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🔎 DisneyGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations

The Magic Kingdom Archive Caper

A mysterious Ink-Blot Phantom has snuck into the Great Disney Archives, splashing dark ink over the legendary storyboards! The Chief Archivist needs you to crack the codes and restore the magic before the stories are lost forever.

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play
NameSignature SpellEnchanted RelicCasting HandInk Splatter ColorSilly Weakness
JafarCreate IllusionsEnchanted RoseLeft-handedTeal InkSilly Jokes
KristoffControl ShadowsPoison AppleLeft-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
QuasimodoFreeze TimeGlass SlipperRight-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
Peter PanCreate IllusionsGlass SlipperRight-handedMagenta InkSilly Jokes
GastonSummon VinesGlass SlipperRight-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
IagoSummon VinesSpinning WheelLeft-handedMagenta InkClock Chimes
MulanSummon VinesSpinning WheelLeft-handedGold InkSilly Jokes
ElsaSummon VinesPoison AppleRight-handedGold InkClock Chimes
YzmaSummon VinesEnchanted RoseRight-handedMagenta InkBright Mirrors
BelleControl ShadowsGlass SlipperLeft-handedTeal InkBright Mirrors
SimbaSpit FireMagic CarpetLeft-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
CinderellaControl ShadowsPoison AppleRight-handedMagenta InkSilly Jokes
TianaCreate IllusionsPoison AppleRight-handedMagenta InkBright Mirrors
VidianFreeze TimePoison AppleRight-handedMagenta InkBright Mirrors
WoodyCreate IllusionsPoison AppleRight-handedMagenta InkClock Chimes
LiloSummon VinesMagic CarpetRight-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
NaveenCreate IllusionsEnchanted RoseRight-handedMagenta InkClock Chimes
AladdinCreate IllusionsGlass SlipperRight-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
UrsulaSummon VinesSpinning WheelLeft-handedMagenta InkSilly Jokes
Donald DuckFreeze TimeEnchanted RoseRight-handedGold InkBright Mirrors
RapunzelSpit FireGlass SlipperRight-handedTeal InkBright Mirrors
Clue 1

Pythagorean theorem

The archive guards traced the diagonal path of the intruder across the square vault room. By calculating the hypotenuse of their triangle path, we found a scrap of parchment.

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
52
50
85
100
50
58
17
T
52
20
37
111
20
85
10
17
20
T
52
50
58
29
85
T
52
50
85
25
20
10
85
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =N
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =A
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =E
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =V
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =M
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =P
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =R
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =S
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =D
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =H
0/12 letters found
Clue 2

Square roots

We discovered a square storage grid of magical inkpots. The total number of pots was a perfect square, and finding the root revealed which row held the next 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
21
8
7
14
8
20
19
T
21
18
22
17
9
7
3
20
13
11
4
8
T
21
8
20
19
3
7
3
5
20
9
T
21
sqrt(441) =T
sqrt(289) =U
sqrt(121) =I
sqrt(196) =P
sqrt(169) =R
sqrt(49) =E
sqrt(81) =S
sqrt(324) =O
sqrt(361) =N
sqrt(16) =G
sqrt(400) =A
sqrt(484) =M
sqrt(64) =H
sqrt(9) =D
sqrt(25) =C
0/15 letters found
Clue 3

Exponents

The ink blots are multiplying rapidly by powers of two every minute. We calculated the exponential growth to find the exact time the suspect entered.

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
64
625
4
64
343
324
T
9
32
243
16
64
25
343
324
169
361
25
32
243
T
9
64
625
16
64
144
324
100
243
144
25
25
32
25
3^2 =T
10^2 =Y
18^2 =N
4^2 =S
8^2 =H
5^4 =E
12^2 =I
5^2 =R
13^2 =K
7^3 =A
2^5 =O
3^5 =M
2^2 =P
19^2 =F
0/14 letters found
Clue 4

Order of operations

A spell lock requires solving a complex scroll of math. Following the correct order of operations unlocked a secret chest containing a witness report.

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
91
45
10
13
22
34
11
10
46
13
10
86
10
18
57
46
85
95
46
T
91
10
85
18
34
T
91
45
115
14
69
85
34
86
75
8 × 12 - 5 =T
54 + 3 × 5 =L
7 × 8 - 11 =H
2 + 6 × 2 =O
10 + 6 × 2 =R
9 × 11 - 13 =N
5 × 11 - 21 =I
3 × 5 - 5 =E
59 + 8 × 2 =K
80 + 5 × 3 =U
10 × 4 - 22 =W
10 × 11 - 25 =D
99 + 8 × 2 =G
4 × 4 - 5 =M
8 × 8 - 18 =S
5 + 4 × 2 =C
8 × 9 - 15 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 5

Square roots — the last clue

The suspect fled through a square garden of glowing roses. Finding the square root of the garden area gave us the side length and pointed us to the final clue.

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
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain summons a fake castle, then drops a shiny poison apple.
2.The villain blots out the reading lights, then flies away on a magic carpet.
3.The villain freezes the library clock, then flies away on a magic carpet.
4.The villain tangles the bookshelves with vines, then flies away on a magic carpet.
5.The villain summons a fake castle, then escapes on a glass slipper.
6.The villain blots out the reading lights, then drops a shiny poison apple.
7.The villain tangles the bookshelves with vines, then leaves a single enchanted rose.
8.The villain freezes the library clock, then escapes on a glass slipper.
9.The villain breathes blue fire, then escapes on a glass slipper.
10.The villain tangles the bookshelves with vines, then drops a shiny poison apple.
11.The villain blots out the reading lights, then hides behind a spinning wheel.
12.The villain tangles the bookshelves with vines, then escapes on a glass slipper.
Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Magic Kingdom Archive Caper

Culprit: Aladdin (Create Illusions · Glass Slipper · Right-handed · Gold Ink · Bright Mirrors)
  1. Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE PHANTOM DOES NOT HAVE THE ROSE"
    legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (T) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (N) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (A) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (E) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (O) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (V) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (M) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (P) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (R) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (S) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (D) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (H)
  2. Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE PHANTOM USED A RIGHT HANDED CAST"
    sqrt(441) = 21 (T) · sqrt(289) = 17 (U) · sqrt(121) = 11 (I) · sqrt(196) = 14 (P) · sqrt(169) = 13 (R) · sqrt(49) = 7 (E) · sqrt(81) = 9 (S) · sqrt(324) = 18 (O) · sqrt(361) = 19 (N) · sqrt(16) = 4 (G) · sqrt(400) = 20 (A) · sqrt(484) = 22 (M) · sqrt(64) = 8 (H) · sqrt(9) = 3 (D) · sqrt(25) = 5 (C)
  3. Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE PHANTOM SHRANK FROM THE SHINY MIRROR"
    3^2 = 9 (T) · 10^2 = 100 (Y) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 4^2 = 16 (S) · 8^2 = 64 (H) · 5^4 = 625 (E) · 12^2 = 144 (I) · 5^2 = 25 (R) · 13^2 = 169 (K) · 7^3 = 343 (A) · 2^5 = 32 (O) · 3^5 = 243 (M) · 2^2 = 4 (P) · 19^2 = 361 (F)
  4. Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE CRIME SCENE WAS DUSTED WITH GOLD INK"
    8 × 12 - 5 = 91 (T) · 54 + 3 × 5 = 69 (L) · 7 × 8 - 11 = 45 (H) · 2 + 6 × 2 = 14 (O) · 10 + 6 × 2 = 22 (R) · 9 × 11 - 13 = 86 (N) · 5 × 11 - 21 = 34 (I) · 3 × 5 - 5 = 10 (E) · 59 + 8 × 2 = 75 (K) · 80 + 5 × 3 = 95 (U) · 10 × 4 - 22 = 18 (W) · 10 × 11 - 25 = 85 (D) · 99 + 8 × 2 = 115 (G) · 4 × 4 - 5 = 11 (M) · 8 × 8 - 18 = 46 (S) · 5 + 4 × 2 = 13 (C) · 8 × 9 - 15 = 57 (A)
  5. Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 5) → Aladdin
    sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(4) = 2

About this mystery

Grade level
Grade 10 math
Math topics
Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
Reading level
grades 7-9
Theme
The Magic Kingdom Archive Caper — set in The Great Disney Archives
Format
Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution
One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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