Grade 8Reading: grades 5-6ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Cloud Dock Caper
The legendary Golden Compass has been stolen from the Cloud Dock! A sneaky Sky Bandit slipped past the wind-turbines and escaped into the clouds. We need to crack the clues, track the rogue airship, and catch the thief before they vanish beyond the storm barrier.
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 | Escape Gadget | Secondary Device | Handedness | Hair Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena Heli | Pocket Glider | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Red Hair | Shiny Coins |
| Cumulus Cole | Zip Line | Bubble Blaster | Left Handed | Red Hair | Sweet Candy |
| Barnaby Balloon | Zip Line | Steam Shield | Left Handed | Red Hair | Shiny Coins |
| Thermals Theo | Magnet Boots | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Amelia Aviator | Smoke Grenade | Flare Gun | Right Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Cloudy Clara | Zip Line | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Black Hair | Sweet Candy |
| Orville Oliver | Magnet Boots | Flare Gun | Left Handed | Red Hair | Sweet Candy |
| Cap Captain | Magnet Boots | Steam Shield | Right Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Hawk Henry | Zip Line | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Blonde Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Gale Gabriel | Grappling Hook | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Propeller Pete | Zip Line | Steam Shield | Right Handed | Blonde Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Falcon Faye | Grappling Hook | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Red Hair | Shiny Coins |
| Zephyr Zach | Magnet Boots | Bubble Blaster | Left Handed | Blonde Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Windy Wendy | Grappling Hook | Bubble Blaster | Right Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Rotor Ruth | Pocket Glider | Solar Sail | Left Handed | Red Hair | Sweet Candy |
| Gusty Grace | Magnet Boots | Flare Gun | Left Handed | Black Hair | Shiny Coins |
| Nimbus Nancy | Magnet Boots | Solar Sail | Left Handed | Blonde Hair | Shiny Coins |
| SkyScurry Sam | Smoke Grenade | Steam Shield | Left Handed | Red Hair | Sweet Candy |
| Altimeter Al | Zip Line | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Black Hair | Shiny Coins |
| Breezy Bella | Magnet Boots | Bubble Blaster | Right Handed | Black Hair | Squeaky Toys |
| Barometer Ben | Zip Line | Steam Shield | Left Handed | Red Hair | Squeaky Toys |
Clue 1
Exponents
The engine room power grid runs on a doubling scale of power cells that we need to calculate.
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
100
729
27
81
16
36
8
128
T
100
8
64
27
32
36
64
T
100
169
32
27
16
289
243
16
196
27
256
169
36
10^2 =T
6^2 =N
2^3 =D
2^5 =S
8^2 =O
3^4 =B
14^2 =R
3^3 =E
3^6 =H
16^2 =G
4^2 =A
13^2 =U
3^5 =L
17^2 =F
2^7 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
To open the sealed archives, we must find the side length of the giant square vault door.
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
9
25
11
24
10
23
2
15
13
16
19
24
23
19
14
17
16
12
12
4
21
8
11
15
6
14
16
20
4
21
25
T
9
25
16
8
15
sqrt(81) =T
sqrt(16) =I
sqrt(196) =Y
sqrt(256) =A
sqrt(121) =E
sqrt(64) =N
sqrt(4) =U
sqrt(441) =G
sqrt(361) =P
sqrt(225) =D
sqrt(529) =O
sqrt(144) =S
sqrt(289) =W
sqrt(36) =B
sqrt(169) =M
sqrt(576) =C
sqrt(400) =R
sqrt(625) =H
sqrt(100) =L
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
We need to measure the diagonal shortcut from the main watchtower over to the lower cargo deck.
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
5
41
85
29
15
30
30
26
15
52
20
41
25
26
52
34
68
25
37
75
26
52
37
15
20
39
20
74
65
85
26
34
39
T
5
37
39
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =T
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =Y
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =V
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =L
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =U
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =E
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =N
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =I
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =R
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =K
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =S
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =M
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =H
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =Q
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =F
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The bandit cockpit keypad only unlocks if we punch in the code using the strict order of mathematical steps.
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
21
16
27
108
112
108
97
64
31
11
69
115
S
21
97
56
11
52
36
S
21
111
108
56
108
31
108
40
97
16
52
97
61
108
S
21
108
11
97
9 × 3 - 6 =S
9 × 10 - 26 =B
9 × 7 - 23 =F
15 + 2 × 6 =M
11 × 11 - 9 =J
51 + 8 × 8 =K
6 × 12 - 3 =C
11 × 3 - 22 =A
24 + 8 × 4 =R
7 + 3 × 3 =O
21 + 2 × 5 =L
96 + 5 × 3 =W
96 + 4 × 3 =E
6 × 11 - 5 =H
79 + 2 × 9 =T
9 + 9 × 3 =D
36 + 4 × 4 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We can track the pirate ship by setting up a rate problem using the remaining fuel and the extra weight of the cargo.
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
3x + 6 = 33, x = ?
5x + 7 = 47, x = ?
3x + 9 = 24, x = ?
3x + 12 = 24, x = ?
4x + 10 = 14, x = ?
3x + 11 = 17, x = ?
5x + 8 = 58, x = ?
3x + 5 = 26, x = ?
6x + 3 = 21, x = ?
6x + 9 = 45, x = ?
3x + 7 = 43, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain slides down a high-altitude zip line, then escapes using a solar sail.
2.The villain stomps across the deck in magnet boots, then whistles to summon a gust of wind.
3.The villain drops a blinding smoke grenade, then blocks the pursuit with a steam shield.
4.The villain sails silently using a pocket glider, then whistles to summon a gust of wind.
5.The villain swings down with a grappling hook, then traps the guards with a bubble blaster.
6.The villain swings down with a grappling hook, then fires a flare gun into the sky.
7.The villain stomps across the deck in magnet boots, then fires a flare gun into the sky.
8.The villain stomps across the deck in magnet boots, then traps the guards with a bubble blaster.
9.The villain stomps across the deck in magnet boots, then blocks the pursuit with a steam shield.
10.The villain drops a blinding smoke grenade, then fires a flare gun into the sky.
11.The villain swings down with a grappling hook, then whistles to summon a gust of wind.
12.The villain drops a blinding smoke grenade, then traps the guards with a bubble blaster.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cloud Dock Caper
Culprit: Gale Gabriel (Grappling Hook · Wind Whistle · Right Handed · Black Hair · Squeaky Toys)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE A FLARE GUN"10^2 = 100 (T) · 6^2 = 36 (N) · 2^3 = 8 (D) · 2^5 = 32 (S) · 8^2 = 64 (O) · 3^4 = 81 (B) · 14^2 = 196 (R) · 3^3 = 27 (E) · 3^6 = 729 (H) · 16^2 = 256 (G) · 4^2 = 16 (A) · 13^2 = 169 (U) · 3^5 = 243 (L) · 17^2 = 289 (F) · 2^7 = 128 (I)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE CLOUD MAP COPY WAS SIGNED BY A RIGHT HAND"sqrt(81) = 9 (T) · sqrt(16) = 4 (I) · sqrt(196) = 14 (Y) · sqrt(256) = 16 (A) · sqrt(121) = 11 (E) · sqrt(64) = 8 (N) · sqrt(4) = 2 (U) · sqrt(441) = 21 (G) · sqrt(361) = 19 (P) · sqrt(225) = 15 (D) · sqrt(529) = 23 (O) · sqrt(144) = 12 (S) · sqrt(289) = 17 (W) · sqrt(36) = 6 (B) · sqrt(169) = 13 (M) · sqrt(576) = 24 (C) · sqrt(400) = 20 (R) · sqrt(625) = 25 (H) · sqrt(100) = 10 (L)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN SHRANK FROM A NOISY SQUEAKY TOY"legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (T) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (Y) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (O) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (V) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (L) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (U) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (E) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (N) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (I) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (R) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (A) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (K) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (S) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (M) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (H) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (Q) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (F)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "SOME JET BLACK STRANDS WERE LEFT ON THE SEAT"9 × 3 - 6 = 21 (S) · 9 × 10 - 26 = 64 (B) · 9 × 7 - 23 = 40 (F) · 15 + 2 × 6 = 27 (M) · 11 × 11 - 9 = 112 (J) · 51 + 8 × 8 = 115 (K) · 6 × 12 - 3 = 69 (C) · 11 × 3 - 22 = 11 (A) · 24 + 8 × 4 = 56 (R) · 7 + 3 × 3 = 16 (O) · 21 + 2 × 5 = 31 (L) · 96 + 5 × 3 = 111 (W) · 96 + 4 × 3 = 108 (E) · 6 × 11 - 5 = 61 (H) · 79 + 2 × 9 = 97 (T) · 9 + 9 × 3 = 36 (D) · 36 + 4 × 4 = 52 (N)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 11) → Gale Gabriel3x + 6 = 33, x = 9 · 5x + 7 = 47, x = 8 · 3x + 9 = 24, x = 5 · 3x + 12 = 24, x = 4 · 4x + 10 = 14, x = 1 · 3x + 11 = 17, x = 2 · 5x + 8 = 58, x = 10 · 3x + 5 = 26, x = 7 · 6x + 3 = 21, x = 3 · 6x + 9 = 45, x = 6 · 3x + 7 = 43, x = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Cloud Dock Caper — set in The Sky-Islands of Aeronautica
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects