🔎 Sports, working out, foodGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Great Protein Powder Caper
Someone swapped the championship recovery smoothies with salt water right before the final match! Track down the Snack Saboteur before kick-off.
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 | Workout Style | Nutrition Skill | Dominant Grip | Hairstyle | Food Allergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serena | Jump Squatting | Juice Pressing | Left Handed Grip | Braided Cornrows | Sour Lemonade |
| Mikaela | Rowing Surge | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Sour Lemonade |
| Novak | Sprint Dashing | Carb Loading | Left Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Megan | Rowing Surge | Macro Counting | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Chloe | Heavy Lifting | Juice Pressing | Left Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Cristiano | Heavy Lifting | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Bitter Espresso |
| LeBron | Sprint Dashing | Protein Blending | Left Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Bitter Espresso |
| Tom | Jump Squatting | Macro Counting | Left Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Bitter Espresso |
| Sunisa | Jump Squatting | Protein Blending | Left Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Usain | Rowing Surge | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Spicy Salsa |
| Caeleb | Sprint Dashing | Macro Counting | Right Handed Grip | Braided Cornrows | Sour Lemonade |
| Katie | Jump Squatting | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Spicy Salsa |
| Kobe | Power Boxing | Electrolyte Mix | Left Handed Grip | High Ponytail | Spicy Salsa |
| Luka | Jump Squatting | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Sour Lemonade |
| Shohei | Sprint Dashing | Macro Counting | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Simone | Heavy Lifting | Electrolyte Mix | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Sydney | Power Boxing | Macro Counting | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Bitter Espresso |
| Venus | Jump Squatting | Macro Counting | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Shaq | Jump Squatting | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | Braided Cornrows | Sour Lemonade |
| Patrick | Sprint Dashing | Protein Blending | Right Handed Grip | Buzz Cut | Spicy Salsa |
| Travis | Jump Squatting | Carb Loading | Left Handed Grip | Braided Cornrows | Spicy Salsa |
Clue 1
Integers
The locker room tracker logged temperature changes and score differentials relative to baseline zero.
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
28
26
10
21
3
2
23
T
28
10
18
15
13
20
13
25
23
T
28
18
21
10
10
17
10
22
T
28
15
23
17
27
T
28
10
16
20
6
(-12) + 40 =T
(-9) + 26 =L
(-5) + 28 =O
(-6) + 12 =X
(-6) + 16 =E
(-7) + 25 =U
21 - (-1) =C
(-13) + 28 =R
3 - (-13) =M
17 - (-8) =N
12 - (-14) =H
22 - (-5) =Y
2 - (-1) =A
(-10) + 23 =D
(-7) + 9 =B
(-1) + 22 =S
14 - (-6) =I
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The gym snack bar register calculated percentage discounts on protein snacks.
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
21
11
8
43
48
43
12
8
4
T
21
48
43
8
6
56
33
19
16
11
T
21
11
56
22
6
8
6
16
33
19
12
52
22
36
56
33
75% of 28 =T
40% of 140 =A
25% of 24 =D
10% of 160 =G
50% of 86 =S
50% of 104 =O
25% of 44 =H
75% of 44 =R
50% of 44 =N
50% of 38 =I
50% of 72 =B
5% of 80 =C
5% of 160 =E
75% of 64 =U
40% of 30 =P
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The stadium scoreboard computed fitness scores using a multi-step operation formula.
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
85
109
64
20
37
20
86
64
45
T
85
115
29
64
58
55
115
T
85
64
102
20
52
64
29
29
16
100
10
20
86
16
45
27
20
55
29
20
55
11 × 8 - 3 =T
65 + 7 × 5 =N
5 + 3 × 5 =S
10 + 3 × 2 =I
85 + 4 × 6 =H
54 + 2 × 5 =E
6 × 4 - 14 =G
12 × 11 - 30 =R
12 × 6 - 20 =M
8 + 7 × 3 =L
7 × 9 - 26 =U
83 + 4 × 8 =F
34 + 4 × 6 =D
5 + 8 × 5 =C
3 + 4 × 6 =Y
31 + 4 × 6 =A
8 × 12 - 10 =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The digital bench press trainer recorded power output factors written as repeated exponents.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
81
125
128
36
49
125
256
243
36
196
36
128
16
256
4
343
9
9
8
343
49
27
256
S
81
128
324
49
125
216
4
216
324
8
125
9^2 =S
5^3 =H
6^3 =E
16^2 =A
7^2 =T
7^3 =U
14^2 =F
2^7 =O
3^3 =W
3^5 =I
3^2 =Z
2^2 =B
4^2 =M
2^3 =C
18^2 =N
6^2 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The head chef analyzed total recipe calories using fixed base values plus extra scoops.
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
6x + 12 = 42, x = ?
5x + 5 = 20, x = ?
3x + 9 = 39, x = ?
5x + 6 = 16, x = ?
5x + 6 = 51, x = ?
3x + 7 = 40, x = ?
2x + 8 = 16, x = ?
3x + 5 = 29, x = ?
3x + 1 = 37, x = ?
2x + 2 = 4, x = ?
5x + 6 = 41, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain punched through the training dummy, then mixed a tub of workout drink.
2.The villain rowed five thousand meters, then pressed five gallons of beet juice.
3.The villain sprinted across the gym floor, then blended a triple protein shake.
4.The villain sprinted across the gym floor, then pressed five gallons of beet juice.
5.The villain rowed five thousand meters, then calculated exact macro ratios.
6.The villain leaped onto the highest plyo box, then calculated exact macro ratios.
7.The villain hoisted the heavy barbell, then calculated exact macro ratios.
8.The villain sprinted across the gym floor, then ate a giant bowl of pasta.
9.The villain hoisted the heavy barbell, then blended a triple protein shake.
10.The villain sprinted across the gym floor, then calculated exact macro ratios.
11.The villain leaped onto the highest plyo box, then mixed a tub of workout drink.
12.The villain hoisted the heavy barbell, then pressed five gallons of beet juice.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Protein Powder Caper
Culprit: Venus (Jump Squatting · Macro Counting · Right Handed Grip · Buzz Cut · Spicy Salsa)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SABOTEUR DID NOT USE ELECTROLYTE MIX"(-12) + 40 = 28 (T) · (-9) + 26 = 17 (L) · (-5) + 28 = 23 (O) · (-6) + 12 = 6 (X) · (-6) + 16 = 10 (E) · (-7) + 25 = 18 (U) · 21 - (-1) = 22 (C) · (-13) + 28 = 15 (R) · 3 - (-13) = 16 (M) · 17 - (-8) = 25 (N) · 12 - (-14) = 26 (H) · 22 - (-5) = 27 (Y) · 2 - (-1) = 3 (A) · (-10) + 23 = 13 (D) · (-7) + 9 = 2 (B) · (-1) + 22 = 21 (S) · 14 - (-6) = 20 (I)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT USED A RIGHT HANDED GRIP ON BAR"75% of 28 = 21 (T) · 40% of 140 = 56 (A) · 25% of 24 = 6 (D) · 10% of 160 = 16 (G) · 50% of 86 = 43 (S) · 50% of 104 = 52 (O) · 25% of 44 = 11 (H) · 75% of 44 = 33 (R) · 50% of 44 = 22 (N) · 50% of 38 = 19 (I) · 50% of 72 = 36 (B) · 5% of 80 = 4 (C) · 5% of 160 = 8 (E) · 75% of 64 = 48 (U) · 40% of 30 = 12 (P)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT FLED AFTER SMELLING SPICY SALSA"11 × 8 - 3 = 85 (T) · 65 + 7 × 5 = 100 (N) · 5 + 3 × 5 = 20 (S) · 10 + 3 × 2 = 16 (I) · 85 + 4 × 6 = 109 (H) · 54 + 2 × 5 = 64 (E) · 6 × 4 - 14 = 10 (G) · 12 × 11 - 30 = 102 (R) · 12 × 6 - 20 = 52 (M) · 8 + 7 × 3 = 29 (L) · 7 × 9 - 26 = 37 (U) · 83 + 4 × 8 = 115 (F) · 34 + 4 × 6 = 58 (D) · 5 + 8 × 5 = 45 (C) · 3 + 4 × 6 = 27 (Y) · 31 + 4 × 6 = 55 (A) · 8 × 12 - 10 = 86 (P)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "SHORT HAIR FROM A BUZZ CUT WAS ON THE BENCH"9^2 = 81 (S) · 5^3 = 125 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (E) · 16^2 = 256 (A) · 7^2 = 49 (T) · 7^3 = 343 (U) · 14^2 = 196 (F) · 2^7 = 128 (O) · 3^3 = 27 (W) · 3^5 = 243 (I) · 3^2 = 9 (Z) · 2^2 = 4 (B) · 4^2 = 16 (M) · 2^3 = 8 (C) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 6^2 = 36 (R)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 6) → Venus6x + 12 = 42, x = 5 · 5x + 5 = 20, x = 3 · 3x + 9 = 39, x = 10 · 5x + 6 = 16, x = 2 · 5x + 6 = 51, x = 9 · 3x + 7 = 40, x = 11 · 2x + 8 = 16, x = 4 · 3x + 5 = 29, x = 8 · 3x + 1 = 37, x = 12 · 2x + 2 = 4, x = 1 · 5x + 6 = 41, x = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Great Protein Powder Caper — set in Apex Fitness Center Arena Kitchen
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects