🐶 Dogs, tennisGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Golden Ball Heist
The golden tennis ball trophy has vanished from the main court's display case! Without it, the Bark Cup championship cannot begin. Clues are scattered across the grass courts, and we need your mathematical skills to track down the sporty culprit.
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 shot | court agility | racquet hand | fur type | major distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Aussie | slice backhand | squeaky ball distraction | right handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Serena Spaniel | slice backhand | laser focus | right handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | tennis ball machine |
| Ons Otterhound | drop shot | clay court slide | left handed racquet | curly poodle fur | peanut butter treat |
| Coco Collie | trick lob | high jump | right handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
| Roger Retriever | trick lob | laser focus | right handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | peanut butter treat |
| Ash Bartyhound | drop shot | super fetch | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
| Pete Pug | slice backhand | high jump | right handed racquet | curly poodle fur | tennis ball machine |
| Casper Chihuahua | slice backhand | super fetch | right handed racquet | curly poodle fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Carlos Corgi | baseline volley | squeaky ball distraction | left handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Billie Jean Beagle | baseline volley | high jump | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Iga Whippet | baseline volley | clay court slide | right handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | tennis ball machine |
| Bjorn Boxer | baseline volley | super fetch | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
| Taylor Terrier | power serve | super fetch | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
| Venus Vizsla | slice backhand | high jump | right handed racquet | curly poodle fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Jannik Husky | power serve | clay court slide | right handed racquet | curly poodle fur | tennis ball machine |
| Novak Newfie | slice backhand | high jump | left handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | peanut butter treat |
| Boris Bulldog | drop shot | clay court slide | left handed racquet | curly poodle fur | tennis ball machine |
| Rafa Retriever | baseline volley | laser focus | left handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | squeaky duck toy |
| Daniil Dalmatian | baseline volley | super fetch | left handed racquet | sleek terrier fur | tennis ball machine |
| Martina Malinois | drop shot | high jump | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
| Steffi Shepherd | drop shot | laser focus | left handed racquet | shaggy golden fur | tennis ball machine |
Clue 1
Exponents
We found a digital lock on the trophy case that multiplies its security code exponentially every minute.
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
36
100
T
9
36
64
100
343
121
4
100
324
8
4
T
9
36
16
125
100
225
16
324
100
400
343
4
625
32
324
3^2 =T
11^2 =D
10^2 =E
2^2 =O
6^2 =H
5^3 =V
7^3 =F
4^3 =I
5^4 =C
2^3 =N
2^4 =A
18^2 =S
2^5 =U
15^2 =L
20^2 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The thief escaped across a perfectly square clay court, and we must find the side length from the total area.
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
14
2
21
T
14
2
19
21
17
2
20
7
9
13
22
7
21
17
T
14
2
22
8
9
21
9
4
22
12
3
11
21
T
14
sqrt(196) =T
sqrt(144) =C
sqrt(64) =N
sqrt(81) =D
sqrt(361) =I
sqrt(9) =Q
sqrt(441) =E
sqrt(16) =R
sqrt(49) =L
sqrt(484) =A
sqrt(4) =H
sqrt(400) =O
sqrt(289) =F
sqrt(169) =S
sqrt(121) =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
We trace the thief's path from the referee chair to the ball machine, forming a right triangle across the grass.
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
75
34
58
T
75
34
65
58
20
20
58
50
37
5
T
75
34
58
T
75
58
68
68
65
5
41
50
26
26
25
50
74
34
65
68
58
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =T
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =F
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =M
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =R
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =E
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =H
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =L
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =C
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =I
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =B
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =N
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =S
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =A
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To decode the security system logs, we must follow the strict priority order of the tennis club's mainframe 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.
W
106
32
119
76
112
94
20
22
12
55
77
77
88
77
76
63
20
32
94
119
112
59
76
94
7
12
32
94
32
7
25 + 9 × 9 =W
35 + 4 × 5 =A
34 + 7 × 6 =O
5 × 8 - 28 =H
37 + 8 × 5 =G
9 × 2 - 11 =T
5 + 3 × 5 =D
51 + 2 × 4 =R
9 × 3 - 5 =S
98 + 2 × 7 =U
24 + 8 × 8 =Y
10 × 11 - 16 =N
10 × 12 - 1 =F
12 + 5 × 4 =E
12 × 6 - 9 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We analyze the weight of the empty tennis can and the remaining tennis balls to find the unknown weight of the missing trophy.
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 + 9 = 42, x = ?
5x + 6 = 46, x = ?
2x + 10 = 20, x = ?
2x + 5 = 13, x = ?
4x + 3 = 27, x = ?
5x + 11 = 56, x = ?
4x + 3 = 7, x = ?
3x + 6 = 12, x = ?
6x + 1 = 19, x = ?
6x + 12 = 54, x = ?
3x + 4 = 40, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain runs up for a baseline volley, then escapes with a high jump.
2.The villain runs up for a baseline volley, then throws a squeaky ball distraction.
3.The villain smiles and hits a power serve, then slopes off with a clay court slide.
4.The villain leaps to play a trick lob, then throws a squeaky ball distraction.
5.The villain sneaks forward for a drop shot, then escapes with a high jump.
6.The villain leaps to play a trick lob, then speeds away using super fetch.
7.The villain spins and uses a slice backhand, then throws a squeaky ball distraction.
8.The villain smiles and hits a power serve, then speeds away using super fetch.
9.The villain spins and uses a slice backhand, then speeds away using super fetch.
10.The villain sneaks forward for a drop shot, then speeds away using super fetch.
11.The villain runs up for a baseline volley, then speeds away using super fetch.
12.The villain sneaks forward for a drop shot, then slopes off with a clay court slide.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Ball Heist
Culprit: Ash Bartyhound (drop shot · super fetch · left handed racquet · shaggy golden fur · tennis ball machine)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE LASER FOCUS"3^2 = 9 (T) · 11^2 = 121 (D) · 10^2 = 100 (E) · 2^2 = 4 (O) · 6^2 = 36 (H) · 5^3 = 125 (V) · 7^3 = 343 (F) · 4^3 = 64 (I) · 5^4 = 625 (C) · 2^3 = 8 (N) · 2^4 = 16 (A) · 18^2 = 324 (S) · 2^5 = 32 (U) · 15^2 = 225 (L) · 20^2 = 400 (R)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE THIEF HOLDS A LEFT HANDED RACQUET"sqrt(196) = 14 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (C) · sqrt(64) = 8 (N) · sqrt(81) = 9 (D) · sqrt(361) = 19 (I) · sqrt(9) = 3 (Q) · sqrt(441) = 21 (E) · sqrt(16) = 4 (R) · sqrt(49) = 7 (L) · sqrt(484) = 22 (A) · sqrt(4) = 2 (H) · sqrt(400) = 20 (O) · sqrt(289) = 17 (F) · sqrt(169) = 13 (S) · sqrt(121) = 11 (U)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE THIEF FEARS THE TENNIS BALL MACHINE"legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (T) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (F) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (M) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (R) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (E) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (H) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (L) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (C) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (I) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (B) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (N) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (S) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (A)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND SHAGGY GOLDEN FUR ON THE NET"25 + 9 × 9 = 106 (W) · 35 + 4 × 5 = 55 (A) · 34 + 7 × 6 = 76 (O) · 5 × 8 - 28 = 12 (H) · 37 + 8 × 5 = 77 (G) · 9 × 2 - 11 = 7 (T) · 5 + 3 × 5 = 20 (D) · 51 + 2 × 4 = 59 (R) · 9 × 3 - 5 = 22 (S) · 98 + 2 × 7 = 112 (U) · 24 + 8 × 8 = 88 (Y) · 10 × 11 - 16 = 94 (N) · 10 × 12 - 1 = 119 (F) · 12 + 5 × 4 = 32 (E) · 12 × 6 - 9 = 63 (L)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Ash Bartyhound3x + 9 = 42, x = 11 · 5x + 6 = 46, x = 8 · 2x + 10 = 20, x = 5 · 2x + 5 = 13, x = 4 · 4x + 3 = 27, x = 6 · 5x + 11 = 56, x = 9 · 4x + 3 = 7, x = 1 · 3x + 6 = 12, x = 2 · 6x + 1 = 19, x = 3 · 6x + 12 = 54, x = 7 · 3x + 4 = 40, 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 7-9
- Theme
- The Golden Ball Heist — set in the Wimbledon Dog Club during the annual Bark Cup
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects