Grade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Chase Across the Cloud Islands
The golden Compass of Winds has been stolen from the Grand Observatory! A Rogue Sky Captain bypassed the cloud guards and flew off into the sky island archipelago. As the lead Cloud Cadet, you must track down the thief before they navigate to the lost Temple of Storms.
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 | Primary Airship Gear | Secondary Escape Tool | Goggle Position | Hair Style | Archipelago Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Cooper | grapple harpoon | flare launcher | wears goggles on forehead | braided blue hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Captain Barnaby | stealth sails | flare launcher | wears goggles on neck | spiky red hair | allergic to sky pollen |
| Bobby Breeze | stealth sails | glider wings | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | afraid of heights |
| Skye Jackson | cloud camouflage | glider wings | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | afraid of heights |
| Lucky Luke | cloud camouflage | glider wings | wears goggles on forehead | spiky red hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Aviator Al | cloud camouflage | solar panels | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Breezy Bella | turbo thrusters | sonic siren | wears goggles on neck | braided blue hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Vicky Vapor | grapple harpoon | glider wings | wears goggles on neck | spiky red hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Penny Piper | magnet anchor | flare launcher | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Stormy Sam | grapple harpoon | glider wings | wears goggles on neck | spiky red hair | allergic to sky pollen |
| Rusty Rick | cloud camouflage | smoke canister | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Cloudy Chloe | grapple harpoon | smoke canister | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Skyler Stark | grapple harpoon | glider wings | wears goggles on forehead | windswept silver hair | afraid of heights |
| Jet Jaxon | cloud camouflage | solar panels | wears goggles on forehead | windswept silver hair | allergic to sky pollen |
| Sally Stratos | grapple harpoon | solar panels | wears goggles on neck | braided blue hair | afraid of heights |
| Leo Loft | stealth sails | flare launcher | wears goggles on forehead | braided blue hair | allergic to sky pollen |
| Dash Dawson | magnet anchor | smoke canister | wears goggles on forehead | braided blue hair | afraid of heights |
| Zephyr Zach | stealth sails | glider wings | wears goggles on neck | braided blue hair | afraid of heights |
| Hazel Horizon | stealth sails | smoke canister | wears goggles on neck | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Navigator Nora | grapple harpoon | smoke canister | wears goggles on forehead | windswept silver hair | dislikes strong winds |
| Pilot Pete | magnet anchor | sonic siren | wears goggles on neck | spiky red hair | allergic to sky pollen |
Clue 1
Integers
Your altimeter fluctuates as you dive through the clouds. Calculate the net change in altitude to locate the rogue ship's flight path.
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
12
24
17
T
12
24
5
17
3
19
8
17
28
15
8
T
12
18
28
17
28
8
11
27
20
2
27
15
17
11
28
(-3) + 15 =T
16 - (-4) =R
(-6) + 34 =S
7 - (-8) =N
(-9) + 17 =O
16 - (-8) =H
(-4) + 15 =L
16 - (-1) =E
14 - (-5) =D
10 - (-8) =U
(-3) + 30 =A
(-11) + 16 =I
(-7) + 10 =F
(-5) + 7 =P
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The sky docks track the percentage of energy left in each vessel's batteries. Solve the percentages to see which gate the suspect used.
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
49
37
54
51
41
51
9
54
4
T
49
13
54
54
9
51
38
3
38
38
5
54
51
3
52
52
54
4
13
25% of 196 =T
5% of 740 =H
25% of 204 =S
20% of 25 =L
25% of 164 =U
10% of 540 =E
25% of 52 =K
25% of 12 =O
40% of 130 =N
50% of 8 =C
25% of 36 =P
5% of 760 =G
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To open a locked supply crate dropped by the thief, you must follow the correct order of operations on the brass dials.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
V
48
98
35
35
32
98
49
32
V
48
77
98
31
118
80
120
29
120
8
51
51
98
68
32
49
29
43
32
80
120
118
30 + 2 × 9 =V
86 + 8 × 4 =S
10 × 6 - 28 =A
11 × 9 - 19 =T
10 × 10 - 2 =I
11 + 5 × 8 =R
12 × 11 - 12 =H
1 + 6 × 7 =P
2 × 12 - 16 =U
9 × 11 - 22 =O
47 + 3 × 7 =C
41 + 4 × 2 =N
7 + 4 × 7 =L
17 + 7 × 2 =D
4 × 9 - 7 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The tracker signal amplifies with every floating island we pass. Use exponents to find the exact frequency of the thief's radio.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
64
169
361
125
216
49
256
121
361
121
289
49
216
243
36
169
9
243
100
81
225
169
49
36
225
S
64
25
121
289
9
243
8^2 =S
13^2 =I
3^2 =N
15^2 =A
6^3 =E
11^2 =O
16^2 =C
3^5 =D
9^2 =H
5^2 =F
10^2 =Y
17^2 =U
6^2 =W
19^2 =L
7^2 =R
5^3 =V
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Your steam engine pressure drops. Solve these two-step equations to balance the valves and catch up to the rogue captain.
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
5x + 3 = 23, x = ?
3x + 8 = 11, x = ?
2x + 2 = 8, x = ?
6x + 2 = 56, x = ?
3x + 3 = 27, x = ?
6x + 5 = 17, x = ?
4x + 2 = 22, x = ?
6x + 3 = 69, x = ?
6x + 7 = 43, x = ?
3x + 11 = 32, x = ?
4x + 6 = 46, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blends into a puffy storm cloud, then releases a thick purple smoke screen.
2.The villain speeds past the cloud gates, then shoots a bright neon distress flare.
3.The villain drops a heavy magnet anchor, then shoots a bright neon distress flare.
4.The villain deploys the stealth sail system, then releases a thick purple smoke screen.
5.The villain deploys the stealth sail system, then unfolds a pair of sleek glider wings.
6.The villain fires a glowing grapple line, then shoots a bright neon distress flare.
7.The villain fires a glowing grapple line, then activates a loud sonic siren blast.
8.The villain deploys the stealth sail system, then unfolds high tech glowing solar panels.
9.The villain fires a glowing grapple line, then unfolds a pair of sleek glider wings.
10.The villain speeds past the cloud gates, then unfolds high tech glowing solar panels.
11.The villain drops a heavy magnet anchor, then activates a loud sonic siren blast.
12.The villain fires a glowing grapple line, then releases a thick purple smoke screen.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Chase Across the Cloud Islands
Culprit: Cloudy Chloe (grapple harpoon · smoke canister · wears goggles on neck · windswept silver hair · dislikes strong winds)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE SOLAR PANELS"(-3) + 15 = 12 (T) · 16 - (-4) = 20 (R) · (-6) + 34 = 28 (S) · 7 - (-8) = 15 (N) · (-9) + 17 = 8 (O) · 16 - (-8) = 24 (H) · (-4) + 15 = 11 (L) · 16 - (-1) = 17 (E) · 14 - (-5) = 19 (D) · 10 - (-8) = 18 (U) · (-3) + 30 = 27 (A) · (-11) + 16 = 5 (I) · (-7) + 10 = 3 (F) · (-5) + 7 = 2 (P)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT KEEPS GOGGLES ON NECK"25% of 196 = 49 (T) · 5% of 740 = 37 (H) · 25% of 204 = 51 (S) · 20% of 25 = 5 (L) · 25% of 164 = 41 (U) · 10% of 540 = 54 (E) · 25% of 52 = 13 (K) · 25% of 12 = 3 (O) · 40% of 130 = 52 (N) · 50% of 8 = 4 (C) · 25% of 36 = 9 (P) · 5% of 760 = 38 (G)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "VILLAIN AVOIDS THE HURRICANE PATHS"30 + 2 × 9 = 48 (V) · 86 + 8 × 4 = 118 (S) · 10 × 6 - 28 = 32 (A) · 11 × 9 - 19 = 80 (T) · 10 × 10 - 2 = 98 (I) · 11 + 5 × 8 = 51 (R) · 12 × 11 - 12 = 120 (H) · 1 + 6 × 7 = 43 (P) · 2 × 12 - 16 = 8 (U) · 9 × 11 - 22 = 77 (O) · 47 + 3 × 7 = 68 (C) · 41 + 4 × 2 = 49 (N) · 7 + 4 × 7 = 35 (L) · 17 + 7 × 2 = 31 (D) · 4 × 9 - 7 = 29 (E)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "SILVER COLOURED WINDY HAIR WAS FOUND"8^2 = 64 (S) · 13^2 = 169 (I) · 3^2 = 9 (N) · 15^2 = 225 (A) · 6^3 = 216 (E) · 11^2 = 121 (O) · 16^2 = 256 (C) · 3^5 = 243 (D) · 9^2 = 81 (H) · 5^2 = 25 (F) · 10^2 = 100 (Y) · 17^2 = 289 (U) · 6^2 = 36 (W) · 19^2 = 361 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (R) · 5^3 = 125 (V)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 12) → Cloudy Chloe5x + 3 = 23, x = 4 · 3x + 8 = 11, x = 1 · 2x + 2 = 8, x = 3 · 6x + 2 = 56, x = 9 · 3x + 3 = 27, x = 8 · 6x + 5 = 17, x = 2 · 4x + 2 = 22, x = 5 · 6x + 3 = 69, x = 11 · 6x + 7 = 43, x = 6 · 3x + 11 = 32, x = 7 · 4x + 6 = 46, x = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Chase Across the Cloud Islands — set in Sky Island Archipelago
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects