🚀 SpaceGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Kepler Prime Sabotage
A rogue pilot has disabled the primary shield generator at Kepler Prime! With an asteroid shower closing in, we must analyze local telemetry and identify the saboteur before our life support systems fail.
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 thruster | auxiliary gear | flight deck habit | visor tint | sensor vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mae Jemison | fusion impulse drive | gravity anchor beam | left handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Scott Kelly | antimatter plasma | gravity anchor beam | right handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | subzero thermal shock |
| Buzz Aldrin | fusion impulse drive | cloaking light bender | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | subzero thermal shock |
| Kalpana Chawla | solar sail rig | gravity anchor beam | left handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Valentina Tereshkova | antimatter plasma | nanotech repair swarm | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Sally Ride | fusion impulse drive | gravity anchor beam | right handed joystick grip | amber gold reflection | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Sunita Williams | dark energy booster | plasma cutter torch | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Katherine Johnson | dark energy booster | stasis field emitter | left handed joystick grip | amber gold reflection | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Ellen Ochoa | dark energy booster | nanotech repair swarm | right handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | subzero thermal shock |
| Franklin Chang Diaz | fusion impulse drive | stasis field emitter | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | subzero thermal shock |
| Michael Collins | dark energy booster | nanotech repair swarm | left handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | subzero thermal shock |
| Margaret Hamilton | fusion impulse drive | stasis field emitter | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Roberta Bondar | solar sail rig | nanotech repair swarm | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Guion Bluford | solar sail rig | gravity anchor beam | left handed joystick grip | amber gold reflection | subzero thermal shock |
| Charles Bolden | fusion impulse drive | stasis field emitter | left handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | cosmic microwave static |
| Bernard Harris | fusion impulse drive | stasis field emitter | right handed joystick grip | deep cobalt sheen | magnetic pulse disruption |
| John Glenn | fusion impulse drive | cloaking light bender | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Neil Armstrong | dark energy booster | gravity anchor beam | right handed joystick grip | amber gold reflection | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Alan Shepard | antimatter plasma | gravity anchor beam | right handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | cosmic microwave static |
| Joan Higginbotham | solar sail rig | stasis field emitter | right handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | magnetic pulse disruption |
| Peggy Whitson | dark energy booster | gravity anchor beam | left handed joystick grip | emerald green glare | subzero thermal shock |
Clue 1
Exponents
Our subspace sensors logged an energy reading that grows exponentially. Calculate the base power value to unlock the first terminal log.
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
361
324
25
243
144
125
144
T
361
256
27
121
256
25
125
625
256
T
361
9
125
25
289
216
256
400
729
144
625
36
T
361
25
289
324
19^2 =T
3^5 =V
3^3 =R
4^4 =O
6^3 =L
9^3 =K
5^3 =S
5^4 =N
5^2 =E
11^2 =D
3^2 =U
6^2 =G
18^2 =H
17^2 =C
20^2 =A
12^2 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The runaway vessel carved a square-shaped ion path through our grid. Find the square root of the total area to determine their flight speed.
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
11
3
15
25
2
25
24
23
20
T
11
25
2
21
T
11
13
2
8
5
18
15
13
15
10
13
20
23
23
15
12
9
4
T
11
3
15
8
15
6
T
11
sqrt(121) =T
sqrt(529) =P
sqrt(16) =Y
sqrt(441) =N
sqrt(169) =R
sqrt(81) =B
sqrt(4) =O
sqrt(144) =D
sqrt(225) =E
sqrt(625) =C
sqrt(100) =G
sqrt(400) =I
sqrt(64) =L
sqrt(324) =W
sqrt(576) =K
sqrt(25) =S
sqrt(9) =H
sqrt(36) =F
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
We need to plot an intercept vector. Calculate the diagonal path of their escape using the Pythagorean theorem with our station coordinates.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
M
39
87
75
51
5
52
40
13
37
50
82
10
5
10
25
50
M
39
37
5
68
52
41
5
37
40
15
87
52
5
10
10
41
40
5
82
68
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =M
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =C
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =E
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =P
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =L
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =U
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =J
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =R
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =H
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =S
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =A
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =G
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =I
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =N
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The saboteur left a scrambled override code. Solve this arithmetic sequence using the proper order of operations to reveal their ship's registry.
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
92
25
85
85
12
72
79
81
85
79
64
28
73
36
72
53
25
79
49
44
28
85
85
116
25
85
73
34
85
T
92
12
72
119
63
63
12
47 + 9 × 5 =T
12 × 7 - 12 =C
63 + 2 × 5 =L
22 + 3 × 9 =D
11 × 6 - 2 =I
1 + 5 × 7 =O
11 × 8 - 9 =A
26 + 9 × 2 =G
11 + 2 × 7 =H
58 + 9 × 3 =E
11 × 8 - 7 =P
13 + 5 × 8 =K
71 + 8 × 6 =U
55 + 2 × 4 =F
2 + 5 × 2 =S
12 × 11 - 16 =N
4 × 10 - 6 =M
7 × 6 - 14 =R
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
A damaged fuel capsule is losing pressure at a constant rate. Solve this two-step equation to find the exact minute the saboteur launched.
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
3x + 9 = 30, x = ?
2x + 11 = 31, x = ?
6x + 2 = 68, x = ?
6x + 9 = 39, x = ?
2x + 9 = 33, x = ?
2x + 3 = 11, x = ?
3x + 4 = 28, x = ?
3x + 9 = 27, x = ?
2x + 9 = 27, x = ?
5x + 4 = 9, x = ?
2x + 4 = 10, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambled the lunar mapping beacon, then slipped into the dark nebula.
2.The villain overloaded the station hyperdrive, then escaped through the asteroid field.
3.The villain hacked the orbital defense grid, then hid behind the Martian moons.
4.The villain drained the solar power array, then fled toward the Jupiter outpost.
5.The villain overloaded the station hyperdrive, then hid behind the Martian moons.
6.The villain overloaded the station hyperdrive, then warped into the outer system.
7.The villain drained the solar power array, then slipped into the dark nebula.
8.The villain drained the solar power array, then hid behind the Martian moons.
9.The villain scrambled the lunar mapping beacon, then escaped through the asteroid field.
10.The villain scrambled the lunar mapping beacon, then warped into the outer system.
11.The villain vented the oxygen reserve tanks, then warped into the outer system.
12.The villain hacked the orbital defense grid, then escaped through the asteroid field.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Kepler Prime Sabotage
Culprit: Margaret Hamilton (fusion impulse drive · stasis field emitter · left handed joystick grip · emerald green glare · magnetic pulse disruption)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VISITOR DOES NOT USE CLOAKING TECH"19^2 = 361 (T) · 3^5 = 243 (V) · 3^3 = 27 (R) · 4^4 = 256 (O) · 6^3 = 216 (L) · 9^3 = 729 (K) · 5^3 = 125 (S) · 5^4 = 625 (N) · 5^2 = 25 (E) · 11^2 = 121 (D) · 3^2 = 9 (U) · 6^2 = 36 (G) · 18^2 = 324 (H) · 17^2 = 289 (C) · 20^2 = 400 (A) · 12^2 = 144 (I)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE COCKPIT CONTROLS WERE GRIPPED BY THE LEFT"sqrt(121) = 11 (T) · sqrt(529) = 23 (P) · sqrt(16) = 4 (Y) · sqrt(441) = 21 (N) · sqrt(169) = 13 (R) · sqrt(81) = 9 (B) · sqrt(4) = 2 (O) · sqrt(144) = 12 (D) · sqrt(225) = 15 (E) · sqrt(625) = 25 (C) · sqrt(100) = 10 (G) · sqrt(400) = 20 (I) · sqrt(64) = 8 (L) · sqrt(324) = 18 (W) · sqrt(576) = 24 (K) · sqrt(25) = 5 (S) · sqrt(9) = 3 (H) · sqrt(36) = 6 (F)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "MAGNETIC PULSES JUMPED THE PIRATES SHIELD"legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (M) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (C) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (E) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (P) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (L) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (U) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (J) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (R) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (H) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (S) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (A) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (G) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (T) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (I) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (N) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE ESCAPE AIRLOCK HAD GREEN HELMET SCUFFS"47 + 9 × 5 = 92 (T) · 12 × 7 - 12 = 72 (C) · 63 + 2 × 5 = 73 (L) · 22 + 3 × 9 = 49 (D) · 11 × 6 - 2 = 64 (I) · 1 + 5 × 7 = 36 (O) · 11 × 8 - 9 = 79 (A) · 26 + 9 × 2 = 44 (G) · 11 + 2 × 7 = 25 (H) · 58 + 9 × 3 = 85 (E) · 11 × 8 - 7 = 81 (P) · 13 + 5 × 8 = 53 (K) · 71 + 8 × 6 = 119 (U) · 55 + 2 × 4 = 63 (F) · 2 + 5 × 2 = 12 (S) · 12 × 11 - 16 = 116 (N) · 4 × 10 - 6 = 34 (M) · 7 × 6 - 14 = 28 (R)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 2) → Margaret Hamilton3x + 9 = 30, x = 7 · 2x + 11 = 31, x = 10 · 6x + 2 = 68, x = 11 · 6x + 9 = 39, x = 5 · 2x + 9 = 33, x = 12 · 2x + 3 = 11, x = 4 · 3x + 4 = 28, x = 8 · 3x + 9 = 27, x = 6 · 2x + 9 = 27, x = 9 · 5x + 4 = 9, x = 1 · 2x + 4 = 10, x = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Kepler Prime Sabotage — set in The Kepler Prime Deep Space Habitat
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects