Grade 9Reading: grades 3-4Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers

The Golden Wind-Vane Mystery

Oh no! Someone has stolen the Golden Wind-Vane from the Sky Patrol Academy! Without it, our floating islands will drift out of control and bump into each other. Commander Leo needs you to find the sneaky Cloud Thief before they fly away forever!

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	Flight Gear	Invention	Goggles Color	Helmet Plume	Favorite Snack
Val	solar sails	wind net	blue goggles	royal blue helmet	berry tarts
Captain Cooper	solar sails	wind net	green goggles	neon yellow helmet	maple waffles
Kai	propeller boots	wind net	blue goggles	bright orange helmet	maple waffles
Breezy	propeller boots	bubble blaster	blue goggles	neon yellow helmet	lemon drops
Flynn	steam thrusters	magnetic claw	green goggles	neon yellow helmet	lemon drops
Pip	gravity boots	magnetic claw	green goggles	neon yellow helmet	maple waffles
Luna	propeller boots	bubble blaster	blue goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Quinn	propeller boots	magnetic claw	green goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Ivy	steam thrusters	bubble blaster	green goggles	neon yellow helmet	lemon drops
Daisy	propeller boots	wind net	blue goggles	neon yellow helmet	lemon drops
Gus	turbo wings	bubble blaster	green goggles	bright orange helmet	lemon drops
Echo	solar sails	wind net	green goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Zane	turbo wings	magnetic claw	green goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Toby	solar sails	magnetic claw	blue goggles	neon yellow helmet	berry tarts
Willa	steam thrusters	grappling hook	green goggles	neon yellow helmet	berry tarts
Otis	propeller boots	magnetic claw	blue goggles	royal blue helmet	maple waffles
Skye	steam thrusters	magnetic claw	green goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Una	steam thrusters	fog generator	blue goggles	royal blue helmet	maple waffles
Ace	solar sails	bubble blaster	green goggles	bright orange helmet	berry tarts
Jax	steam thrusters	wind net	blue goggles	bright orange helmet	maple waffles
Milo	steam thrusters	fog generator	blue goggles	bright orange helmet	lemon drops

Clue 1

Two-step equations

We found the Cloud Thief's empty fuel crate. The total weight of the wooden crate and several mini fuel canisters helps us calculate how many canisters they used on their getaway ship.

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

2x + 6 = 16, x =T

3x + 11 = 77, x =H

8x + 10 = 178, x =F

2x + 6 = 22, x =U

5x + 9 = 89, x =O

9x + 12 = 165, x =E

7x + 4 = 137, x =S

9x + 6 = 132, x =W

6x + 2 = 110, x =N

6x + 12 = 54, x =D

7x + 9 = 79, x =I

0/11 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

Our radar dish is tracking the runaway flight path. Each secret relay beacon triples our scanning strength, so we must calculate the final radar power using exponents.

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

289

361

625

125

361

256

361

441

289

243

289

196

125

3^2 =W

2^4 =E

5^3 =N

14^2 =C

2^8 =O

17^2 =S

5^4 =R

21^2 =L

19^2 =G

9^2 =H

3^5 =T

2^2 =A

0/12 letters found

Clue 3

Square roots

The patrol team is mapping out a perfectly square grid of search tiles over the clouds. Knowing the total area of the search zone tells us the side length of our flying grid.

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(9) =L

sqrt(121) =M

sqrt(441) =P

sqrt(16) =V

sqrt(361) =U

sqrt(529) =T

sqrt(576) =E

sqrt(100) =R

sqrt(64) =H

sqrt(49) =Y

sqrt(4) =S

sqrt(196) =A

sqrt(144) =O

sqrt(289) =B

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Integers

The runaway airship went up into the warm air currents and then dropped down into a cold valley. Let's find their final altitude change using positive and negative integers.

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

3 - (-8) =W

(-15) + 34 =S

(-5) + 13 =N

(-10) + 30 =D

(-10) + 16 =L

(-13) + 52 =T

(-12) + 15 =P

(-5) + 41 =H

(-11) + 29 =B

(-11) + 35 =R

(-12) + 46 =O

(-13) + 30 =G

(-2) + 42 =A

(-9) + 32 =I

(-3) + 31 =E

(-4) + 26 =M

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

We checked the local sky shop ledger. The thief bought a map and several climbing clips for a set total price, so we must find the cost of a single clip to prove who checked out.

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

7x + 5 = 82, x = ?

2x + 12 = 18, x = ?

9x + 5 = 59, x = ?

4x + 9 = 49, x = ?

3x + 7 = 10, x = ?

8x + 12 = 68, x = ?

6x + 7 = 55, x = ?

5x + 11 = 71, x = ?

6x + 7 = 31, x = ?

6x + 11 = 65, x = ?

6x + 1 = 31, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain zips past the guard tower, then swings away using a grappling hook.

2.The villain glides under the sky bridge, then snatches the prize with a magnetic claw.

3.The villain zooms over the cloud wall, then snatches the prize with a magnetic claw.

4.The villain levitates above the town square, then snatches the prize with a magnetic claw.

5.The villain levitates above the town square, then swings away using a grappling hook.

6.The villain zips past the guard tower, then shoots a sticky bubble blaster.

7.The villain glides under the sky bridge, then swings away using a grappling hook.

8.The villain glides under the sky bridge, then shoots a sticky bubble blaster.

9.The villain soars through the grand canyon, then scoops up the treasure with a wind net.

10.The villain glides under the sky bridge, then scoops up the treasure with a wind net.

11.The villain soars through the grand canyon, then snatches the prize with a magnetic claw.

12.The villain zooms over the cloud wall, then hides inside a thick fog generator cloud.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Golden Wind-Vane Mystery

Culprit: Zane (turbo wings · magnetic claw · green goggles · bright orange helmet · berry tarts)

Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE WIND NET"
2x + 6 = 16, x = 5 (T) · 3x + 11 = 77, x = 22 (H) · 8x + 10 = 178, x = 21 (F) · 2x + 6 = 22, x = 8 (U) · 5x + 9 = 89, x = 16 (O) · 9x + 12 = 165, x = 17 (E) · 7x + 4 = 137, x = 19 (S) · 9x + 6 = 132, x = 14 (W) · 6x + 2 = 110, x = 18 (N) · 6x + 12 = 54, x = 7 (D) · 7x + 9 = 79, x = 10 (I)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "WE SAW GREEN GOGGLES AT THE SCENE"
3^2 = 9 (W) · 2^4 = 16 (E) · 5^3 = 125 (N) · 14^2 = 196 (C) · 2^8 = 256 (O) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 5^4 = 625 (R) · 21^2 = 441 (L) · 19^2 = 361 (G) · 9^2 = 81 (H) · 3^5 = 243 (T) · 2^2 = 4 (A)
Clue 3 (Square roots): "LEAVE OUT BERRY TARTS TO TRAP THEM"
sqrt(9) = 3 (L) · sqrt(121) = 11 (M) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P) · sqrt(16) = 4 (V) · sqrt(361) = 19 (U) · sqrt(529) = 23 (T) · sqrt(576) = 24 (E) · sqrt(100) = 10 (R) · sqrt(64) = 8 (H) · sqrt(49) = 7 (Y) · sqrt(4) = 2 (S) · sqrt(196) = 14 (A) · sqrt(144) = 12 (O) · sqrt(289) = 17 (B)
Clue 4 (Integers): "WE SPOTTED A BRIGHT ORANGE HELMET"
3 - (-8) = 11 (W) · (-15) + 34 = 19 (S) · (-5) + 13 = 8 (N) · (-10) + 30 = 20 (D) · (-10) + 16 = 6 (L) · (-13) + 52 = 39 (T) · (-12) + 15 = 3 (P) · (-5) + 41 = 36 (H) · (-11) + 29 = 18 (B) · (-11) + 35 = 24 (R) · (-12) + 46 = 34 (O) · (-13) + 30 = 17 (G) · (-2) + 42 = 40 (A) · (-9) + 32 = 23 (I) · (-3) + 31 = 28 (E) · (-4) + 26 = 22 (M)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 2) → Zane
7x + 5 = 82, x = 11 · 2x + 12 = 18, x = 3 · 9x + 5 = 59, x = 6 · 4x + 9 = 49, x = 10 · 3x + 7 = 10, x = 1 · 8x + 12 = 68, x = 7 · 6x + 7 = 55, x = 8 · 5x + 11 = 71, x = 12 · 6x + 7 = 31, x = 4 · 6x + 11 = 65, x = 9 · 6x + 1 = 31, x = 5

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 9 math
Math topics: Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Golden Wind-Vane Mystery — set in the floating islands of Skylark Kingdom
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

9th grade worksheets Exponents worksheets Integers worksheets Square roots worksheets Two-step equations worksheets 🐉 Fantasy worksheets All worksheets →

The Aurora Outpost Emergency

Grade 9

The Case of Mr. Nappi's Missing Pencils

Grade 9

The Case of the Missing Ticonderogas

Grade 9

The Silent Symphony

Grade 9