Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations

The Cloudburst Heist

The golden Chronos Compass has been snatched from the floating Grand Library! Winds are picking up, and the suspect is fleeing across the cloud-islands. You must analyze the evidence before the storm washes away all clues.

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	Aetheric Power	Support Gear	Sighting Detail	Strand Evidence	Tactical Flaw
Marco	wind-gliding	sonar-whispering	wears leather visor	blue streak hair	distracted by shiny gears
Ernest	metal-bending	grapple-hooking	wears leather visor	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Alexandra	lightning-taming	clockwork repair	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Sacagawea	star-mapping	sonar-whispering	wears leather visor	windblown auburn hair	distracted by shiny gears
Vasco	cloud-shaping	grapple-hooking	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Jeanne	cloud-shaping	feather-falling	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Jacques	star-mapping	feather-falling	wears leather visor	silver spiked hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Roald	metal-bending	feather-falling	wears leather visor	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Zheng	wind-gliding	grapple-hooking	wears brass goggles	silver spiked hair	allergic to cloudberries
Krystyna	star-mapping	sonar-whispering	wears brass goggles	blue streak hair	distracted by shiny gears
Nellie	wind-gliding	feather-falling	wears brass goggles	silver spiked hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Ibn	cloud-shaping	gale-force whistling	wears leather visor	silver spiked hair	allergic to cloudberries
Thor	lightning-taming	clockwork repair	wears leather visor	windblown auburn hair	distracted by shiny gears
Charles	wind-gliding	clockwork repair	wears brass goggles	silver spiked hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Harriet	metal-bending	feather-falling	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Isabella	cloud-shaping	sonar-whispering	wears leather visor	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Matthew	metal-bending	sonar-whispering	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Leif	metal-bending	feather-falling	wears brass goggles	windblown auburn hair	distracted by shiny gears
Bessie	star-mapping	gale-force whistling	wears leather visor	blue streak hair	distracted by shiny gears
Gertrude	star-mapping	sonar-whispering	wears brass goggles	blue streak hair	fears high-voltage sparks
Fridtjof	lightning-taming	gale-force whistling	wears leather visor	blue streak hair	distracted by shiny gears

Clue 1

Pythagorean theorem

To measure the distance your airship must jump to reach the culprit's floating escape dock, you calculate the diagonal path between the two highest towers.

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

123

100

123

125

legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =T

legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =L

legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =R

legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =E

legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =D

legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =O

legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =H

legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =S

legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =W

legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =I

legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =V

legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =P

legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =N

legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Square roots

The airship's square engine core needs a backup seal, but you only know its total area. Finding the side length reveals the correct engine size.

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

sqrt(484) =T

sqrt(400) =I

sqrt(625) =S

sqrt(16) =C

sqrt(9) =B

sqrt(36) =U

sqrt(256) =E

sqrt(121) =H

sqrt(196) =F

sqrt(144) =G

sqrt(25) =R

sqrt(361) =L

sqrt(441) =P

sqrt(81) =A

sqrt(64) =O

sqrt(49) =D

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Exponents

Your communications array must double its signal power multiple times to pierce the thick storm clouds and receive the next coordinate set.

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

484

243

361

125

484

361

256

324

225

441

216

121

441

484

100

243

361

441

225

441

289

121

343

243

121

22^2 =S

18^2 =M

6^2 =T

17^2 =V

5^3 =K

19^2 =R

11^2 =I

21^2 =E

6^3 =G

2^3 =P

2^6 =D

10^2 =C

15^2 =H

7^3 =L

16^2 =O

3^4 =N

3^5 =A

2^5 =F

0/18 letters found

Clue 4

Order of operations

To unlock the navigator's secure flight safe, you must follow the correct priority of operations in the mechanical control formula.

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

105

116

5 × 11 - 9 =W

11 × 12 - 16 =T

55 + 3 × 9 =R

9 × 8 - 24 =U

11 × 8 - 24 =O

22 + 2 × 7 =I

3 + 9 × 6 =G

60 + 3 × 3 =L

7 × 7 - 7 =B

3 × 11 - 7 =S

1 + 2 × 3 =N

21 + 3 × 2 =C

25 + 2 × 4 =H

12 × 11 - 27 =D

5 + 3 × 2 =E

2 + 4 × 8 =A

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Square roots — the last clue

The hidden hangar floor is a perfect square grid. Determining its exact dimensions lets you sweep the floor for dropped physical evidence.

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

sqrt(64) = ?

sqrt(16) = ?

sqrt(9) = ?

sqrt(25) = ?

sqrt(144) = ?

sqrt(49) = ?

sqrt(100) = ?

sqrt(121) = ?

sqrt(36) = ?

sqrt(81) = ?

sqrt(4) = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain channels static electricity into the locks, then rewires the security panel.

2.The villain uses ancient star charts to navigate, then whistles a high-pitched gale.

3.The villain creates thick fog to hide their path, then escapes using a grappling line.

4.The villain creates thick fog to hide their path, then drifts safely down to the lower deck.

5.The villain creates thick fog to hide their path, then rewires the security panel.

6.The villain channels static electricity into the locks, then whistles a high-pitched gale.

7.The villain harnesses the wind to glide silently, then rewires the security panel.

8.The villain bends the iron hull doors open, then drifts safely down to the lower deck.

9.The villain channels static electricity into the locks, then detects the guards by sound.

10.The villain harnesses the wind to glide silently, then whistles a high-pitched gale.

11.The villain harnesses the wind to glide silently, then escapes using a grappling line.

12.The villain uses ancient star charts to navigate, then detects the guards by sound.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Cloudburst Heist

Culprit: Alexandra (lightning-taming · clockwork repair · wears brass goggles · windblown auburn hair · fears high-voltage sparks)

Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT SONAR WHISPER"
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (T) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (L) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (R) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (E) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (D) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (O) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (H) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (S) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (W) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (I) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (V) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (P) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (N) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (A)
Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A PAIR OF BRASS GOGGLES"
sqrt(484) = 22 (T) · sqrt(400) = 20 (I) · sqrt(625) = 25 (S) · sqrt(16) = 4 (C) · sqrt(9) = 3 (B) · sqrt(36) = 6 (U) · sqrt(256) = 16 (E) · sqrt(121) = 11 (H) · sqrt(196) = 14 (F) · sqrt(144) = 12 (G) · sqrt(25) = 5 (R) · sqrt(361) = 19 (L) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P) · sqrt(81) = 9 (A) · sqrt(64) = 8 (O) · sqrt(49) = 7 (D)
Clue 3 (Exponents): "SPARKS FROM THE ENGINE SCARED THE VILLAIN"
22^2 = 484 (S) · 18^2 = 324 (M) · 6^2 = 36 (T) · 17^2 = 289 (V) · 5^3 = 125 (K) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 11^2 = 121 (I) · 21^2 = 441 (E) · 6^3 = 216 (G) · 2^3 = 8 (P) · 2^6 = 64 (D) · 10^2 = 100 (C) · 15^2 = 225 (H) · 7^3 = 343 (L) · 16^2 = 256 (O) · 3^4 = 81 (N) · 3^5 = 243 (A) · 2^5 = 32 (F)
Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WINDBLOWN AUBURN HAIR CLUNG TO THE SEAT"
5 × 11 - 9 = 46 (W) · 11 × 12 - 16 = 116 (T) · 55 + 3 × 9 = 82 (R) · 9 × 8 - 24 = 48 (U) · 11 × 8 - 24 = 64 (O) · 22 + 2 × 7 = 36 (I) · 3 + 9 × 6 = 57 (G) · 60 + 3 × 3 = 69 (L) · 7 × 7 - 7 = 42 (B) · 3 × 11 - 7 = 26 (S) · 1 + 2 × 3 = 7 (N) · 21 + 3 × 2 = 27 (C) · 25 + 2 × 4 = 33 (H) · 12 × 11 - 27 = 105 (D) · 5 + 3 × 2 = 11 (E) · 2 + 4 × 8 = 34 (A)
Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 1) → Alexandra
sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(4) = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 10 math
Math topics: Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Cloudburst Heist — set in The Sky-Sailing Archipelago of Aetheria
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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