Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Lost Compass of the Sun Jaguar
A priceless artifact, the Obsidian Compass, has been stolen from the Sun Jaguar Temple. The Chief Archaeologist was locked inside a sealed stone vault. We must decode the ancient clues left behind, bypass the temple traps, and identify which rogue explorer in our expedition team is the thief before they escape the jungle.
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 Skill | Special Gear | Distinct Habit | Hair Condition | Exploitable Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Baker | poison dart evasion | laser scanning goggles | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Richard Burton | grappling hook mastery | smoke bomb canisters | uses a left handed notepad | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Jeanne Baret | poison dart evasion | compact climbing spikes | uses a left handed notepad | cobwebbed black hair | afraid of cave spiders |
| Marco Polo | ancient glyph decoding | laser scanning goggles | wears a leather wristband | muddy brown hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Robert Peary | poison dart evasion | smoke bomb canisters | wears a leather wristband | muddy brown hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Jacques Cousteau | ruins map navigation | compact climbing spikes | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Gertrude Bell | grappling hook mastery | ultraviolet flashlights | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | startled by loud bats |
| Roald Amundsen | grappling hook mastery | miniature radio drones | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Harriet Chalmers | ancient glyph decoding | smoke bomb canisters | uses a left handed notepad | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Ada Blackjack | poison dart evasion | miniature radio drones | uses a left handed notepad | cobwebbed black hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Freya Stark | machete path clearing | miniature radio drones | uses a left handed notepad | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Nellie Bly | machete path clearing | ultraviolet flashlights | uses a left handed notepad | dusty blonde hair | startled by loud bats |
| Ernest Shackleton | grappling hook mastery | ultraviolet flashlights | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Isabella Bird | poison dart evasion | smoke bomb canisters | uses a left handed notepad | cobwebbed black hair | startled by loud bats |
| Amelia Earhart | poison dart evasion | compact climbing spikes | uses a left handed notepad | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Alexandrine Tinne | ancient glyph decoding | miniature radio drones | uses a left handed notepad | cobwebbed black hair | startled by loud bats |
| Roy Andrews | ancient glyph decoding | miniature radio drones | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | afraid of cave spiders |
| Ibn Battuta | grappling hook mastery | miniature radio drones | wears a leather wristband | muddy brown hair | afraid of cave spiders |
| Percy Fawcett | machete path clearing | compact climbing spikes | wears a leather wristband | dusty blonde hair | allergic to jungle pollen |
| Charles Darwin | ancient glyph decoding | ultraviolet flashlights | uses a left handed notepad | muddy brown hair | afraid of cave spiders |
| Hiram Bingham | poison dart evasion | laser scanning goggles | uses a left handed notepad | muddy brown hair | startled by loud bats |
Clue 1
Exponents
To unlock the temple outer gate, we must calculate how quickly the toxic jungle spore population doubles over several hours because the growth is exponential.
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
9
36
625
T
9
36
441
625
484
8
4
625
324
400
4
T
9
16
324
625
81
32
324
625
729
196
4
196
196
81
625
324
3^2 =T
9^2 =L
14^2 =G
6^2 =H
9^3 =R
18^2 =S
2^4 =U
21^2 =I
5^4 =E
2^2 =O
2^3 =D
2^5 =A
22^2 =F
20^2 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We find a mosaic tile floor blocking our path. To step only on the safe stones, we must find the side length of a square chamber using its total area.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
16
24
15
25
A
16
13
10
22
2
23
A
16
15
4
23
25
18
A
16
24
6
25
10
13
13
23
6
19
23
A
16
25
15
4
23
6
10
10
25
sqrt(256) =A
sqrt(100) =O
sqrt(169) =P
sqrt(484) =F
sqrt(4) =L
sqrt(324) =W
sqrt(529) =E
sqrt(225) =T
sqrt(16) =H
sqrt(625) =R
sqrt(576) =S
sqrt(361) =N
sqrt(36) =D
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
A deep chasm cuts through the ruins. We need to find the exact length of the diagonal rope bridge we must throw from the top ledge to the bottom landing.
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
65
17
30
82
52
82
34
30
25
T
65
82
13
30
30
68
30
37
39
17
30
13
13
30
26
40
T
65
17
30
74
40
25
17
50
37
82
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =T
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =U
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =Z
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =P
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =D
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =I
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =S
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =O
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =C
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =W
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =N
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =R
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
An ancient stone dial requires us to turn the gears in a very specific sequence. We must solve the complex multi-step equation on the wall to get the combination.
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
62
86
76
11
107
85
44
76
80
46
81
22
11
37
44
86
85
61
41
81
80
85
44
61
11
85
41
26
86
W
62
80
37
37
7 × 9 - 1 =W
8 × 2 - 5 =O
46 + 5 × 6 =F
8 × 6 - 7 =T
29 + 4 × 2 =L
16 + 5 × 9 =S
56 + 6 × 5 =E
9 × 12 - 23 =N
53 + 3 × 9 =A
10 + 2 × 6 =G
8 + 6 × 3 =H
9 + 5 × 7 =D
99 + 2 × 4 =U
11 × 10 - 29 =R
5 × 11 - 9 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
To balance the boulder trap scale, we need to find the weight of a single golden idol when we know the combined weight of several jars and a heavy stone tablet.
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 + 4 = 37, x = ?
6x + 3 = 57, x = ?
5x + 5 = 20, x = ?
6x + 4 = 10, x = ?
5x + 2 = 12, x = ?
6x + 5 = 35, x = ?
6x + 8 = 80, x = ?
5x + 10 = 50, x = ?
4x + 1 = 29, x = ?
6x + 4 = 28, x = ?
2x + 7 = 19, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain consulted a faded parchment map, then navigated the dark with a bright light.
2.The villain hacked through thick jungle vines, then sent a tiny flying machine ahead.
3.The villain swung across the pit using a rope, then navigated the dark with a bright light.
4.The villain decoded the ancient locking glyphs, then escaped behind a cloud of grey smoke.
5.The villain hacked through thick jungle vines, then navigated the dark with a bright light.
6.The villain swung across the pit using a rope, then scanned the room for hidden tripwires.
7.The villain decoded the ancient locking glyphs, then scanned the room for hidden tripwires.
8.The villain dodged a trap of flying darts, then escaped behind a cloud of grey smoke.
9.The villain swung across the pit using a rope, then sent a tiny flying machine ahead.
10.The villain hacked through thick jungle vines, then scaled the stone walls with spikes.
11.The villain consulted a faded parchment map, then scaled the stone walls with spikes.
12.The villain decoded the ancient locking glyphs, then navigated the dark with a bright light.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Lost Compass of the Sun Jaguar
Culprit: Percy Fawcett (machete path clearing · compact climbing spikes · wears a leather wristband · dusty blonde hair · allergic to jungle pollen)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE LASER GOGGLES"3^2 = 9 (T) · 9^2 = 81 (L) · 14^2 = 196 (G) · 6^2 = 36 (H) · 9^3 = 729 (R) · 18^2 = 324 (S) · 2^4 = 16 (U) · 21^2 = 441 (I) · 5^4 = 625 (E) · 2^2 = 4 (O) · 2^3 = 8 (D) · 2^5 = 32 (A) · 22^2 = 484 (F) · 20^2 = 400 (N)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "A STRAP OF LEATHER WAS DROPPED NEAR THE DOOR"sqrt(256) = 16 (A) · sqrt(100) = 10 (O) · sqrt(169) = 13 (P) · sqrt(484) = 22 (F) · sqrt(4) = 2 (L) · sqrt(324) = 18 (W) · sqrt(529) = 23 (E) · sqrt(225) = 15 (T) · sqrt(16) = 4 (H) · sqrt(625) = 25 (R) · sqrt(576) = 24 (S) · sqrt(361) = 19 (N) · sqrt(36) = 6 (D)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SUSPECT SNEEZED WHEN NEAR THE ORCHIDS"legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (T) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (H) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (U) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (Z) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (P) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (D) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (I) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (S) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (O) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (C) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (W) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (N) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (A) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (R) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND FAIR GOLDEN STRANDS ON THE WALL"7 × 9 - 1 = 62 (W) · 8 × 2 - 5 = 11 (O) · 46 + 5 × 6 = 76 (F) · 8 × 6 - 7 = 41 (T) · 29 + 4 × 2 = 37 (L) · 16 + 5 × 9 = 61 (S) · 56 + 6 × 5 = 86 (E) · 9 × 12 - 23 = 85 (N) · 53 + 3 × 9 = 80 (A) · 10 + 2 × 6 = 22 (G) · 8 + 6 × 3 = 26 (H) · 9 + 5 × 7 = 44 (D) · 99 + 2 × 4 = 107 (U) · 11 × 10 - 29 = 81 (R) · 5 × 11 - 9 = 46 (I)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Percy Fawcett3x + 4 = 37, x = 11 · 6x + 3 = 57, x = 9 · 5x + 5 = 20, x = 3 · 6x + 4 = 10, x = 1 · 5x + 2 = 12, x = 2 · 6x + 5 = 35, x = 5 · 6x + 8 = 80, x = 12 · 5x + 10 = 50, x = 8 · 4x + 1 = 29, x = 7 · 6x + 4 = 28, x = 4 · 2x + 7 = 19, x = 6
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 Lost Compass of the Sun Jaguar — set in the ancient overgrown ruins of the Sun Jaguar Temple deep in the Amazon
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects