% of 48 = 36 (I) · 50% of 42 = 21 (A) · 20% of 175 = 35 (D) · 5% of 840 = 42 (P) · 50% of 98 = 49 (G) · 5% of 540 = 27 (U) · 5% of 440 = 22 (C)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE BANDIT FUMBLES AGAINST A FULL COURT PRESS"
89 + 4 × 7 = 117 (T) · 93 + 9 × 3 = 120 (D) · 4 + 2 × 2 = 8 (U) · 81 + 4 × 7 = 109 (G) · 6 × 9 - 5 = 49 (N) · 9 × 10 - 1 = 89 (E) · 28 + 4 × 6 = 52 (I) · 5 × 5 - 13 = 12 (A) · 9 × 8 - 11 = 61 (H) · 35 + 4 × 8 = 67 (C) · 29 + 3 × 7 = 50 (F) · 13 + 2 × 3 = 19 (L) · 42 + 9 × 5 = 87 (R) · 11 × 12 - 16 = 116 (O) · 10 × 10 - 28 = 72 (S) · 6 × 11 - 7 = 59 (B) · 57 + 8 × 5 = 97 (P) · 7 × 10 - 19 = 51 (M)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "A HIGH TOP FADE HAIR FIBER WAS ON THE TROPHY"
2^7 = 128 (A) · 10^2 = 100 (D) · 2^5 = 32 (B) · 2^4 = 16 (H) · 3^3 = 27 (N) · 2^2 = 4 (T) · 13^2 = 169 (R) · 7^2 = 49 (S) · 11^2 = 121 (E) · 18^2 = 324 (Y) · 5^3 = 125 (I) · 14^2 = 196 (P) · 6^2 = 36 (W) · 4^4 = 256 (F) · 12^2 = 144 (G) · 5^2 = 25 (O)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 6) → Isaiah Cooper
6x + 3 = 69, x = 11 · 5x + 12 = 37, x = 5 · 5x + 7 = 57, x = 10 · 6x + 7 = 55, x = 8 · 5x + 2 = 22, x = 4 · 6x + 4 = 22, x = 3 · 4x + 2 = 30, x = 7 · 5x + 11 = 56, x = 9 · 3x + 7 = 43, x = 12 · 5x + 5 = 15, x = 2 · 3x + 9 = 12, x = 1

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Championship Trophy Heist — set in The Metropolitan Arena during the Junior All-Star Championship
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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