🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9RoundingBar modelsWord problemsMultiplicationFractions of a number
The Lost Compass of Cutlass Cay
The harbor master's ancient golden compass has been stolen from the high tower of Smuggler's Cove! A rogue captain slipped through the fog, bypassed the guards, and fled into the night. We must decipher the clues left behind to identify the thief before they sail beyond the horizon.
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 Tool | Sailing Skill | Dueling Stance | Hair Style | Scurvy Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodes Rogers | heavy cutlass | cannon aiming | left handed stance | fiery red braids | seasickness |
| Charles Vane | flintlock pistol | map navigation | right handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Calico Jack | spyglass map | map navigation | right handed stance | sun bleached dreads | sour limes |
| Howell Davis | heavy cutlass | cannon aiming | left handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Rachel Wall | heavy cutlass | stealth rowing | right handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Bartholomew Roberts | heavy cutlass | map navigation | left handed stance | fiery red braids | sour limes |
| Samuel Bellamy | flintlock pistol | rigging climbing | left handed stance | sun bleached dreads | seasickness |
| Edward Low | flintlock pistol | cannon aiming | right handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Grace O Malley | spyglass map | map navigation | left handed stance | sun bleached dreads | seasickness |
| Richard Worley | boarding axe | rigging climbing | left handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Thomas Tew | smoke canister | map navigation | right handed stance | sun bleached dreads | fear of parrots |
| Henry Morgan | boarding axe | map navigation | right handed stance | pitch black beard | sour limes |
| Edward England | smoke canister | stealth rowing | left handed stance | fiery red braids | sour limes |
| Charlotte de Berry | boarding axe | cannon aiming | left handed stance | sun bleached dreads | sour limes |
| Francois l Olonnais | spyglass map | anchor dropping | right handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Blackbeard | spyglass map | cannon aiming | left handed stance | sun bleached dreads | seasickness |
| Mary Read | flintlock pistol | cannon aiming | right handed stance | sun bleached dreads | fear of parrots |
| Stede Bonnet | smoke canister | rigging climbing | right handed stance | pitch black beard | seasickness |
| Francis Drake | spyglass map | anchor dropping | left handed stance | fiery red braids | sour limes |
| Anne Bonny | spyglass map | rigging climbing | right handed stance | pitch black beard | fear of parrots |
| Sadie the Goat | heavy cutlass | map navigation | right handed stance | sun bleached dreads | sour limes |
Clue 1
Rounding
A frantic dockworker found a torn logbook. Solve these word problems about cargo weight to reveal the first 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.
T
200
2300
3700
T
200
2300
430
3700
1100
2000
9000
3700
70
50
9000
T
200
4300
70
3700
5000
50
230
2300
9000
90
2000
90
9000
700
700
430
50
1300
Round 231 to the nearest hundredT
Round 9,222 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,338 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,142 to the nearest hundredF
Round 91 to the nearest tenR
Round 667 to the nearest hundredP
Round 71 to the nearest tenS
Round 49 to the nearest tenN
Round 228 to the nearest tenC
Round 3,732 to the nearest hundredE
Round 5,375 to the nearest thousandA
Round 428 to the nearest tenI
Round 2,307 to the nearest hundredH
Round 1,522 to the nearest thousandD
Round 1,344 to the nearest hundredG
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
The guards compared the lengths of stolen ropes. Complete the bar models to uncover the next lead.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
41
12
55
7
142
7
45
18
D
E
D
S
142
45
18
C
E
Quartermaster shares 205 canvas sails equally among 5 teams. How many canvas sails does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
The red team has 42 canvas sails and the blue team has 35 canvas sails. How many more canvas sails does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
One group collected 109 iron anchors and another group collected 33 iron anchors. How many iron anchors in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
One group collected 11 iron anchors and another group collected 1 iron anchors. How many iron anchors in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
There were 60 wooden barrels in all. 15 wooden barrels were used. How many wooden barrels are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
There were 78 iron anchors in all. 23 iron anchors were used. How many iron anchors are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→G
Quartermaster has 2 times as many canvas sails as a teammate. The teammate has 9 canvas sails. How many canvas sails does quartermaster have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
The lighthouse radar only shows rounded sea distances. Round these navigation coordinates to unlock the third hint.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
F
104
100
50
43
16
F
104
101
50
43
43
16
48
S
Quartermaster found 52 gold coins yesterday and 52 more today. How many gold coins in all?F
Quartermaster lined up 10 rows of 5 gold coins. How many gold coins in all?A
There were 133 iron anchors. 32 were used up. How many iron anchors are left?P
Quartermaster lined up 4 rows of 4 pirate hats. How many pirate hats in all?O
Quartermaster lined up 10 rows of 10 gold coins. How many gold coins in all?E
Quartermaster lined up 4 rows of 12 wooden barrels. How many wooden barrels in all?T
Quartermaster found 21 canvas sails yesterday and 22 more today. How many canvas sails in all?R
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Rows of gunpowder barrels are stacked in the hold. Multiply the rows to find the hidden cipher.
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
70
10
18
63
48
80
7
5
20
9
32
40
4
81
144
9
80
7
4
63
80
81
100
10
144
44
28
28
44
80
28
10 × 7 =W
8 × 10 =N
3 × 6 =F
5 × 1 =B
4 × 5 =L
11 × 4 =I
1 × 4 =S
12 × 12 =R
10 × 1 =E
1 × 7 =D
4 × 7 =G
10 × 10 =H
9 × 7 =O
9 × 1 =A
6 × 8 =U
4 × 10 =K
8 × 4 =C
9 × 9 =T
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The quartermaster is dividing the gold coins. Find the fractions of the treasure to secure the final piece of evidence.
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
3/5 of 20 = ?
4/6 of 6 = ?
3/6 of 2 = ?
7/8 of 8 = ?
1/4 of 20 = ?
2/6 of 18 = ?
2/6 of 6 = ?
2/6 of 24 = ?
2/10 of 50 = ?
3/10 of 10 = ?
2/8 of 36 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain unfolded a spyglass map, then escaped by rigging climbing.
2.The villain swung a heavy cutlass, then paused for anchor dropping.
3.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then escaped by rigging climbing.
4.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then used map navigation to escape.
5.The villain swung a boarding axe, then used map navigation to escape.
6.The villain unfolded a spyglass map, then escaped by stealth rowing.
7.The villain swung a boarding axe, then fled after cannon aiming.
8.The villain threw a smoke canister, then used map navigation to escape.
9.The villain swung a boarding axe, then escaped by rigging climbing.
10.The villain swung a heavy cutlass, then escaped by rigging climbing.
11.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then fled after cannon aiming.
12.The villain swung a heavy cutlass, then escaped by stealth rowing.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Lost Compass of Cutlass Cay
Culprit: Edward Low (flintlock pistol · cannon aiming · right handed stance · pitch black beard · fear of parrots)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE ANCHOR DROPPING"Round 231 to the nearest hundred = 200 (T) · Round 9,222 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 4,338 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (U) · Round 1,142 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (F) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (R) · Round 667 to the nearest hundred = 700 (P) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (S) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (N) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (C) · Round 3,732 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 5,375 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 428 to the nearest ten = 430 (I) · Round 2,307 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (H) · Round 1,522 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D) · Round 1,344 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (G)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "RIGHT HANDED STANCE"Quartermaster shares 205 canvas sails equally among 5 teams. How many canvas sails does each team get? = 41 (R) · The red team has 42 canvas sails and the blue team has 35 canvas sails. How many more canvas sails does the red team have? = 7 (H) · One group collected 109 iron anchors and another group collected 33 iron anchors. How many iron anchors in all? = 142 (T) · One group collected 11 iron anchors and another group collected 1 iron anchors. How many iron anchors in all? = 12 (I) · There were 60 wooden barrels in all. 15 wooden barrels were used. How many wooden barrels are left? = 45 (A) · There were 78 iron anchors in all. 23 iron anchors were used. How many iron anchors are left? = 55 (G) · Quartermaster has 2 times as many canvas sails as a teammate. The teammate has 9 canvas sails. How many canvas sails does quartermaster have? = 18 (N)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "FEAR OF PARROTS"Quartermaster found 52 gold coins yesterday and 52 more today. How many gold coins in all? = 104 (F) · Quartermaster lined up 10 rows of 5 gold coins. How many gold coins in all? = 50 (A) · There were 133 iron anchors. 32 were used up. How many iron anchors are left? = 101 (P) · Quartermaster lined up 4 rows of 4 pirate hats. How many pirate hats in all? = 16 (O) · Quartermaster lined up 10 rows of 10 gold coins. How many gold coins in all? = 100 (E) · Quartermaster lined up 4 rows of 12 wooden barrels. How many wooden barrels in all? = 48 (T) · Quartermaster found 21 canvas sails yesterday and 22 more today. How many canvas sails in all? = 43 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND BLACK STRANDS ON THE RIGGING"10 × 7 = 70 (W) · 8 × 10 = 80 (N) · 3 × 6 = 18 (F) · 5 × 1 = 5 (B) · 4 × 5 = 20 (L) · 11 × 4 = 44 (I) · 1 × 4 = 4 (S) · 12 × 12 = 144 (R) · 10 × 1 = 10 (E) · 1 × 7 = 7 (D) · 4 × 7 = 28 (G) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 9 × 7 = 63 (O) · 9 × 1 = 9 (A) · 6 × 8 = 48 (U) · 4 × 10 = 40 (K) · 8 × 4 = 32 (C) · 9 × 9 = 81 (T)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 11) → Edward Low3/5 of 20 = 12 · 4/6 of 6 = 4 · 3/6 of 2 = 1 · 7/8 of 8 = 7 · 1/4 of 20 = 5 · 2/6 of 18 = 6 · 2/6 of 6 = 2 · 2/6 of 24 = 8 · 2/10 of 50 = 10 · 3/10 of 10 = 3 · 2/8 of 36 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Bar models, Word problems, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Lost Compass of Cutlass Cay — set in Smuggler's Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects