🐱 CatsGrade 7Reading: grades 3-4IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Great Fish Caper

The legendary Golden Tuna Statue has been swiped from the Purrfect Palace! A mysterious cat burglar slipped past the lasers and vanished into the night. The Royal Fishkeeper needs your help to find the culprit!

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	Primary Ability	Special Gear	Dominant Paw	Coat Style	Distraction
Cleo	Super Jump	Super Sniffer	Left Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Catnip Treats
Tom	Quiet Paws	Sleepy Purr	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Catnip Treats
Nala	Quiet Paws	Grappling Yarn	Left Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Vacuum Sounds
Whiskers	Night Vision	Glider Suit	Left Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Vacuum Sounds
Rusty	Quiet Paws	Meow Mimic	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Laser Pointers
Oreo	Quiet Paws	Super Sniffer	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Shadow	Quiet Paws	Glider Suit	Left Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Luna	Super Jump	Meow Mimic	Right Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Vacuum Sounds
Milo	Wall Climb	Super Sniffer	Left Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Catnip Treats
Simba	Fast Dash	Meow Mimic	Left Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Laser Pointers
Felix	Wall Climb	Sleepy Purr	Right Pawed	Tabby Stripes	Vacuum Sounds
Socks	Wall Climb	Sleepy Purr	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Bella	Super Jump	Meow Mimic	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Mittens	Wall Climb	Grappling Yarn	Left Pawed	Calico Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Boots	Super Jump	Glider Suit	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Oliver	Fast Dash	Sleepy Purr	Right Pawed	Calico Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Sylvester	Night Vision	Super Sniffer	Left Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Chloe	Super Jump	Grappling Yarn	Right Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Smokey	Fast Dash	Super Sniffer	Left Pawed	Sleek Black Fur	Laser Pointers
Jasper	Quiet Paws	Super Sniffer	Right Pawed	Calico Fur	Vacuum Sounds
Coco	Wall Climb	Meow Mimic	Right Pawed	Calico Fur	Vacuum Sounds

Clue 1

Integers

To find the first clue, we must check the temperature of the cold vault. The vault gets colder and warmer as the gears turn.

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

(-11) + 40 =T

5 - (-13) =R

(-1) + 28 =D

14 - (-6) =P

(-14) + 15 =O

(-9) + 16 =C

8 - (-2) =I

6 - (-8) =G

1 - (-14) =N

2 - (-3) =L

22 - (-2) =A

(-2) + 27 =E

(-14) + 22 =U

(-6) + 32 =S

(-1) + 12 =H

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

Our robotic mouse helper has a small battery. We need to calculate what percentage of its power is left to retrieve the second 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.

25% of 192 =W

50% of 118 =E

10% of 550 =T

50% of 84 =R

50% of 20 =I

5% of 860 =A

50% of 60 =S

10% of 540 =C

10% of 520 =P

20% of 100 =H

5% of 320 =G

0/11 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The culprit knocked over stacks of toy baskets. Let us count the total scattered toys in the correct order to reveal the third 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.

103

9 × 11 - 13 =A

13 + 6 × 2 =R

67 + 8 × 4 =M

4 × 11 - 11 =W

9 × 12 - 27 =C

12 × 11 - 29 =Y

79 + 4 × 4 =H

11 × 6 - 18 =U

6 + 3 × 6 =E

40 + 6 × 9 =T

46 + 4 × 8 =N

9 × 4 - 27 =O

22 + 2 × 2 =D

34 + 5 × 8 =I

10 × 6 - 7 =V

9 × 11 - 19 =S

9 × 11 - 8 =L

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

A supercomputer is locking the diary. The lock code multiplies by itself several times, and we must find the final 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.

361

324

361

128

256

324

125

343

128

169

125

256

324

169

289

343

2^3 =S

6^2 =B

2^4 =W

4^3 =D

5^3 =U

5^2 =O

19^2 =L

2^7 =A

17^2 =H

7^3 =R

18^2 =K

4^4 =C

3^2 =F

3^3 =E

13^2 =T

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The local pet shop charges a basic entry fee plus a cost for each treats cup. Solve for the total cups bought to get the final clue.

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 + 6 = 22, x = ?

5x + 9 = 14, x = ?

2x + 4 = 22, x = ?

6x + 3 = 27, x = ?

2x + 9 = 13, x = ?

3x + 8 = 29, x = ?

2x + 11 = 21, x = ?

6x + 5 = 71, x = ?

6x + 1 = 19, x = ?

6x + 9 = 69, x = ?

2x + 3 = 27, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain did a wall climb up the castle tower, then lulled the guard with a sleepy purr.

2.The villain used night vision in the dark hall, then escaped the roof with a glider suit.

3.The villain did a super jump over the fence, then lulled the guard with a sleepy purr.

4.The villain used night vision in the dark hall, then tricked the guard using meow mimic.

5.The villain sneaked by with quiet paws, then tricked the guard using meow mimic.

6.The villain sneaked by with quiet paws, then located the prize using a super sniffer.

7.The villain did a super jump over the fence, then located the prize using a super sniffer.

8.The villain did a super jump over the fence, then zipped up high with a grappling yarn.

9.The villain did a super jump over the fence, then tricked the guard using meow mimic.

10.The villain used night vision in the dark hall, then lulled the guard with a sleepy purr.

11.The villain made a fast dash down the alley, then lulled the guard with a sleepy purr.

12.The villain made a fast dash down the alley, then escaped the roof with a glider suit.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Fish Caper

Culprit: Oreo (Quiet Paws · Super Sniffer · Right Pawed · Sleek Black Fur · Vacuum Sounds)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A GLIDER SUIT"
(-11) + 40 = 29 (T) · 5 - (-13) = 18 (R) · (-1) + 28 = 27 (D) · 14 - (-6) = 20 (P) · (-14) + 15 = 1 (O) · (-9) + 16 = 7 (C) · 8 - (-2) = 10 (I) · 6 - (-8) = 14 (G) · 1 - (-14) = 15 (N) · 2 - (-3) = 5 (L) · 22 - (-2) = 24 (A) · (-2) + 27 = 25 (E) · (-14) + 22 = 8 (U) · (-6) + 32 = 26 (S) · (-1) + 12 = 11 (H)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "WE SAW THE CAT WRITE WITH A RIGHT PAW"
25% of 192 = 48 (W) · 50% of 118 = 59 (E) · 10% of 550 = 55 (T) · 50% of 84 = 42 (R) · 50% of 20 = 10 (I) · 5% of 860 = 43 (A) · 50% of 60 = 30 (S) · 10% of 540 = 54 (C) · 10% of 520 = 52 (P) · 20% of 100 = 20 (H) · 5% of 320 = 16 (G)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A VACUUM SOUND MADE THE VILLAIN RUN AWAY"
9 × 11 - 13 = 86 (A) · 13 + 6 × 2 = 25 (R) · 67 + 8 × 4 = 99 (M) · 4 × 11 - 11 = 33 (W) · 9 × 12 - 27 = 81 (C) · 12 × 11 - 29 = 103 (Y) · 79 + 4 × 4 = 95 (H) · 11 × 6 - 18 = 48 (U) · 6 + 3 × 6 = 24 (E) · 40 + 6 × 9 = 94 (T) · 46 + 4 × 8 = 78 (N) · 9 × 4 - 27 = 9 (O) · 22 + 2 × 2 = 26 (D) · 34 + 5 × 8 = 74 (I) · 10 × 6 - 7 = 53 (V) · 9 × 11 - 19 = 80 (S) · 9 × 11 - 8 = 91 (L)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "SLEEK BLACK FUR WAS STUCK TO THE DOOR"
2^3 = 8 (S) · 6^2 = 36 (B) · 2^4 = 16 (W) · 4^3 = 64 (D) · 5^3 = 125 (U) · 5^2 = 25 (O) · 19^2 = 361 (L) · 2^7 = 128 (A) · 17^2 = 289 (H) · 7^3 = 343 (R) · 18^2 = 324 (K) · 4^4 = 256 (C) · 3^2 = 9 (F) · 3^3 = 27 (E) · 13^2 = 169 (T)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 6) → Oreo
2x + 6 = 22, x = 8 · 5x + 9 = 14, x = 1 · 2x + 4 = 22, x = 9 · 6x + 3 = 27, x = 4 · 2x + 9 = 13, x = 2 · 3x + 8 = 29, x = 7 · 2x + 11 = 21, x = 5 · 6x + 5 = 71, x = 11 · 6x + 1 = 19, x = 3 · 6x + 9 = 69, x = 10 · 2x + 3 = 27, x = 12

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Great Fish Caper — set in Purrfect Palace Royal Museum
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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