⚾ BaseballGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Grand Slam Gold Mystery

The legendary Golden Glove trophy has vanished from the Grand Slam Stadium trophy case right before the championship game! The head groundskeeper needs your help to track down the sneaky stadium saboteur before the first pitch is thrown.

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	Pitching Style	Lucky Gear	Throwing Arm	Cap Style	Favorite Snack
Ty Cobb	Blazing Fastball	Shiny Golden Cleats	Left Handed Thrower	Backward Cap	Salty Peanuts
Mookie Betts	Blazing Fastball	Lucky Pine Tar Bat	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sunflower Seeds
Babe Ruth	Wobbly Knuckleball	Shiny Golden Cleats	Right Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Sunflower Seeds
Ken Griffey	Tricky Curveball	Shiny Golden Cleats	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Derek Jeter	Slow Changeup	Secret Scuffed Ball	Right Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Salty Peanuts
Aaron Judge	Wobbly Knuckleball	Heavy Batting Donut	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Mike Trout	Blazing Fastball	Shiny Golden Cleats	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Salty Peanuts
Shohei Ohtani	Tricky Curveball	Heavy Batting Donut	Right Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Sunflower Seeds
Yogi Berra	Tricky Curveball	Shiny Golden Cleats	Right Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Salty Peanuts
Honus Wagner	Blazing Fastball	Leathery Batting Gloves	Left Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Salty Peanuts
Nolan Ryan	Tricky Curveball	Secret Scuffed Ball	Right Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sunflower Seeds
Willie Mays	Tricky Curveball	Heavy Batting Donut	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Sandy Koufax	Slow Changeup	Secret Scuffed Ball	Right Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sunflower Seeds
Ichiro Suzuki	Wobbly Knuckleball	Heavy Batting Donut	Right Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Ted Williams	Sharp Slider	Secret Scuffed Ball	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Reggie Jackson	Tricky Curveball	Lucky Pine Tar Bat	Right Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Sunflower Seeds
Stan Musial	Blazing Fastball	Heavy Batting Donut	Right Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Cy Young	Blazing Fastball	Heavy Batting Donut	Left Handed Thrower	Visor Hat	Sticky Bubble Gum
Buster Posey	Slow Changeup	Heavy Batting Donut	Right Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Salty Peanuts
Jackie Robinson	Wobbly Knuckleball	Lucky Pine Tar Bat	Left Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Sticky Bubble Gum
Hank Aaron	Slow Changeup	Heavy Batting Donut	Left Handed Thrower	Forward Cap	Sticky Bubble Gum

Clue 1

Integers

The digital scoreboard took a hit during the heist, making the home team's run count swing up and down. Calculate the final score using these positive and negative integers to unlock the first 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.

(-7) + 25 =T

10 - (-12) =S

(-4) + 30 =P

(-5) + 6 =A

24 - (-5) =C

6 - (-8) =F

(-12) + 16 =H

20 - (-10) =N

8 - (-5) =O

(-7) + 26 =R

5 - (-4) =L

(-8) + 14 =U

(-14) + 37 =B

8 - (-4) =D

(-1) + 22 =E

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

The stadium computer has a security bar that fills up as it decodes the locker room entry codes. Solve these percentage problems to see how much progress the system has made.

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

50% of 110 =A

10% of 220 =D

50% of 56 =I

10% of 320 =O

20% of 30 =N

20% of 35 =H

50% of 2 =E

40% of 95 =G

50% of 8 =W

40% of 5 =S

10% of 400 =R

10% of 470 =T

40% of 135 =V

25% of 40 =F

25% of 72 =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The umpire left a puzzle on his clipboard showing how he groups the extra gear. Solve this multi-step equation using the correct order of operations to find 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.

114

105

108

10 + 2 × 5 =W

8 × 12 - 13 =L

8 × 8 - 7 =C

6 × 8 - 13 =F

9 × 12 - 3 =G

12 × 10 - 12 =M

82 + 2 × 4 =O

6 × 4 - 18 =I

12 + 9 × 8 =E

4 + 2 × 3 =N

8 × 7 - 9 =S

10 × 11 - 29 =U

64 + 3 × 8 =B

10 × 7 - 22 =H

11 × 11 - 7 =K

9 × 3 - 19 =D

1 + 5 × 2 =Y

41 + 6 × 3 =T

0/18 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The high-tech stadium lights are arranged in grid patterns that multiply quickly. Calculate these exponential values to find which light towers the suspect sneaked past.

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

196

169

144

361

289

361

100

343

169

216

289

196

100

289

324

196

169

324

144

169

361

4^3 =T

12^2 =F

14^2 =H

18^2 =N

6^3 =S

13^2 =I

7^3 =V

10^2 =A

2^3 =P

5^2 =E

17^2 =O

19^2 =D

2^5 =R

3^3 =L

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The concession stand receipt shows the total cost for a big group of fans plus a fixed stadium tax. Solve these two-step equations to find out exactly how many tickets the suspect bought.

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 + 12 = 24, x = ?

6x + 2 = 56, x = ?

3x + 3 = 39, x = ?

6x + 5 = 41, x = ?

5x + 4 = 54, x = ?

5x + 9 = 19, x = ?

3x + 4 = 25, x = ?

3x + 5 = 8, x = ?

4x + 1 = 45, x = ?

6x + 2 = 50, x = ?

3x + 11 = 20, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain slips a slow changeup into the gear bag, then sneaks off with a secret scuffed ball.

2.The villain throws a blazing fastball past the camera, then adjusts a pair of leathery batting gloves.

3.The villain slips a slow changeup into the gear bag, then swings a lucky pine tar bat.

4.The villain snaps a tricky curveball into the dugout, then stomps away in shiny golden cleats.

5.The villain unleashes a wobbly knuckleball over the plate, then drops a heavy batting donut on the turf.

6.The villain slips a slow changeup into the gear bag, then drops a heavy batting donut on the turf.

7.The villain throws a blazing fastball past the camera, then sneaks off with a secret scuffed ball.

8.The villain hurls a sharp slider near the bullpen, then sneaks off with a secret scuffed ball.

9.The villain snaps a tricky curveball into the dugout, then drops a heavy batting donut on the turf.

10.The villain unleashes a wobbly knuckleball over the plate, then stomps away in shiny golden cleats.

11.The villain throws a blazing fastball past the camera, then swings a lucky pine tar bat.

12.The villain throws a blazing fastball past the camera, then drops a heavy batting donut on the turf.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Grand Slam Gold Mystery

Culprit: Aaron Judge (Wobbly Knuckleball · Heavy Batting Donut · Left Handed Thrower · Visor Hat · Sticky Bubble Gum)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SNOOP DOES NOT USE A SECRET SCUFFED BALL"
(-7) + 25 = 18 (T) · 10 - (-12) = 22 (S) · (-4) + 30 = 26 (P) · (-5) + 6 = 1 (A) · 24 - (-5) = 29 (C) · 6 - (-8) = 14 (F) · (-12) + 16 = 4 (H) · 20 - (-10) = 30 (N) · 8 - (-5) = 13 (O) · (-7) + 26 = 19 (R) · 5 - (-4) = 9 (L) · (-8) + 14 = 6 (U) · (-14) + 37 = 23 (B) · 8 - (-4) = 12 (D) · (-1) + 22 = 21 (E)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "A LEFT HANDED THROWER LEFT THIS GLOVE"
50% of 110 = 55 (A) · 10% of 220 = 22 (D) · 50% of 56 = 28 (I) · 10% of 320 = 32 (O) · 20% of 30 = 6 (N) · 20% of 35 = 7 (H) · 50% of 2 = 1 (E) · 40% of 95 = 38 (G) · 50% of 8 = 4 (W) · 40% of 5 = 2 (S) · 10% of 400 = 40 (R) · 10% of 470 = 47 (T) · 40% of 135 = 54 (V) · 25% of 40 = 10 (F) · 25% of 72 = 18 (L)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND STICKY BUBBLE GUM ON THE BENCH"
10 + 2 × 5 = 20 (W) · 8 × 12 - 13 = 83 (L) · 8 × 8 - 7 = 57 (C) · 6 × 8 - 13 = 35 (F) · 9 × 12 - 3 = 105 (G) · 12 × 10 - 12 = 108 (M) · 82 + 2 × 4 = 90 (O) · 6 × 4 - 18 = 6 (I) · 12 + 9 × 8 = 84 (E) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (N) · 8 × 7 - 9 = 47 (S) · 10 × 11 - 29 = 81 (U) · 64 + 3 × 8 = 88 (B) · 10 × 7 - 22 = 48 (H) · 11 × 11 - 7 = 114 (K) · 9 × 3 - 19 = 8 (D) · 1 + 5 × 2 = 11 (Y) · 41 + 6 × 3 = 59 (T)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DROPPED A VISOR HAT ON THE INFIELD"
4^3 = 64 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (F) · 14^2 = 196 (H) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 6^3 = 216 (S) · 13^2 = 169 (I) · 7^3 = 343 (V) · 10^2 = 100 (A) · 2^3 = 8 (P) · 5^2 = 25 (E) · 17^2 = 289 (O) · 19^2 = 361 (D) · 2^5 = 32 (R) · 3^3 = 27 (L)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 5) → Aaron Judge
3x + 12 = 24, x = 4 · 6x + 2 = 56, x = 9 · 3x + 3 = 39, x = 12 · 6x + 5 = 41, x = 6 · 5x + 4 = 54, x = 10 · 5x + 9 = 19, x = 2 · 3x + 4 = 25, x = 7 · 3x + 5 = 8, x = 1 · 4x + 1 = 45, x = 11 · 6x + 2 = 50, x = 8 · 3x + 11 = 20, x = 3

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 Slam Gold Mystery — set in Grand Slam Stadium
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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