Grade 8Reading: grades 3-4ExponentsWord problemsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremTwo-step equations
The Lost Emerald of Mount Canopy
The ancient Golden Compass has been taken from the Chief Mapmaker's treehouse! Only the craftiest rogue explorer in the Adventure Club could have pulled off this daring heist. Work through the clues to find the culprit before they find the lost temple!
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 | Main Tool | Special Gear | Wrist Accessory | Hair Color | Secret Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toby | laser flashlight | decoding ring | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | allergic to pollen |
| Cole | robo boots | decoding ring | wears a stopwatch | dusty brown hair | scared of spiders |
| Finn | grappling hook | sonar goggles | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | allergic to pollen |
| Rex | laser flashlight | decoding ring | wears a compass watch | pitch black hair | scared of spiders |
| Alex | grappling hook | bubble shield | wears a stopwatch | pitch black hair | hates loud noises |
| Zoe | pocket glider | bubble shield | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | allergic to pollen |
| Jack | climbing claws | decoding ring | wears a stopwatch | pitch black hair | allergic to pollen |
| Indy | laser flashlight | sonar goggles | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Sam | grappling hook | sticky gloves | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Ruby | climbing claws | sticky gloves | wears a stopwatch | pitch black hair | scared of spiders |
| Kira | grappling hook | smoke pellets | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Mia | robo boots | decoding ring | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Jake | pocket glider | sonar goggles | wears a compass watch | dusty brown hair | scared of spiders |
| Noah | grappling hook | sticky gloves | wears a compass watch | pitch black hair | hates loud noises |
| Ella | climbing claws | decoding ring | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Luke | laser flashlight | sonar goggles | wears a stopwatch | pitch black hair | scared of spiders |
| Ben | pocket glider | sonar goggles | wears a stopwatch | dusty brown hair | scared of spiders |
| Max | robo boots | bubble shield | wears a stopwatch | bright orange hair | hates loud noises |
| Maya | climbing claws | decoding ring | wears a compass watch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Gail | climbing claws | sonar goggles | wears a compass watch | bright orange hair | scared of spiders |
| Leo | robo boots | sonar goggles | wears a compass watch | dusty brown hair | scared of spiders |
Clue 1
Exponents
To start the search, we must count the gear left behind. Solve these word problems to find the exact number of lost supplies.
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
441
27
512
169
27
289
169
27
121
16
169
T
9
441
256
196
27
121
T
9
343
243
216
484
324
125
169
196
27
121
3^2 =T
21^2 =H
2^4 =N
6^3 =K
4^4 =A
8^3 =F
18^2 =G
17^2 =D
3^3 =E
22^2 =Y
7^3 =I
5^3 =L
13^2 =O
11^2 =S
14^2 =V
3^5 =C
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The team finds a strange radio signal that multiplies rapidly. Solve this exponent puzzle to decode the signal's true strength.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
W
95
53
42
109
16
42
16
37
86
P
W
95
42
37
C
H
The Expedition Leader found 59 safari hats yesterday and 36 more today. How many safari hats in all?W
There were 98 climbing ropes. 12 were used up. How many climbing ropes are left?O
The Expedition Leader found 4 canteen bottles yesterday and 33 more today. How many canteen bottles in all?T
The Expedition Leader found 37 vines yesterday and 72 more today. How many vines in all?R
The Expedition Leader lined up 6 rows of 7 canteen bottles. How many canteen bottles in all?A
There were 93 vines. 40 were used up. How many vines are left?E
The Expedition Leader lined up 8 rows of 2 vines. How many vines in all?S
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
A locked stone door blocks the path! The puzzle lock asks for the square root of the giant numbers carved on the wall.
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
16
7
4
11
4
21
7
13
T
9
19
15
14
15
12
15
6
23
19
3
17
15
T
9
22
14
6
4
21
22
2
7
19
sqrt(81) =T
sqrt(484) =I
sqrt(361) =R
sqrt(144) =W
sqrt(121) =U
sqrt(289) =M
sqrt(225) =A
sqrt(169) =C
sqrt(16) =S
sqrt(441) =P
sqrt(4) =D
sqrt(256) =H
sqrt(529) =F
sqrt(196) =N
sqrt(49) =E
sqrt(36) =Y
sqrt(9) =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Pythagorean theorem
We need to zip-line across a canyon to follow the trail. Use the Pythagorean formula to calculate the exact length of the rope.
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
74
29
75
87
15
85
58
87
68
40
85
25
29
52
40
30
68
87
85
20
52
29
20
68
29
29
65
68
40
85
50
52
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =I
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =D
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =O
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =B
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =F
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =C
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =N
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =T
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =U
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =E
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =R
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =A
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =G
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The ancient scales of balance must be set just right. Solve this two-step equation to open the hidden escape hatch.
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
4x + 3 = 27, x = ?
6x + 6 = 18, x = ?
6x + 5 = 77, x = ?
2x + 4 = 20, x = ?
3x + 9 = 18, x = ?
5x + 8 = 13, x = ?
6x + 2 = 62, x = ?
4x + 5 = 33, x = ?
4x + 3 = 19, x = ?
4x + 9 = 29, x = ?
2x + 1 = 23, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung past the temple gates, then unlocked the ancient puzzle box.
2.The villain scaled the steep stone wall, then unlocked the ancient puzzle box.
3.The villain soared over the canopy, then spotted the secret passage.
4.The villain soared over the canopy, then unlocked the ancient puzzle box.
5.The villain swung past the temple gates, then grabbed the gold statue.
6.The villain jumped high over the mud pits, then unlocked the ancient puzzle box.
7.The villain jumped high over the mud pits, then spotted the secret passage.
8.The villain jumped high over the mud pits, then left a cloud of blue fog.
9.The villain beamed a path through the dark, then spotted the secret passage.
10.The villain swung past the temple gates, then escaped the giant rolling boulder.
11.The villain jumped high over the mud pits, then escaped the giant rolling boulder.
12.The villain swung past the temple gates, then left a cloud of blue fog.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Lost Emerald of Mount Canopy
Culprit: Indy (laser flashlight · sonar goggles · wears a stopwatch · bright orange hair · scared of spiders)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE FOE DOES NOT HAVE STICKY GLOVES"3^2 = 9 (T) · 21^2 = 441 (H) · 2^4 = 16 (N) · 6^3 = 216 (K) · 4^4 = 256 (A) · 8^3 = 512 (F) · 18^2 = 324 (G) · 17^2 = 289 (D) · 3^3 = 27 (E) · 22^2 = 484 (Y) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 5^3 = 125 (L) · 13^2 = 169 (O) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 14^2 = 196 (V) · 3^5 = 243 (C)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "WEARS A STOPWATCH"The Expedition Leader found 59 safari hats yesterday and 36 more today. How many safari hats in all? = 95 (W) · There were 98 climbing ropes. 12 were used up. How many climbing ropes are left? = 86 (O) · The Expedition Leader found 4 canteen bottles yesterday and 33 more today. How many canteen bottles in all? = 37 (T) · The Expedition Leader found 37 vines yesterday and 72 more today. How many vines in all? = 109 (R) · The Expedition Leader lined up 6 rows of 7 canteen bottles. How many canteen bottles in all? = 42 (A) · There were 93 vines. 40 were used up. How many vines are left? = 53 (E) · The Expedition Leader lined up 8 rows of 2 vines. How many vines in all? = 16 (S)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE SUSPECT RAN AWAY FROM A TINY SPIDER"sqrt(81) = 9 (T) · sqrt(484) = 22 (I) · sqrt(361) = 19 (R) · sqrt(144) = 12 (W) · sqrt(121) = 11 (U) · sqrt(289) = 17 (M) · sqrt(225) = 15 (A) · sqrt(169) = 13 (C) · sqrt(16) = 4 (S) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P) · sqrt(4) = 2 (D) · sqrt(256) = 16 (H) · sqrt(529) = 23 (F) · sqrt(196) = 14 (N) · sqrt(49) = 7 (E) · sqrt(36) = 6 (Y) · sqrt(9) = 3 (O)
- Clue 4 (Pythagorean theorem): "WE FOUND ORANGE HAIR ON THE TREE BRANCH"legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (I) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (D) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (O) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (B) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (F) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (C) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (N) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (T) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (U) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (E) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (R) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (A) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (G) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (H)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Indy4x + 3 = 27, x = 6 · 6x + 6 = 18, x = 2 · 6x + 5 = 77, x = 12 · 2x + 4 = 20, x = 8 · 3x + 9 = 18, x = 3 · 5x + 8 = 13, x = 1 · 6x + 2 = 62, x = 10 · 4x + 5 = 33, x = 7 · 4x + 3 = 19, x = 4 · 4x + 9 = 29, x = 5 · 2x + 1 = 23, x = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Word problems, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Lost Emerald of Mount Canopy — set in The deep, leafy jungles of Mount Canopy
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects