🦕 Basketball, Soccer, DinosaurGrade 8Reading: grades 5-6ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Great Blocky Stadium Heist
The championship match between the Pixel Raptors and the Crafting Cobras was about to start when someone hacked the server and stole the Golden Diamond Trophy! The thief left a trail of voxel blocks, soccer balls, and dinosaur footprints behind.
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 Move | Voxel Armor Piece | Shooting Style | Dino Helmet Style | Game Glitch Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Sam | Fire Kick | Diamond Boots | Right handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Free throw line |
| Kevin Durant | Voxel Shield | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Water blocks |
| Megan Rapinoe | Voxel Shield | Netherite Helmet | Left handed shooter | Orange Fire Helm | Water blocks |
| Alex Morgan | Teleport Dribble | Redstone Glow | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Slam Dunk Sally | Voxel Shield | Netherite Helmet | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Alex Crafter | Voxel Shield | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Steve Voxel | Voxel Shield | Obsidian Jersey | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Referee whistles |
| Voxel Val | Mega Jump | Diamond Boots | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Free throw line |
| Raptor Ryan | Teleport Dribble | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Free throw line |
| Tony T Rex | Dunking Raptor | Diamond Boots | Right handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| LeBron James | Mega Jump | Diamond Boots | Right handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Free throw line |
| Dunking Dale | Mega Jump | Netherite Helmet | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Harry Kane | Mega Jump | Diamond Boots | Right handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Net Ninja | Dunking Raptor | Obsidian Jersey | Right handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Free throw line |
| Spike Dino | Dunking Raptor | Obsidian Jersey | Left handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Water blocks |
| Hopper Holly | Dunking Raptor | Pterodactyl Wings | Right handed shooter | Green Dino Crest | Water blocks |
| Creeper Chris | Dunking Raptor | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Orange Fire Helm | Referee whistles |
| Steph Curry | Teleport Dribble | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Referee whistles |
| Pixel Pete | Mega Jump | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Free throw line |
| Lionel Messi | Dunking Raptor | Pterodactyl Wings | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Water blocks |
| Chloe Cleats | Voxel Shield | Redstone Glow | Left handed shooter | Blue Pixel Mohawk | Free throw line |
Clue 1
Exponents
The hacker locked the scoreboard with an exponential security code. Solve the math to see how fast the glitch is growing.
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
81
225
64
324
27
324
16
64
400
T
81
121
196
64
324
100
196
T
81
225
441
4
64
T
81
225
64
256
64
121
324
T
81
196
100
64
729
25
196
343
3^4 =T
14^2 =O
15^2 =H
18^2 =S
7^3 =W
4^3 =E
2^2 =V
10^2 =N
3^6 =G
3^3 =U
21^2 =A
20^2 =C
5^2 =L
11^2 =D
4^4 =R
4^2 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We need to find the square root of the grid areas on the pixel field to trace the thief's escape path.
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
7
25
12
13
12
18
T
7
25
3
10
8
12
8
11
25
22
22
T
7
12
24
13
12
18
T
7
11
5
17
8
20
12
11
22
10
11
15
24
12
12
10
sqrt(49) =T
sqrt(144) =E
sqrt(64) =D
sqrt(576) =R
sqrt(100) =N
sqrt(484) =O
sqrt(324) =F
sqrt(400) =G
sqrt(25) =M
sqrt(169) =L
sqrt(121) =S
sqrt(225) =C
sqrt(289) =U
sqrt(625) =H
sqrt(9) =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The suspect ran diagonally across the basketball court. Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the exact distance of their path.
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
74
50
52
75
5
30
52
51
34
50
52
65
T
74
50
52
75
10
20
34
34
20
T
74
52
15
68
30
17
87
58
10
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =T
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =H
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =S
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =L
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =Y
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =B
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =A
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =F
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =C
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =K
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =R
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =E
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =N
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =O
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =W
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
A damaged redstone repeater on the server wall needs its order of operations solved to boot up the security footage.
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
50
19
73
45
114
38
32
26
99
58
114
19
76
65
120
19
58
78
45
88
26
W
50
14
73
65
99
19
43
5 × 11 - 5 =W
41 + 8 × 3 =I
4 × 7 - 2 =A
12 × 8 - 8 =H
6 + 4 × 2 =K
11 × 12 - 12 =X
20 + 4 × 3 =D
9 × 7 - 18 =O
7 × 9 - 25 =N
10 × 11 - 11 =B
10 × 10 - 22 =M
31 + 3 × 4 =R
46 + 6 × 2 =L
7 + 6 × 2 =E
9 × 11 - 23 =P
12 × 11 - 18 =U
55 + 2 × 9 =F
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The suspect rented a private skybox for a flat entry fee plus a rate per hour. Solve the two-step equation to see how long they stayed inside.
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
2x + 8 = 20, x = ?
4x + 12 = 60, x = ?
3x + 2 = 35, x = ?
2x + 6 = 14, x = ?
2x + 6 = 8, x = ?
4x + 5 = 17, x = ?
3x + 5 = 29, x = ?
3x + 11 = 32, x = ?
6x + 9 = 69, x = ?
2x + 6 = 10, x = ?
4x + 12 = 32, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain performed a sneaky Teleport Dribble, then shrugged off the damage with a Netherite Helmet.
2.The villain performed a sneaky Teleport Dribble, then glided over the goalposts using Pterodactyl Wings.
3.The villain unleashed a blazing Fire Kick, then stomped away in Diamond Boots.
4.The villain activated the Dunking Raptor boost, then lit up the dark tunnels with a Redstone Glow.
5.The villain activated the Dunking Raptor boost, then shrugged off the damage with a Netherite Helmet.
6.The villain activated the Dunking Raptor boost, then glided over the goalposts using Pterodactyl Wings.
7.The villain performed a sneaky Teleport Dribble, then deflected the penalty kicks with an Obsidian Jersey.
8.The villain unleashed a blazing Fire Kick, then lit up the dark tunnels with a Redstone Glow.
9.The villain summoned a massive Voxel Shield, then glided over the goalposts using Pterodactyl Wings.
10.The villain launched into a physics-defying Mega Jump, then stomped away in Diamond Boots.
11.The villain launched into a physics-defying Mega Jump, then shrugged off the damage with a Netherite Helmet.
12.The villain summoned a massive Voxel Shield, then shrugged off the damage with a Netherite Helmet.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Blocky Stadium Heist
Culprit: Alex Crafter (Voxel Shield · Pterodactyl Wings · Left handed shooter · Blue Pixel Mohawk · Water blocks)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT HAVE THE REDSTONE GLOW"3^4 = 81 (T) · 14^2 = 196 (O) · 15^2 = 225 (H) · 18^2 = 324 (S) · 7^3 = 343 (W) · 4^3 = 64 (E) · 2^2 = 4 (V) · 10^2 = 100 (N) · 3^6 = 729 (G) · 3^3 = 27 (U) · 21^2 = 441 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (C) · 5^2 = 25 (L) · 11^2 = 121 (D) · 4^4 = 256 (R) · 4^2 = 16 (P)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE LEFT HANDED SHOOTER LEFT SMUDGES ON SCREEN"sqrt(49) = 7 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (E) · sqrt(64) = 8 (D) · sqrt(576) = 24 (R) · sqrt(100) = 10 (N) · sqrt(484) = 22 (O) · sqrt(324) = 18 (F) · sqrt(400) = 20 (G) · sqrt(25) = 5 (M) · sqrt(169) = 13 (L) · sqrt(121) = 11 (S) · sqrt(225) = 15 (C) · sqrt(289) = 17 (U) · sqrt(625) = 25 (H) · sqrt(9) = 3 (A)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THEY FLED WHEN THEY SAW WATER BLOCKS"legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (T) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (H) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (S) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (L) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (Y) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (B) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (A) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (F) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (C) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (K) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (R) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (E) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (N) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (O) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (W) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND A BLUE PIXEL MOHAWK FIBER"5 × 11 - 5 = 50 (W) · 41 + 8 × 3 = 65 (I) · 4 × 7 - 2 = 26 (A) · 12 × 8 - 8 = 88 (H) · 6 + 4 × 2 = 14 (K) · 11 × 12 - 12 = 120 (X) · 20 + 4 × 3 = 32 (D) · 9 × 7 - 18 = 45 (O) · 7 × 9 - 25 = 38 (N) · 10 × 11 - 11 = 99 (B) · 10 × 10 - 22 = 78 (M) · 31 + 3 × 4 = 43 (R) · 46 + 6 × 2 = 58 (L) · 7 + 6 × 2 = 19 (E) · 9 × 11 - 23 = 76 (P) · 12 × 11 - 18 = 114 (U) · 55 + 2 × 9 = 73 (F)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Alex Crafter2x + 8 = 20, x = 6 · 4x + 12 = 60, x = 12 · 3x + 2 = 35, x = 11 · 2x + 6 = 14, x = 4 · 2x + 6 = 8, x = 1 · 4x + 5 = 17, x = 3 · 3x + 5 = 29, x = 8 · 3x + 11 = 32, x = 7 · 6x + 9 = 69, x = 10 · 2x + 6 = 10, x = 2 · 4x + 12 = 32, x = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Great Blocky Stadium Heist — set in The Mesozoic Block Arena, a high-tech sports dome made of voxel blocks and dino habitats
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects