🚀 Basketball, Minecraft, SocceGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Cosmic Cup Heist
The Golden Mecha-Cat Trophy has vanished from the Kepler-99 Arena! A rogue glitch-bot hacked the gravity grids, bypassed the laser net, and fled into the docking bay. The Chief Arena Programmer needs your help calculating telemetry coordinates to identify the thief before they warp to another galaxy.
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 | specialized gear | control alignment | visor color | system vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | redstone booster jump | solar wind dash | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Giga | warp-drive slide tackle | anti-matter spin move | left-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | overloaded solar flare |
| Orion | nanotech block barrier | solar wind dash | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
| Pixel | warp-drive slide tackle | magnetic ball tractor | left-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Kepler | warp-drive slide tackle | cyber-claw climbing | left-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | overloaded solar flare |
| Babbage | redstone booster jump | cyber-claw climbing | right-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
| Sparky | redstone booster jump | solar wind dash | right-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Comet | redstone booster jump | cyber-claw climbing | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Curry | redstone booster jump | matrix code shielding | left-hand-aligned controls | pulsing neon-pink visor | overloaded solar flare |
| Sputnik | redstone booster jump | matrix code shielding | right-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Ronaldo | gravity-dribble slam | matrix code shielding | right-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
| Jordan | redstone booster jump | magnetic ball tractor | right-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Rover | laser-guided corner kick | matrix code shielding | left-hand-aligned controls | pulsing neon-pink visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| LeBron | laser-guided corner kick | cyber-claw climbing | right-hand-aligned controls | pulsing neon-pink visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
| Astro | redstone booster jump | matrix code shielding | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Messi | nanotech block barrier | anti-matter spin move | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | overloaded solar flare |
| Gizmo | nanotech block barrier | anti-matter spin move | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Cosmo | warp-drive slide tackle | magnetic ball tractor | right-hand-aligned controls | bright emerald visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Serena | laser-guided corner kick | cyber-claw climbing | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | magnetic disruptor pulse |
| Felix | warp-drive slide tackle | matrix code shielding | left-hand-aligned controls | glowing sapphire visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
| Marta | warp-drive slide tackle | anti-matter spin move | left-hand-aligned controls | pulsing neon-pink visor | unpatched firewall glitch |
Clue 1
Integers
We analyzed the docking bay elevator logs, which recorded changes in altitude as positive and negative integers. By calculating the net floor shifts, we found a decrypted file.
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
16
10
21
T
16
10
2
21
23
20
14
13
25
4
14
5
T
16
2
17
14
T
16
T
16
21
30
4
27
2
5
17
29
6
21
(-14) + 30 =T
(-1) + 26 =K
22 - (-8) =R
3 - (-1) =S
4 - (-6) =H
20 - (-3) =F
(-14) + 43 =O
(-13) + 18 =N
(-11) + 32 =E
(-11) + 24 =C
(-12) + 14 =I
(-12) + 29 =M
10 - (-4) =A
(-6) + 12 =V
20 - (-7) =P
(-6) + 26 =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
Our surveillance drones scanned the escape vectors, but the data packet was partially corrupted. Calculating the exact percentage of recovered battery cells unlocked the next data stream.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
33
13
41
40
29
27
45
40
25
27
L
33
17
L
33
21
59
45
46
13
45
40
24
13
40
13
29
40
13
24
17
40
40
26
13
29
27
45
32
27
L
33
13
25% of 132 =L
20% of 65 =E
20% of 205 =F
60% of 35 =I
20% of 85 =A
10% of 240 =D
60% of 45 =O
10% of 250 =R
50% of 58 =C
50% of 80 =T
25% of 236 =G
10% of 260 =H
5% of 640 =S
10% of 460 =M
20% of 225 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To bypass the stadium security lockout, we must execute the calibration commands in the exact order of operations. Solving this equation reveals the suspect's hardware profile.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
M
84
89
107
92
68
119
50
37
57
33
63
62
68
29
50
63
63
20
50
62
89
72
63
68
119
47
68
50
93
M
84
28
119
28
93
62
8 × 11 - 4 =M
11 × 10 - 3 =G
7 × 4 - 8 =D
9 × 4 - 3 =U
8 × 9 - 10 =S
7 × 6 - 14 =O
9 + 4 × 5 =W
9 × 7 - 13 =I
8 × 12 - 28 =E
8 × 7 - 9 =H
11 × 9 - 27 =B
35 + 4 × 7 =L
22 + 5 × 3 =C
85 + 2 × 2 =A
30 + 9 × 3 =P
11 × 11 - 2 =T
77 + 2 × 8 =R
12 × 8 - 4 =N
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The suspect activated a replicating nanobot swarm to block our sensors. By calculating the exponential growth rate of these mini-bots, we cleared the signal and found a clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
121
9
64
4
289
32
49
49
8
144
361
4
343
144
289
196
361
289
49
32
361
169
361
4
125
196
361
324
4
324
11^2 =B
14^2 =O
5^3 =C
18^2 =D
3^2 =L
19^2 =R
7^3 =V
13^2 =K
12^2 =I
17^2 =S
7^2 =P
4^3 =U
2^5 =A
2^3 =H
2^2 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We tracked the heat signature of the getaway pod, but we need to solve a two-step trajectory equation to isolate the exact coordinates of the thief's escape hatch.
