The Great Sky-Ship Heist
An unidentified sky-pirate has infiltrated the Grand Archive of Aetheria, stealing the legendary Skylight Compass. The culprit slipped through the cloud-docks undetected, leaving behind a trail of mystery. As the kingdom's lead detective, you must piece together the physical evidence and navigational data to track down the rogue's flagship before they vanish into the Great Storm. Analyze the clues carefully to identify the thief and recover the compass.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Aether Propulsion Gear | Auxiliary Steampunk Tool | Glove Preference | Sailor Hair Style | Defense Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyra Sterling | Solar Sails | Flare Gun | Right-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Flash Powder |
| Captain Silas | Grappling Hook | Wind-Whistle | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Net Launcher |
| Marina Vane | Solar Sails | Spy-Scope | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Cinder Read | Grappling Hook | Fog Generator | Left-handed glove | Windblown Green | Net Launcher |
| Rogue Rogers | Cloud Camouflage | Fog Generator | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Stormy Low | Turbo Thrusters | Spy-Scope | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Talon Morgan | Solar Sails | Electro-Net | Left-handed glove | Goggle-Marked Brown | Flash Powder |
| Gale Hornigold | Cloud Camouflage | Spy-Scope | Right-handed glove | Goggle-Marked Brown | Magnet Trap |
| Vapor Vance | Grappling Hook | Fog Generator | Left-handed glove | Goggle-Marked Brown | Magnet Trap |
| Saber Avery | Turbo Thrusters | Spy-Scope | Left-handed glove | Goggle-Marked Brown | Magnet Trap |
| Claw Condor | Solar Sails | Fog Generator | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Finn Lafitte | Turbo Thrusters | Wind-Whistle | Right-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Flash Powder |
| Nova Neville | Grappling Hook | Electro-Net | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Magnet Trap |
| Jasper Kidd | Grappling Hook | Wind-Whistle | Left-handed glove | Windblown Green | Net Launcher |
| Blaze Blackbeard | Turbo Thrusters | Fog Generator | Right-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Net Launcher |
| Sundance Kidd | Solar Sails | Flare Gun | Right-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Net Launcher |
| Dagger Davis | Sound Silencer | Wind-Whistle | Left-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Breezy Bellamy | Grappling Hook | Fog Generator | Left-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Net Launcher |
| Echo Bonny | Grappling Hook | Wind-Whistle | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Zephyr Drake | Turbo Thrusters | Fog Generator | Right-handed glove | Windblown Green | Flash Powder |
| Orion Black | Turbo Thrusters | Spy-Scope | Right-handed glove | Sunset Orange | Net Launcher |
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We slipped into the smuggler's warehouse to count their secret cargo crates. The crates were stacked in perfect, uniform rows. By calculating the total number of crates using grid multiplication, we uncovered our first breakthrough.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number
The rogue left behind a damaged star-chart. Only a specific fraction of the chart's total coordinate points remained unburned. We calculated this fractional value to pinpoint the villain's next potential hiding spot.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Order of operations
To crack the locked security safe on the flagship's bridge, we had to solve a complex mathematical equation. Following the strict order of operations allowed us to bypass the alarm and retrieve a hidden diary.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Rounding
Our long-range radar picked up a faint engine signature through the dense nebula. The radar's screen could only display approximate, rounded distances. Rounding the signals to the nearest ten revealed the exact trajectory of the runaway ship.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The skyship crew was arguing loudly over how to split their emergency fuel canisters equally. By calculating the exact division of the fuel among the remaining scouts, we managed to track where the guilty thief slipped away.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Sky-Ship Heist
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE PIRATE DOES NOT HAVE A SPY SCOPE"8 × 9 = 72 (T) · 5 × 5 = 25 (H) · 11 × 3 = 33 (E) · 5 × 3 = 15 (Y) · 3 × 9 = 27 (P) · 4 × 6 = 24 (I) · 4 × 4 = 16 (N) · 10 × 6 = 60 (O) · 7 × 7 = 49 (R) · 1 × 7 = 7 (V) · 1 × 1 = 1 (D) · 1 × 3 = 3 (S) · 9 × 9 = 81 (C) · 1 × 6 = 6 (A)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT WORE A RIGHT HANDED GLOVE"1/4 of 52 = 13 (T) · 2/3 of 36 = 24 (O) · 1/10 of 170 = 17 (H) · 6/8 of 4 = 3 (C) · 2/6 of 120 = 40 (E) · 6/8 of 40 = 30 (W) · 3/6 of 76 = 38 (A) · 4/8 of 78 = 39 (P) · 2/10 of 75 = 15 (L) · 3/6 of 66 = 33 (R) · 6/10 of 10 = 6 (D) · 2/3 of 12 = 8 (U) · 1/3 of 111 = 37 (S) · 1/8 of 144 = 18 (N) · 3/4 of 12 = 9 (V) · 7/8 of 40 = 35 (G) · 1/8 of 176 = 22 (I)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE PIRATE RECOILED FROM FLASH POWDER"52 + 7 × 4 = 80 (T) · 19 + 3 × 6 = 37 (W) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (H) · 6 × 7 - 10 = 32 (A) · 2 × 10 - 1 = 19 (L) · 21 + 6 × 2 = 33 (S) · 12 × 8 - 30 = 66 (O) · 11 + 3 × 6 = 29 (I) · 8 × 11 - 13 = 75 (R) · 2 + 6 × 4 = 26 (D) · 9 + 6 × 5 = 39 (E) · 16 + 4 × 8 = 48 (M) · 52 + 3 × 4 = 64 (C) · 8 + 3 × 2 = 14 (F) · 4 × 11 - 29 = 15 (P)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF WINDBLOWN GREEN HAIR"Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (W) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (D) · Round 5,219 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (U) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (S) · Round 3,717 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (I) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (R) · Round 110 to the nearest ten = 110 (O) · Round 6,795 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (B) · Round 698 to the nearest hundred = 700 (F) · Round 896 to the nearest hundred = 900 (G) · Round 8,938 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (A) · Round 167 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 2,346 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (N) · Round 1,672 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 7) → Rogue Rogers18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Great Sky-Ship Heist — set in Aetheria, a bustling archipelago of floating islands suspended in a sea of endless clouds
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects