🔎 FoodGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Great Souffle Sabotage

The Mayor's Golden Souffle has been completely ruined right before the grand banquet! A mysterious culprit snuck into the pastry kitchen, messed with the ingredients, and left a trail of sticky clues. It is up to you to decode the evidence and find the true Culinary Saboteur before dinner is served.

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 Ingredient	Kitchen Gadget	Uniform Pocket	Hair Net Style	Allergy Trigger
Carla Hall	sweet maple syrup	nitrogen blaster	right sided pocket	blue peak cap	crushed black pepper
Marcus Samuelsson	smoky hot sauce	infra red thermometer	right sided pocket	white pleated toque	sprinkle of cinnamon
Christina Tosi	salty blue cheese	infra red thermometer	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	scent of mint
Wolfgang Puck	sweet maple syrup	laser blowtorch	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
Gordon Ramsay	bitter dark chocolate	nitrogen blaster	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
Rachel Ray	salty blue cheese	laser blowtorch	right sided pocket	white pleated toque	sprinkle of cinnamon
Guy Fieri	smoky hot sauce	sonic sifter	left sided pocket	white pleated toque	crushed black pepper
Roy Choi	bitter dark chocolate	turbo whisk	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	scent of mint
Prue Leith	bitter dark chocolate	turbo whisk	left sided pocket	white pleated toque	sprinkle of cinnamon
Jamie Oliver	bitter dark chocolate	sonic sifter	right sided pocket	blue peak cap	crushed black pepper
Bobby Flay	salty blue cheese	infra red thermometer	right sided pocket	blue peak cap	sprinkle of cinnamon
Padma Lakshmi	smoky hot sauce	sonic sifter	left sided pocket	pink bouffant net	sprinkle of cinnamon
Duff Goldman	sweet maple syrup	turbo whisk	right sided pocket	blue peak cap	scent of mint
Nigella Lawson	smoky hot sauce	turbo whisk	left sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
David Chang	salty blue cheese	nitrogen blaster	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
Alton Brown	sour lemon zest	infra red thermometer	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	sprinkle of cinnamon
Emeril Lagasse	smoky hot sauce	turbo whisk	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
Tom Colicchio	sweet maple syrup	laser blowtorch	right sided pocket	blue peak cap	sprinkle of cinnamon
Jacques Pepin	bitter dark chocolate	infra red thermometer	left sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper
Paul Hollywood	smoky hot sauce	infra red thermometer	right sided pocket	white pleated toque	crushed black pepper
Alice Waters	salty blue cheese	sonic sifter	right sided pocket	pink bouffant net	crushed black pepper

Clue 1

Integers

We checked the walk-in freezer temperature log. The temperature went below and above zero while the culprit was inside. Use these integer shifts to find the final temperature.

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

5 - (-10) =T

(-10) + 24 =E

14 - (-4) =N

(-13) + 32 =U

(-8) + 9 =B

(-14) + 25 =S

17 - (-11) =H

(-3) + 25 =R

(-9) + 15 =F

(-7) + 9 =O

(-2) + 12 =D

17 - (-4) =A

(-2) + 15 =C

(-11) + 14 =I

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

The baker found a spilled recipe card. The sugar percentage was accidentally mixed up with the flour. Calculate the correct percentages to unlock the next 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.

5% of 460 =T

40% of 120 =P

25% of 96 =D

50% of 54 =E

10% of 170 =S

60% of 5 =O

5% of 680 =I

10% of 280 =K

10% of 500 =C

40% of 145 =A

50% of 16 =U

20% of 195 =H

25% of 212 =G

25% of 132 =R

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

To bake a perfect batch of cupcakes, you must follow the recipe steps in the exact right order. Solve this order of operations puzzle to find the 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.

120

104

120

5 × 7 - 18 =B

74 + 6 × 5 =H

62 + 2 × 4 =A

11 × 10 - 12 =S

7 + 2 × 3 =K

43 + 2 × 5 =T

2 + 2 × 3 =P

96 + 6 × 4 =O

8 × 11 - 6 =C

20 + 5 × 2 =U

10 × 6 - 12 =R

58 + 4 × 9 =L

11 × 9 - 12 =E

0/13 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The secret sourdough yeast doubles in size every hour. Use exponents to figure out how big the dough got while the kitchen was unattended.

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

125

169

128

343

216

324

343

216

128

256

169

256

121

289

5^3 =W

3^4 =A

5^2 =N

2^2 =B

17^2 =R

18^2 =P

2^7 =F

13^2 =E

2^3 =D

7^2 =I

2^8 =T

7^3 =O

11^2 =H

2^5 =K

6^3 =U

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

Three identical flour sacks and a five pound bag of sugar weigh thirty-five pounds in total. Solve this equation to find the weight of one flour sack and uncover the last lead.

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

4x + 3 = 43, x = ?

3x + 4 = 19, x = ?

6x + 11 = 23, x = ?

3x + 1 = 19, x = ?

3x + 1 = 28, x = ?

3x + 12 = 48, x = ?

2x + 2 = 4, x = ?

2x + 6 = 28, x = ?

5x + 3 = 18, x = ?

6x + 10 = 58, x = ?

2x + 2 = 16, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain crumbled salty blue cheese into the ventilation, then scrambled the egg whites with a turbo whisk.

2.The villain crumbled salty blue cheese into the ventilation, then froze the frosting solid with a nitrogen blaster.

3.The villain melted bitter dark chocolate over the stove, then scorched the recipe book with a laser blowtorch.

4.The villain slathered everything in smoky hot sauce, then scrambled the egg whites with a turbo whisk.

5.The villain poured sweet maple syrup into the lock, then scorched the recipe book with a laser blowtorch.

6.The villain crumbled salty blue cheese into the ventilation, then scorched the recipe book with a laser blowtorch.

7.The villain squeezed sour lemon zest onto the floor, then scorched the recipe book with a laser blowtorch.

8.The villain poured sweet maple syrup into the lock, then checked the temperature with an infra red thermometer.

9.The villain squeezed sour lemon zest onto the floor, then froze the frosting solid with a nitrogen blaster.

10.The villain melted bitter dark chocolate over the stove, then froze the frosting solid with a nitrogen blaster.

11.The villain slathered everything in smoky hot sauce, then scorched the recipe book with a laser blowtorch.

12.The villain poured sweet maple syrup into the lock, then scrambled the egg whites with a turbo whisk.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Souffle Sabotage

Culprit: Emeril Lagasse (smoky hot sauce · turbo whisk · right sided pocket · pink bouffant net · crushed black pepper)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE A SONIC SIFTER"
5 - (-10) = 15 (T) · (-10) + 24 = 14 (E) · 14 - (-4) = 18 (N) · (-13) + 32 = 19 (U) · (-8) + 9 = 1 (B) · (-14) + 25 = 11 (S) · 17 - (-11) = 28 (H) · (-3) + 25 = 22 (R) · (-9) + 15 = 6 (F) · (-7) + 9 = 2 (O) · (-2) + 12 = 10 (D) · 17 - (-4) = 21 (A) · (-2) + 15 = 13 (C) · (-11) + 14 = 3 (I)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT HAS A RIGHT SIDED POCKET"
5% of 460 = 23 (T) · 40% of 120 = 48 (P) · 25% of 96 = 24 (D) · 50% of 54 = 27 (E) · 10% of 170 = 17 (S) · 60% of 5 = 3 (O) · 5% of 680 = 34 (I) · 10% of 280 = 28 (K) · 10% of 500 = 50 (C) · 40% of 145 = 58 (A) · 50% of 16 = 8 (U) · 20% of 195 = 39 (H) · 25% of 212 = 53 (G) · 25% of 132 = 33 (R)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "BLACK PEPPER STOPS THE SABOTEUR"
5 × 7 - 18 = 17 (B) · 74 + 6 × 5 = 104 (H) · 62 + 2 × 4 = 70 (A) · 11 × 10 - 12 = 98 (S) · 7 + 2 × 3 = 13 (K) · 43 + 2 × 5 = 53 (T) · 2 + 2 × 3 = 8 (P) · 96 + 6 × 4 = 120 (O) · 8 × 11 - 6 = 82 (C) · 20 + 5 × 2 = 30 (U) · 10 × 6 - 12 = 48 (R) · 58 + 4 × 9 = 94 (L) · 11 × 9 - 12 = 87 (E)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND A PINK BOUFFANT NET HAIR"
5^3 = 125 (W) · 3^4 = 81 (A) · 5^2 = 25 (N) · 2^2 = 4 (B) · 17^2 = 289 (R) · 18^2 = 324 (P) · 2^7 = 128 (F) · 13^2 = 169 (E) · 2^3 = 8 (D) · 7^2 = 49 (I) · 2^8 = 256 (T) · 7^3 = 343 (O) · 11^2 = 121 (H) · 2^5 = 32 (K) · 6^3 = 216 (U)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 4) → Emeril Lagasse
4x + 3 = 43, x = 10 · 3x + 4 = 19, x = 5 · 6x + 11 = 23, x = 2 · 3x + 1 = 19, x = 6 · 3x + 1 = 28, x = 9 · 3x + 12 = 48, x = 12 · 2x + 2 = 4, x = 1 · 2x + 6 = 28, x = 11 · 5x + 3 = 18, x = 3 · 6x + 10 = 58, x = 8 · 2x + 2 = 16, x = 7

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Great Souffle Sabotage — set in The Grand Academy of Pastryville
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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