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 + 4 = 37, x = ?
3x + 9 = 36, x = ?
3x + 4 = 16, x = ?
6x + 11 = 83, x = ?
3x + 12 = 15, x = ?
4x + 10 = 50, x = ?
3x + 4 = 10, x = ?
5x + 8 = 33, x = ?
5x + 12 = 47, x = ?
4x + 12 = 36, x = ?
2x + 8 = 24, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activated the gravity-dribble slam, then stole the ball using magnetic ball tractor.
2.The villain executed a warp-drive slide tackle, then scaled the rafters with cyber-claw climbing.
3.The villain triggered a redstone booster jump, then scaled the rafters with cyber-claw climbing.
4.The villain triggered a redstone booster jump, then escaped inside matrix code shielding.
5.The villain executed a warp-drive slide tackle, then escaped inside matrix code shielding.
6.The villain activated the gravity-dribble slam, then spun through space with anti-matter spin move.
7.The villain aimed a laser-guided corner kick, then stole the ball using magnetic ball tractor.
8.The villain aimed a laser-guided corner kick, then spun through space with anti-matter spin move.
9.The villain aimed a laser-guided corner kick, then scaled the rafters with cyber-claw climbing.
10.The villain built a nanotech block barrier, then spun through space with anti-matter spin move.
11.The villain triggered a redstone booster jump, then boosted away using solar wind dash.
12.The villain triggered a redstone booster jump, then spun through space with anti-matter spin move.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cosmic Cup Heist
Culprit: Comet (redstone booster jump · cyber-claw climbing · left-hand-aligned controls · glowing sapphire visor · magnetic disruptor pulse)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE THIEF LACKS ANTIMATTER SPIN MOVE"(-14) + 30 = 16 (T) · (-1) + 26 = 25 (K) · 22 - (-8) = 30 (R) · 3 - (-1) = 4 (S) · 4 - (-6) = 10 (H) · 20 - (-3) = 23 (F) · (-14) + 43 = 29 (O) · (-13) + 18 = 5 (N) · (-11) + 32 = 21 (E) · (-11) + 24 = 13 (C) · (-12) + 14 = 2 (I) · (-12) + 29 = 17 (M) · 10 - (-4) = 14 (A) · (-6) + 12 = 6 (V) · 20 - (-7) = 27 (P) · (-6) + 26 = 20 (L)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "LEFT CONTROL ALIGNMENT DETECTED AT THE CONSOLE"25% of 132 = 33 (L) · 20% of 65 = 13 (E) · 20% of 205 = 41 (F) · 60% of 35 = 21 (I) · 20% of 85 = 17 (A) · 10% of 240 = 24 (D) · 60% of 45 = 27 (O) · 10% of 250 = 25 (R) · 50% of 58 = 29 (C) · 50% of 80 = 40 (T) · 25% of 236 = 59 (G) · 10% of 260 = 26 (H) · 5% of 640 = 32 (S) · 10% of 460 = 46 (M) · 20% of 225 = 45 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "MAGNETIC PULSE WILL DISABLE THEIR MOTORS"8 × 11 - 4 = 84 (M) · 11 × 10 - 3 = 107 (G) · 7 × 4 - 8 = 20 (D) · 9 × 4 - 3 = 33 (U) · 8 × 9 - 10 = 62 (S) · 7 × 6 - 14 = 28 (O) · 9 + 4 × 5 = 29 (W) · 9 × 7 - 13 = 50 (I) · 8 × 12 - 28 = 68 (E) · 8 × 7 - 9 = 47 (H) · 11 × 9 - 27 = 72 (B) · 35 + 4 × 7 = 63 (L) · 22 + 5 × 3 = 37 (C) · 85 + 2 × 2 = 89 (A) · 30 + 9 × 3 = 57 (P) · 11 × 11 - 2 = 119 (T) · 77 + 2 × 8 = 93 (R) · 12 × 8 - 4 = 92 (N)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "BLUE SAPPHIRE VISOR SPARK RECORDED"11^2 = 121 (B) · 14^2 = 196 (O) · 5^3 = 125 (C) · 18^2 = 324 (D) · 3^2 = 9 (L) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 7^3 = 343 (V) · 13^2 = 169 (K) · 12^2 = 144 (I) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 7^2 = 49 (P) · 4^3 = 64 (U) · 2^5 = 32 (A) · 2^3 = 8 (H) · 2^2 = 4 (E)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 3) → Comet3x + 4 = 37, x = 11 · 3x + 9 = 36, x = 9 · 3x + 4 = 16, x = 4 · 6x + 11 = 83, x = 12 · 3x + 12 = 15, x = 1 · 4x + 10 = 50, x = 10 · 3x + 4 = 10, x = 2 · 5x + 8 = 33, x = 5 · 5x + 12 = 47, x = 7 · 4x + 12 = 36, x = 6 · 2x + 8 = 24, x = 8
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 Cosmic Cup Heist — set in The orbital sports dome of Kepler-99, where robots and cyber-cats play high-tech soccer-basketball
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects