🔎 DiamondGrade 9Reading: grades 7-9Fractions of a numberWord problemsRoundingTwo-step equations
The Heist of the Paragon Diamond
The Carbon Citadel has been breached! The priceless Paragon Diamond, a massive flawless crystal of unmatched purity, has been stolen from its gravity-locked pedestal. As the agency's lead detective, you must solve the security overrides and track down the thief before they escape orbit.
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 | Infiltration Tool | Handedness | Hair Dye Residue | Defensive Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope | crystal growth | sonic drill | right handed writer | silver hair | loud noise |
| Florentine | speed dashing | decoy clone | right handed writer | amber hair | cold water |
| Regent | phase shifting | sonic drill | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Excelsior | phase shifting | smoke bomb | right handed writer | neon hair | bright light |
| Chopard | phase shifting | laser cutter | left handed writer | neon hair | cold water |
| Bulgari | crystal growth | decoy clone | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Spirit | metal melting | smoke bomb | left handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Graff | phase shifting | laser cutter | right handed writer | silver hair | loud noise |
| Cartier | metal melting | laser cutter | left handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Sancy | speed dashing | hover boots | right handed writer | amber hair | cold water |
| Centenary | phase shifting | sonic drill | right handed writer | amber hair | cold water |
| Cullinan | phase shifting | decoy clone | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Golden | metal melting | hover boots | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Winston | crystal growth | laser cutter | right handed writer | amber hair | loud noise |
| Millennium | gravity control | sonic drill | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Taylor | crystal growth | smoke bomb | right handed writer | neon hair | bright light |
| Tiffany | crystal growth | hover boots | right handed writer | neon hair | bright light |
| Orlov | speed dashing | sonic drill | right handed writer | amber hair | bright light |
| Darya | gravity control | hover boots | left handed writer | amber hair | loud noise |
| Incomparable | gravity control | laser cutter | left handed writer | silver hair | loud noise |
| Kohinoor | gravity control | decoy clone | left handed writer | silver hair | loud noise |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To begin, Agent Spark must audit the diamond crates. Solving this word problem reveals what gear the thief bypassed.
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
19
32
51
35
9
11
11
25
9
40
31
58
51
24
40
58
T
19
6
24
51
25
31
51
12
58
33
12
11
58
40
51
4/8 of 38 =T
6/10 of 55 =Y
1/2 of 102 =E
4/8 of 62 =D
3/10 of 40 =C
2/10 of 125 =A
2/6 of 96 =H
2/5 of 145 =O
2/6 of 72 =S
3/6 of 80 =N
6/8 of 12 =I
5/10 of 70 =V
5/10 of 12 =U
5/10 of 22 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
Only a fraction of the museum security grids remained active during the heist. We calculate the surviving nodes to reveal the thief's tell.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
95
76
15
65
42
65
63
29
D
E
D
W
R
95
76
42
E
R
95
Agent Spark found 48 crystals yesterday and 47 more today. How many crystals in all?R
There were 45 scanners. 16 were used up. How many scanners are left?N
Agent Spark found 40 crystals yesterday and 25 more today. How many crystals in all?H
Agent Spark lined up 9 rows of 7 crystals. How many crystals in all?A
Agent Spark found 42 lasers yesterday and 34 more today. How many lasers in all?I
Agent Spark lined up 3 rows of 5 scanners. How many scanners in all?G
Agent Spark found 33 scanners yesterday and 9 more today. How many scanners in all?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The vault pressure sensors give an estimated reading rounded to the nearest thousand. Find the actual weight to discover the hair color.
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
370
500
3000
T
370
500
230
3000
7000
7000
4300
3000
50
7000
2900
900
2000
5000
2900
230
20
500
T
370
4300
230
20
500
T
370
Round 373 to the nearest tenT
Round 1,703 to the nearest thousandM
Round 4,331 to the nearest hundredL
Round 47 to the nearest tenD
Round 229 to the nearest tenI
Round 930 to the nearest hundredO
Round 24 to the nearest tenG
Round 2,927 to the nearest hundredR
Round 537 to the nearest hundredH
Round 3,027 to the nearest thousandE
Round 4,751 to the nearest thousandB
Round 7,270 to the nearest thousandF
0/12 letters found
Clue 4
Two-step equations
An encrypted laser puzzle blocks the security feed. Solved in two algebraic steps, the camera footage exposes the villain's weakness.
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
3
5
9
5
4
5
15
4
5
9
22
21
12
5
6
10
22
7
6
22
4
4
10
5
16
22
2
11
4
4x + 8 = 20, x =W
7x + 7 = 119, x =V
3x + 4 = 67, x =M
7x + 1 = 64, x =D
5x + 8 = 83, x =C
6x + 4 = 40, x =R
5x + 6 = 16, x =U
5x + 12 = 122, x =A
4x + 12 = 56, x =L
9x + 4 = 49, x =E
6x + 11 = 83, x =B
5x + 1 = 51, x =H
9x + 10 = 46, x =T
9x + 1 = 64, x =I
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
We analyze the fraction of depleted power cells left in the mainframe to double-check the suspect's exact escape vector.
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
1/2 of 22 = ?
5/6 of 12 = ?
2/10 of 5 = ?
5/10 of 16 = ?
1/8 of 16 = ?
1/2 of 6 = ?
2/3 of 9 = ?
1/3 of 15 = ?
1/10 of 90 = ?
3/10 of 40 = ?
2/8 of 16 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain floats over the pressure plates, then drills through the floor.
2.The villain phases through the vault wall, then escapes using hover boots.
3.The villain dashes past the laser grid, then creates a decoy to distract guards.
4.The villain floats over the pressure plates, then cuts the display case.
5.The villain melts the security glass, then releases a thick smoke cloud.
6.The villain melts the security glass, then creates a decoy to distract guards.
7.The villain phases through the vault wall, then drills through the floor.
8.The villain melts the security glass, then drills through the floor.
9.The villain crystallizes the lock mechanism, then drills through the floor.
10.The villain dashes past the laser grid, then drills through the floor.
11.The villain melts the security glass, then escapes using hover boots.
12.The villain dashes past the laser grid, then releases a thick smoke cloud.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Heist of the Paragon Diamond
Culprit: Regent (phase shifting · sonic drill · right handed writer · amber hair · bright light)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A DECOY CLONE"4/8 of 38 = 19 (T) · 6/10 of 55 = 33 (Y) · 1/2 of 102 = 51 (E) · 4/8 of 62 = 31 (D) · 3/10 of 40 = 12 (C) · 2/10 of 125 = 25 (A) · 2/6 of 96 = 32 (H) · 2/5 of 145 = 58 (O) · 2/6 of 72 = 24 (S) · 3/6 of 80 = 40 (N) · 6/8 of 12 = 9 (I) · 5/10 of 70 = 35 (V) · 5/10 of 12 = 6 (U) · 5/10 of 22 = 11 (L)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED WRITER"Agent Spark found 48 crystals yesterday and 47 more today. How many crystals in all? = 95 (R) · There were 45 scanners. 16 were used up. How many scanners are left? = 29 (N) · Agent Spark found 40 crystals yesterday and 25 more today. How many crystals in all? = 65 (H) · Agent Spark lined up 9 rows of 7 crystals. How many crystals in all? = 63 (A) · Agent Spark found 42 lasers yesterday and 34 more today. How many lasers in all? = 76 (I) · Agent Spark lined up 3 rows of 5 scanners. How many scanners in all? = 15 (G) · Agent Spark found 33 scanners yesterday and 9 more today. How many scanners in all? = 42 (T)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE THIEF FLED FROM BRIGHT LIGHT"Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 1,703 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (M) · Round 4,331 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (L) · Round 47 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 229 to the nearest ten = 230 (I) · Round 930 to the nearest hundred = 900 (O) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (G) · Round 2,927 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (R) · Round 537 to the nearest hundred = 500 (H) · Round 3,027 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E) · Round 4,751 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B) · Round 7,270 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F)
- Clue 4 (Two-step equations): "WE DETECTED AMBER HAIR AT THE VAULT"4x + 8 = 20, x = 3 (W) · 7x + 7 = 119, x = 16 (V) · 3x + 4 = 67, x = 21 (M) · 7x + 1 = 64, x = 9 (D) · 5x + 8 = 83, x = 15 (C) · 6x + 4 = 40, x = 6 (R) · 5x + 6 = 16, x = 2 (U) · 5x + 12 = 122, x = 22 (A) · 4x + 12 = 56, x = 11 (L) · 9x + 4 = 49, x = 5 (E) · 6x + 11 = 83, x = 12 (B) · 5x + 1 = 51, x = 10 (H) · 9x + 10 = 46, x = 4 (T) · 9x + 1 = 64, x = 7 (I)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 7) → Regent1/2 of 22 = 11 · 5/6 of 12 = 10 · 2/10 of 5 = 1 · 5/10 of 16 = 8 · 1/8 of 16 = 2 · 1/2 of 6 = 3 · 2/3 of 9 = 6 · 1/3 of 15 = 5 · 1/10 of 90 = 9 · 3/10 of 40 = 12 · 2/8 of 16 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 9 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Word problems, Rounding, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Heist of the Paragon Diamond — set in The Carbon Citadel
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects