🔎 The great capacity caperGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Fractions of a numberMultiplicationRoundingPythagorean theorem
The Great Capacity Caper
The central Hydro-Vault has been breached! A rogue agent has drained the master reservoirs of their precious super-fluids. We must calculate the remaining capacities to track down the thief.
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 | Gear | Stolen Fluid | Eyewear | Hair Color | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Boyle | Funnel Mask | Glitch Serum | Wears Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Nikolaus Otto | Valve Wrench | Neon Elixir | Wears Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Dry Sand |
| Amedeo Avogadro | Graduated Beaker | Glitch Serum | Wears Goggles | Spiky Blue Hair | Dry Sand |
| Jacques Charles | Valve Wrench | Magna Juice | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Evangelista Torricelli | Siphon Hose | Magna Juice | No Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Freeze Ray |
| Lord Kelvin | Funnel Mask | Heavy Water | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Yen Wing | Valve Wrench | Magna Juice | No Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Freeze Ray |
| Thomas Newcomen | Valve Wrench | Heavy Water | No Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Dry Sand |
| Terry Benedict | Pump Boots | Neon Elixir | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Frank Catton | Graduated Beaker | Heavy Water | No Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| John Dalton | Graduated Beaker | Magna Juice | Wears Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Dry Sand |
| Joseph Gay Lussac | Siphon Hose | Solar Fuel | Wears Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Freeze Ray |
| Daniel Bernoulli | Valve Wrench | Glitch Serum | No Goggles | Neon Green Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Danny Ocean | Funnel Mask | Neon Elixir | Wears Goggles | Spiky Blue Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Rusty Ryan | Valve Wrench | Magna Juice | Wears Goggles | Spiky Blue Hair | Dry Sand |
| Rudolf Diesel | Siphon Hose | Neon Elixir | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Freeze Ray |
| Marie Curie | Pump Boots | Magna Juice | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Freeze Ray |
| Linus Caldwell | Graduated Beaker | Glitch Serum | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Basher Tarr | Siphon Hose | Solar Fuel | Wears Goggles | Spiky Blue Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
| Antoine Lavoisier | Valve Wrench | Heavy Water | Wears Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Freeze Ray |
| James Watt | Siphon Hose | Heavy Water | No Goggles | Chrome Silver Hair | Absorbent Sponge |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To find the first lead, we must figure out what fraction of the main reservoir was successfully drained before the alarm cut off the pumps.
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
18
51
31
T
18
51
2
31
43
21
2
21
30
47
T
18
55
T
18
31
32
59
T
18
51
31
3
32
25
30
32
17
44
2
53
31
6/8 of 24 =T
1/3 of 159 =C
6/8 of 68 =H
1/3 of 75 =G
3/5 of 35 =D
8/10 of 40 =A
2/5 of 110 =U
4/8 of 110 =S
1/6 of 12 =I
2/6 of 51 =J
2/4 of 118 =L
1/3 of 93 =E
3/8 of 8 =M
2/3 of 45 =N
1/2 of 86 =F
2/4 of 94 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The thief fled down the storage corridor. To see how many total liters they managed to carry, we must multiply the number of crates by their volume capacity.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
N
18
96
25
96
25
25
108
54
20
2
8
45
24
48
45
8
1
20
14
54
8
54
108
54
21
2
80
54
63
99
N
18
15
9 × 2 =N
11 × 9 =I
5 × 3 =D
5 × 5 =G
2 × 10 =S
7 × 9 =H
3 × 8 =P
6 × 9 =E
2 × 7 =W
9 × 5 =A
10 × 8 =B
7 × 3 =F
8 × 12 =O
2 × 1 =T
12 × 9 =L
1 × 8 =R
1 × 1 =K
6 × 8 =M
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The backup pressure gauge only displays values rounded to the nearest ten liters. We need to round the scanner data to read the correct pressure level.
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
1700
110
900
T
1700
110
200
900
3000
430
50
370
3000
430
290
2900
50
500
900
T
1700
30
2000
290
370
20
900
Round 1,689 to the nearest hundredT
Round 1,619 to the nearest thousandP
Round 291 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,931 to the nearest thousandF
Round 367 to the nearest tenN
Round 48 to the nearest tenA
Round 18 to the nearest tenG
Round 114 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,852 to the nearest hundredM
Round 865 to the nearest hundredE
Round 163 to the nearest hundredI
Round 434 to the nearest tenR
Round 500 to the nearest hundredW
Round 26 to the nearest tenS
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Pythagorean theorem
The thief used a zip-line from the top of the tank to the emergency exit. We can find the length of their escape route by calculating the hypotenuse of the triangle.
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
30
37
17
10
87
85
41
65
25
39
15
41
10
65
52
10
A
30
13
123
34
A
30
65
87
13
52
17
41
75
39
87
87
10
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =W
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =R
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =E
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =F
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =V
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =O
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =D
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =C
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =N
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =M
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =I
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =L
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
A spilled container left a puddle on the floor. If we calculate the exact fraction of the liquid that evaporated, we can determine how long ago they fled.
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
1/6 of 42 = ?
8/10 of 10 = ?
2/3 of 15 = ?
1/2 of 2 = ?
1/8 of 16 = ?
1/6 of 18 = ?
8/10 of 15 = ?
4/5 of 5 = ?
1/5 of 55 = ?
1/3 of 15 = ?
4/8 of 18 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain cracked the seal with a wrench, then corrupted the grid with glitch serum.
2.The villain leaped away using pump boots, then corrupted the grid with glitch serum.
3.The villain filtered the liquid through a mask, then corrupted the grid with glitch serum.
4.The villain cracked the seal with a wrench, then escaped with neon elixir.
5.The villain cracked the seal with a wrench, then drained the solar fuel tank.
6.The villain filtered the liquid through a mask, then loaded up the heavy water.
7.The villain siphoned the prime reservoir, then loaded up the heavy water.
8.The villain filled the giant beaker, then corrupted the grid with glitch serum.
9.The villain filled the giant beaker, then escaped with neon elixir.
10.The villain leaped away using pump boots, then escaped with neon elixir.
11.The villain filled the giant beaker, then loaded up the heavy water.
12.The villain siphoned the prime reservoir, then escaped with neon elixir.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Capacity Caper
Culprit: Lord Kelvin (Funnel Mask · Heavy Water · No Goggles · Chrome Silver Hair · Absorbent Sponge)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE THIEF DID NOT STEAL THE MAGNA JUICE"6/8 of 24 = 18 (T) · 1/3 of 159 = 53 (C) · 6/8 of 68 = 51 (H) · 1/3 of 75 = 25 (G) · 3/5 of 35 = 21 (D) · 8/10 of 40 = 32 (A) · 2/5 of 110 = 44 (U) · 4/8 of 110 = 55 (S) · 1/6 of 12 = 2 (I) · 2/6 of 51 = 17 (J) · 2/4 of 118 = 59 (L) · 1/3 of 93 = 31 (E) · 3/8 of 8 = 3 (M) · 2/3 of 45 = 30 (N) · 1/2 of 86 = 43 (F) · 2/4 of 94 = 47 (O)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "NO GOGGLE STRAP MARKS WERE LEFT BEHIND"9 × 2 = 18 (N) · 11 × 9 = 99 (I) · 5 × 3 = 15 (D) · 5 × 5 = 25 (G) · 2 × 10 = 20 (S) · 7 × 9 = 63 (H) · 3 × 8 = 24 (P) · 6 × 9 = 54 (E) · 2 × 7 = 14 (W) · 9 × 5 = 45 (A) · 10 × 8 = 80 (B) · 7 × 3 = 21 (F) · 8 × 12 = 96 (O) · 2 × 1 = 2 (T) · 12 × 9 = 108 (L) · 1 × 8 = 8 (R) · 1 × 1 = 1 (K) · 6 × 8 = 48 (M)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE THIEF RAN FROM A WET SPONGE"Round 1,689 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (T) · Round 1,619 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (P) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (O) · Round 2,931 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (F) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (N) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (G) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (H) · Round 2,852 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (M) · Round 865 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E) · Round 163 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (R) · Round 500 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (S)
- Clue 4 (Pythagorean theorem): "A CHROME SILVER STRAND WAS ON THE FLOOR"legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (A) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (W) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (R) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (E) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (F) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (V) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (O) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (D) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (C) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (N) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (M) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (I) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (L) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (H) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (T) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (S)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 6) → Lord Kelvin1/6 of 42 = 7 · 8/10 of 10 = 8 · 2/3 of 15 = 10 · 1/2 of 2 = 1 · 1/8 of 16 = 2 · 1/6 of 18 = 3 · 8/10 of 15 = 12 · 4/5 of 5 = 4 · 1/5 of 55 = 11 · 1/3 of 15 = 5 · 4/8 of 18 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Multiplication, Rounding, Pythagorean theorem
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Great Capacity Caper — set in The Hydro-Vault Depot
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects