🐶 DogsGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremBar modelsSquare rootsExponentsDivision
The Great Barkminster Heist
The prestigious Golden Bone Trophy has been stolen right from the central podium just before the Best in Show announcement! A trail of muddy pawprints and discarded chew toys leads away from the scene. It is up to you to crack the case, identify the Rogue Showdog, and retrieve the championship trophy.
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 | Scent Specialization | Lead Paw | Coat Color | Distraction Toy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perdita | Double Spin | Peppermint Detection | Left Paw Dominant | Snowy White | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Hachiko | Double Spin | Vanilla Locating | Right Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Toto | Triple Hurdle | Cinnamon Hunting | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Squeaky Hedgehog |
| Blue | Silent Vault | Aniseed Tracking | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Tramp | Backflip Catch | Cinnamon Hunting | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Winn-Dixie | Backflip Catch | Aniseed Tracking | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Scooby | High-Speed Slalom | Lavender Sensing | Right Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Squeaky Hedgehog |
| Pongo | Triple Hurdle | Lavender Sensing | Right Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Crinkly Duck |
| Snoopy | Triple Hurdle | Vanilla Locating | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Squeaky Hedgehog |
| Clifford | Silent Vault | Lavender Sensing | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Shiloh | Triple Hurdle | Vanilla Locating | Left Paw Dominant | Snowy White | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Slinky | Backflip Catch | Vanilla Locating | Right Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Crinkly Duck |
| Lady | Double Spin | Vanilla Locating | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Crinkly Duck |
| Wishbone | High-Speed Slalom | Aniseed Tracking | Right Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Balto | Silent Vault | Cinnamon Hunting | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Dug | Triple Hurdle | Vanilla Locating | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Odie | Triple Hurdle | Lavender Sensing | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Buddy | Double Spin | Lavender Sensing | Left Paw Dominant | Midnight Black | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
| Marley | Silent Vault | Vanilla Locating | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Squeaky Hedgehog |
| Copper | Triple Hurdle | Cinnamon Hunting | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Crinkly Duck |
| Nana | Triple Hurdle | Aniseed Tracking | Left Paw Dominant | Golden Brindle | Bouncing Tennis Ball |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
We analyze the layout of the grooming tent. By setting up a bar model comparing the weights of grooming bags to the missing trophy, we determine our first clue about the thief's scent specialty.
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
37
58
20
T
37
58
26
20
75
116
29
20
87
25
29
T
37
87
20
20
123
15
26
25
25
13
52
29
25
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =T
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =M
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =A
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =E
legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse =D
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =F
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =C
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =S
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =O
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =N
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =H
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =K
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
The security team spots a diagonal trail of treats from the podium to the doggy door. Using the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the exact straight-line distance reveals the villain's dominant paw.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
22
13
32
89
121
78
107
D
O
M
I
N
78
N
89
There were 23 dog treats in all. 1 dog treats were used. How many dog treats are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→L
Agility Trainer shares 224 dog treats equally among 7 teams. How many dog treats does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→F
The red team has 114 agility cones and the blue team has 7 agility cones. How many more agility cones does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→W
Agility Trainer shares 234 tennis balls equally among 3 teams. How many tennis balls does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
One group collected 67 squeaky bones and another group collected 22 squeaky bones. How many squeaky bones in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
One group collected 10 agility cones and another group collected 3 agility cones. How many agility cones in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→E
The red team has 127 dog treats and the blue team has 6 dog treats. How many more dog treats does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→P
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
We discover a perfectly square grid of puppy agility training pads on the field. Taking the square root of the total area points us directly to the scent track containing stray fur fibers.
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
12
8
15
7
4
T
14
5
23
23
10
20
2
4
11
11
T
14
15
T
14
8
4
16
T
14
12
5
24
15
5
sqrt(196) =T
sqrt(25) =E
sqrt(529) =N
sqrt(576) =F
sqrt(225) =O
sqrt(49) =W
sqrt(16) =A
sqrt(100) =I
sqrt(4) =B
sqrt(400) =S
sqrt(256) =P
sqrt(144) =H
sqrt(121) =L
sqrt(64) =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The thief left behind a digital collar lock that doubles its security code complexity with every incorrect attempt. Calculating the exponential growth of the lock's patterns cracks the code and reveals the villain's favorite toy.
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
81
32
361
512
243
8
49
125
128
49
8
128
64
289
16
196
9
441
144
225
361
243
484
512
8
16
289
32
484
243
64
3^4 =W
12^2 =C
15^2 =K
2^5 =E
4^2 =T
7^2 =D
2^7 =I
4^3 =G
3^5 =U
3^2 =L
2^3 =N
21^2 =A
5^3 =M
14^2 =B
19^2 =F
2^9 =O
17^2 =H
22^2 =R
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We find a stash of stolen treats hidden behind the grandstands. Dividing the treats equally among the local search dogs helps us clear the final suspect and isolate the culprit.
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
11 ÷ 1 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain performed a dazzling double spin to confuse the guards, then sniffed out the aniseed trail along the exit path.
2.The villain cleared the high wall with a silent vault, then sniffed out the aniseed trail along the exit path.
3.The villain cleared the high wall with a silent vault, then tracked the sweet aroma of vanilla to the docks.
4.The villain performed a dazzling double spin to confuse the guards, then followed the peppermint trail to the getaway van.
5.The villain leaped clean over the triple hurdle barrier, then used cinnamon scent cues to navigate the dark alley.
6.The villain performed a dazzling double spin to confuse the guards, then tracked the sweet aroma of vanilla to the docks.
7.The villain executed a flawless backflip catch to snatch the prize, then sniffed out the aniseed trail along the exit path.
8.The villain leaped clean over the triple hurdle barrier, then followed a soothing lavender path into the park.
9.The villain leaped clean over the triple hurdle barrier, then tracked the sweet aroma of vanilla to the docks.
10.The villain weaved through the high-speed slalom course to escape, then sniffed out the aniseed trail along the exit path.
11.The villain performed a dazzling double spin to confuse the guards, then followed a soothing lavender path into the park.
12.The villain leaped clean over the triple hurdle barrier, then followed the peppermint trail to the getaway van.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Barkminster Heist
Culprit: Odie (Triple Hurdle · Lavender Sensing · Left Paw Dominant · Midnight Black · Bouncing Tennis Ball)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE THIEF DOES NOT SEEK CINNAMON"legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (T) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (M) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (A) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (E) · legs 80 and 84, hypotenuse = 116 (D) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (I) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (F) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (C) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (S) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (O) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (N) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (H) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (K)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "LEFT PAW DOMINANT"There were 23 dog treats in all. 1 dog treats were used. How many dog treats are left? = 22 (L) · Agility Trainer shares 224 dog treats equally among 7 teams. How many dog treats does each team get? = 32 (F) · The red team has 114 agility cones and the blue team has 7 agility cones. How many more agility cones does the red team have? = 107 (W) · Agility Trainer shares 234 tennis balls equally among 3 teams. How many tennis balls does each team get? = 78 (A) · One group collected 67 squeaky bones and another group collected 22 squeaky bones. How many squeaky bones in all? = 89 (T) · One group collected 10 agility cones and another group collected 3 agility cones. How many agility cones in all? = 13 (E) · The red team has 127 dog treats and the blue team has 6 dog treats. How many more dog treats does the red team have? = 121 (P)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THROW A TENNIS BALL TO TRAP THE FOE"sqrt(196) = 14 (T) · sqrt(25) = 5 (E) · sqrt(529) = 23 (N) · sqrt(576) = 24 (F) · sqrt(225) = 15 (O) · sqrt(49) = 7 (W) · sqrt(16) = 4 (A) · sqrt(100) = 10 (I) · sqrt(4) = 2 (B) · sqrt(400) = 20 (S) · sqrt(256) = 16 (P) · sqrt(144) = 12 (H) · sqrt(121) = 11 (L) · sqrt(64) = 8 (R)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND MIDNIGHT BLACK FUR ON THE RUG"3^4 = 81 (W) · 12^2 = 144 (C) · 15^2 = 225 (K) · 2^5 = 32 (E) · 4^2 = 16 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (D) · 2^7 = 128 (I) · 4^3 = 64 (G) · 3^5 = 243 (U) · 3^2 = 9 (L) · 2^3 = 8 (N) · 21^2 = 441 (A) · 5^3 = 125 (M) · 14^2 = 196 (B) · 19^2 = 361 (F) · 2^9 = 512 (O) · 17^2 = 289 (H) · 22^2 = 484 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Odie11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Bar models, Square roots, Exponents, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Great Barkminster Heist — set in The Grand Canine Pavilion
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects