⚽ Basketball, SoccerGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Grand Arena Heist
The golden championship trophy has vanished from the center of the Championship Dome! Both the basketball and soccer finals are paused. The only clue is a muddy trail leading across the court and onto the pitch.
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 trick | gear item | shooting style | headband color | distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronaldo | super-speed dribble | squeaky rubber sneakers | right handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Saka | unblockable fadeaway | high-tech smart watch | right handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Messi | super-speed dribble | squeaky rubber sneakers | right handed shooter | blue headband | loud referee whistles |
| Durant | gravity-defying leap | weighted wrist bands | right handed shooter | white headband | loud referee whistles |
| Mbappe | gravity-defying leap | neon green cleats | left handed shooter | white headband | squeaky dog toys |
| Giannis | gravity-defying leap | high-tech smart watch | left handed shooter | red headband | bright camera flashes |
| Luka | super-speed dribble | high-tech smart watch | left handed shooter | white headband | bright camera flashes |
| Son | unblockable fadeaway | gold championship ring | left handed shooter | blue headband | squeaky dog toys |
| Kane | curving bicycle kick | squeaky rubber sneakers | left handed shooter | red headband | squeaky dog toys |
| Haaland | super-speed dribble | weighted wrist bands | left handed shooter | blue headband | loud referee whistles |
| Steph | unblockable fadeaway | weighted wrist bands | right handed shooter | red headband | bright camera flashes |
| Rashford | no-look laser pass | neon green cleats | left handed shooter | white headband | bright camera flashes |
| Marta | unblockable fadeaway | high-tech smart watch | left handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Booker | curving bicycle kick | weighted wrist bands | left handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Butler | unblockable fadeaway | gold championship ring | right handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Morgan | unblockable fadeaway | gold championship ring | right handed shooter | blue headband | loud referee whistles |
| Tatum | no-look laser pass | neon green cleats | right handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Salah | curving bicycle kick | squeaky rubber sneakers | right handed shooter | red headband | loud referee whistles |
| Neymar | gravity-defying leap | high-tech smart watch | right handed shooter | blue headband | squeaky dog toys |
| Kerr | super-speed dribble | neon green cleats | right handed shooter | blue headband | loud referee whistles |
| Embiid | gravity-defying leap | high-tech smart watch | right handed shooter | white headband | loud referee whistles |
Clue 1
Integers
The scoreboard flickered with negative and positive yardage penalties after the thief escaped.
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
11
6
19
29
25
26
T
11
3
6
19
22
27
26
3
10
29
26
23
18
27
7
3
6
26
14
28
16
18
25
29
6
16
28
22
16
25
23
6 - (-5) =T
(-2) + 8 =H
18 - (-7) =N
(-14) + 41 =L
(-6) + 35 =S
(-8) + 34 =A
16 - (-7) =G
5 - (-11) =I
19 - (-9) =P
(-12) + 30 =O
(-15) + 34 =E
19 - (-3) =R
(-7) + 17 =K
(-15) + 29 =M
(-1) + 8 =D
(-2) + 5 =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
We checked the security feed to analyze the shooting percentage of the running figure.
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
59
11
58
1
23
1
12
58
17
T
59
1
11
21
T
59
T
59
11
58
10
37
52
52
6
25
T
59
11
T
59
11
58
25
50
50
25
55
11
T
59
11
37
29
41
10% of 590 =T
40% of 15 =W
20% of 55 =H
20% of 115 =U
50% of 34 =C
10% of 500 =R
40% of 130 =L
25% of 4 =S
25% of 164 =D
10% of 550 =G
25% of 40 =B
50% of 42 =O
10% of 370 =A
20% of 290 =E
50% of 50 =I
25% of 48 =P
5% of 580 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The coach wrote a complex equation of dribbling drills on the dry-erase board to find the next 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.
A
35
26
110
44
60
16
28
9
21
65
108
64
38
26
28
64
38
110
6
6
28
60
38
65
28
93
111
110
26
60
29 + 2 × 3 =A
10 × 7 - 5 =H
7 × 11 - 17 =D
4 × 8 - 4 =E
2 + 2 × 2 =P
68 + 6 × 7 =O
8 × 5 - 19 =W
51 + 7 × 6 =M
2 + 7 × 2 =R
3 + 5 × 7 =T
12 × 4 - 4 =U
48 + 4 × 4 =S
1 + 4 × 2 =F
4 × 7 - 2 =L
97 + 7 × 2 =C
90 + 2 × 9 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The crowd noise doubled every second during the getaway, growing to a huge power.
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
361
400
100
225
8
9
32
49
64
400
32
16
400
49
32
324
49
9
32
289
81
64
49
243
49
81
81
16
400
9
400
81
19^2 =W
18^2 =B
2^5 =D
3^4 =T
15^2 =O
10^2 =F
2^3 =U
3^5 =P
3^2 =N
20^2 =E
7^2 =A
17^2 =S
8^2 =R
4^2 =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We had to solve for the missing team jersey count to unlock the stadium vault.
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
6x + 5 = 23, x = ?
4x + 4 = 28, x = ?
3x + 6 = 27, x = ?
2x + 11 = 29, x = ?
2x + 10 = 14, x = ?
5x + 5 = 25, x = ?
6x + 12 = 18, x = ?
3x + 10 = 25, x = ?
3x + 7 = 40, x = ?
5x + 1 = 41, x = ?
3x + 2 = 38, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain makes a gravity-defying leap, then taps their high-tech smart watch.
2.The villain throws a no-look laser pass, then scuffs their squeaky rubber sneakers.
3.The villain blasts a curving bicycle kick, then scuffs their squeaky rubber sneakers.
4.The villain blasts a curving bicycle kick, then tightens their weighted wrist bands.
5.The villain performs a super-speed dribble, then tightens their weighted wrist bands.
6.The villain performs a super-speed dribble, then scuffs their squeaky rubber sneakers.
7.The villain throws a no-look laser pass, then flashes their neon green cleats.
8.The villain throws a no-look laser pass, then polishes their gold championship ring.
9.The villain sinks an unblockable fadeaway, then scuffs their squeaky rubber sneakers.
10.The villain sinks an unblockable fadeaway, then taps their high-tech smart watch.
11.The villain sinks an unblockable fadeaway, then tightens their weighted wrist bands.
12.The villain sinks an unblockable fadeaway, then flashes their neon green cleats.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Grand Arena Heist
Culprit: Saka (unblockable fadeaway · high-tech smart watch · right handed shooter · red headband · loud referee whistles)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SNATCHER LACKS A GOLD CHAMPIONSHIP RING"6 - (-5) = 11 (T) · (-2) + 8 = 6 (H) · 18 - (-7) = 25 (N) · (-14) + 41 = 27 (L) · (-6) + 35 = 29 (S) · (-8) + 34 = 26 (A) · 16 - (-7) = 23 (G) · 5 - (-11) = 16 (I) · 19 - (-9) = 28 (P) · (-12) + 30 = 18 (O) · (-15) + 34 = 19 (E) · 19 - (-3) = 22 (R) · (-7) + 17 = 10 (K) · (-15) + 29 = 14 (M) · (-1) + 8 = 7 (D) · (-2) + 5 = 3 (C)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT SHOT THE BALL WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"10% of 590 = 59 (T) · 40% of 15 = 6 (W) · 20% of 55 = 11 (H) · 20% of 115 = 23 (U) · 50% of 34 = 17 (C) · 10% of 500 = 50 (R) · 40% of 130 = 52 (L) · 25% of 4 = 1 (S) · 25% of 164 = 41 (D) · 10% of 550 = 55 (G) · 25% of 40 = 10 (B) · 50% of 42 = 21 (O) · 10% of 370 = 37 (A) · 20% of 290 = 58 (E) · 50% of 50 = 25 (I) · 25% of 48 = 12 (P) · 5% of 580 = 29 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A LOUD REF WHISTLE STOPPED THEM COLD"29 + 2 × 3 = 35 (A) · 10 × 7 - 5 = 65 (H) · 7 × 11 - 17 = 60 (D) · 4 × 8 - 4 = 28 (E) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (P) · 68 + 6 × 7 = 110 (O) · 8 × 5 - 19 = 21 (W) · 51 + 7 × 6 = 93 (M) · 2 + 7 × 2 = 16 (R) · 3 + 5 × 7 = 38 (T) · 12 × 4 - 4 = 44 (U) · 48 + 4 × 4 = 64 (S) · 1 + 4 × 2 = 9 (F) · 4 × 7 - 2 = 26 (L) · 97 + 7 × 2 = 111 (C) · 90 + 2 × 9 = 108 (I)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND A RED HEADBAND STRAP AT THE NET"19^2 = 361 (W) · 18^2 = 324 (B) · 2^5 = 32 (D) · 3^4 = 81 (T) · 15^2 = 225 (O) · 10^2 = 100 (F) · 2^3 = 8 (U) · 3^5 = 243 (P) · 3^2 = 9 (N) · 20^2 = 400 (E) · 7^2 = 49 (A) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 8^2 = 64 (R) · 4^2 = 16 (H)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Saka6x + 5 = 23, x = 3 · 4x + 4 = 28, x = 6 · 3x + 6 = 27, x = 7 · 2x + 11 = 29, x = 9 · 2x + 10 = 14, x = 2 · 5x + 5 = 25, x = 4 · 6x + 12 = 18, x = 1 · 3x + 10 = 25, x = 5 · 3x + 7 = 40, x = 11 · 5x + 1 = 41, x = 8 · 3x + 2 = 38, x = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Grand Arena Heist — set in The Championship Dome
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects