🐱 CatsGrade 10Reading: grades 1-2Place valuePythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponents
The Great Yarn Ball Mystery
The Golden Yarn Ball is gone! The Toy Keeper is very sad. The Whisker Patrol must find the Yarn Bandit. We need to look for clues around the Meow Mansion!
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 | Meow Skill | Cat Trick | Favorite Paw | Coat Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield | Silent Walk | Yarn Tangle | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Squeaky Toy |
| Simba | Fast Scratch | High Balance | Right Pawed | Black Fur | Shiny Laser |
| Felix | Fast Scratch | Box Squeeze | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Squeaky Toy |
| Oreo | Fast Scratch | Night Vision | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Loki | Silent Walk | High Balance | Left Pawed | Orange Stripes | Squeaky Toy |
| Ziggy | Super Jump | Nap Anywhere | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Sylvester | Mega Meow | Nap Anywhere | Right Pawed | Black Fur | Shiny Laser |
| Jasper | Laser Chase | High Balance | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Mittens | Silent Walk | Yarn Tangle | Right Pawed | Orange Stripes | Tuna Treat |
| Smokey | Fast Scratch | Nap Anywhere | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Tuna Treat |
| Milo | Silent Walk | Yarn Tangle | Left Pawed | Calico Patches | Tuna Treat |
| Tom | Silent Walk | High Balance | Right Pawed | Orange Stripes | Squeaky Toy |
| Daisy | Mega Meow | Yarn Tangle | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Cleo | Laser Chase | Night Vision | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Luna | Mega Meow | Box Squeeze | Right Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Boots | Mega Meow | Box Squeeze | Left Pawed | Orange Stripes | Squeaky Toy |
| Fluffy | Super Jump | Night Vision | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Tuna Treat |
| Oliver | Fast Scratch | Box Squeeze | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Squeaky Toy |
| Bella | Super Jump | Yarn Tangle | Left Pawed | Orange Stripes | Squeaky Toy |
| Shadow | Super Jump | Nap Anywhere | Left Pawed | Black Fur | Shiny Laser |
| Chloe | Mega Meow | High Balance | Left Pawed | Calico Patches | Tuna Treat |
Clue 1
Place value
The detective checks the security code. The digital lock has tens and ones columns. We must look at the digits to open it.
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
600
20
90
1000
50
500
200
100
T
600
200
4000
90
700
500
4000
T
600
20
50
70
90
500
100
6000
20
T
600
70
100
700
100
4000
500
What is the value of the 6 in 37,619?T
What is the value of the 1 in 521,672?B
What is the value of the 5 in 74,589?N
What is the value of the 9 in 27,894?E
What is the value of the 7 in 860,782?S
What is the value of the 4 in 374,250?O
What is the value of the 2 in 59,320?H
What is the value of the 5 in 72,256?A
What is the value of the 7 in 419,479?V
What is the value of the 2 in 76,253?D
What is the value of the 1 in 39,130?I
What is the value of the 6 in 536,588?G
0/12 letters found
Clue 2
Pythagorean theorem
The bandit ran diagonally across the yard. We know the length of the fence and the garden wall. We must find the shortest path.
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
13
17
20
26
74
20
125
87
25
50
125
74
39
29
T
13
34
26
20
26
T
13
17
20
41
20
10
T
13
65
125
123
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =T
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =D
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =P
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =E
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =Y
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =H
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =N
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =U
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =W
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =I
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =L
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =B
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =K
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =S
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =F
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
We found a square patch of missing grass. The area of the square is on the map. We need to find the length of one side.
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
20
5
19
10
7
4
16
12
T
20
12
14
14
24
7
18
19
16
6
25
14
2
11
19
7
15
22
T
20
6
22
14
sqrt(400) =T
sqrt(361) =E
sqrt(36) =O
sqrt(25) =H
sqrt(225) =K
sqrt(484) =Y
sqrt(121) =U
sqrt(576) =C
sqrt(49) =A
sqrt(4) =Q
sqrt(324) =R
sqrt(144) =I
sqrt(256) =D
sqrt(196) =S
sqrt(100) =B
sqrt(16) =N
sqrt(625) =F
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The catnip plants are growing super fast. Every hour the plants double in size. We must calculate the power of the growth.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
9
25
121
343
49
64
484
243
196
16
324
144
121
49
8
324
196
49
25
256
16
4
4
625
25
256
324
25
64
25
3^2 =W
2^2 =T
7^2 =U
18^2 =C
5^4 =H
14^2 =L
4^2 =A
5^2 =E
12^2 =K
3^5 =B
22^2 =D
8^2 =N
11^2 =F
2^3 =R
2^8 =S
7^3 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The bandit left a square grid of muddy paw prints. We count the total square area of the mud. Let us find the side length.
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
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain makes a fast scratch, then naps on the rug.
2.The villain gives a mega meow, then tangles up the yarn.
3.The villain gives a mega meow, then balances on the fence.
4.The villain does a silent walk, then balances on the fence.
5.The villain does a silent walk, then squeezes into a box.
6.The villain does a laser chase, then balances on the fence.
7.The villain makes a super jump, then naps on the rug.
8.The villain makes a fast scratch, then squeezes into a box.
9.The villain does a laser chase, then naps on the rug.
10.The villain does a silent walk, then sneaks through the dark.
11.The villain makes a super jump, then tangles up the yarn.
12.The villain does a laser chase, then tangles up the yarn.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Yarn Ball Mystery
Culprit: Ziggy (Super Jump · Nap Anywhere · Left Pawed · Black Fur · Squeaky Toy)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT HAVE NIGHT VISION"What is the value of the 6 in 37,619? = 600 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 521,672? = 1000 (B) · What is the value of the 5 in 74,589? = 500 (N) · What is the value of the 9 in 27,894? = 90 (E) · What is the value of the 7 in 860,782? = 700 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 374,250? = 4000 (O) · What is the value of the 2 in 59,320? = 20 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 72,256? = 50 (A) · What is the value of the 7 in 419,479? = 70 (V) · What is the value of the 2 in 76,253? = 200 (D) · What is the value of the 1 in 39,130? = 100 (I) · What is the value of the 6 in 536,588? = 6000 (G)
- Clue 2 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SNEAKY BANDIT USES THE LEFT PAW"legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (T) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (D) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (P) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (E) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (Y) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (H) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (N) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (U) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (W) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (I) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (L) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (B) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (K) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (S) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (F) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (A)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE BANDIT IS SCARED OF SQUEAKY TOYS"sqrt(400) = 20 (T) · sqrt(361) = 19 (E) · sqrt(36) = 6 (O) · sqrt(25) = 5 (H) · sqrt(225) = 15 (K) · sqrt(484) = 22 (Y) · sqrt(121) = 11 (U) · sqrt(576) = 24 (C) · sqrt(49) = 7 (A) · sqrt(4) = 2 (Q) · sqrt(324) = 18 (R) · sqrt(144) = 12 (I) · sqrt(256) = 16 (D) · sqrt(196) = 14 (S) · sqrt(100) = 10 (B) · sqrt(16) = 4 (N) · sqrt(625) = 25 (F)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND BLACK FUR CLUES AT THE SCENE"3^2 = 9 (W) · 2^2 = 4 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (U) · 18^2 = 324 (C) · 5^4 = 625 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (L) · 4^2 = 16 (A) · 5^2 = 25 (E) · 12^2 = 144 (K) · 3^5 = 243 (B) · 22^2 = 484 (D) · 8^2 = 64 (N) · 11^2 = 121 (F) · 2^3 = 8 (R) · 2^8 = 256 (S) · 7^3 = 343 (O)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 7) → Ziggysqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(9) = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Yarn Ball Mystery — set in Meow Mansion
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects