Grade 6Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationPercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Midnight Zone Mystery
A rogue diver has snuck into the Deep-Sea Vault and stolen the legendary Golden Pearl of Atlantis! The Chief Oceanographer needs your help to decode the clues and catch the thief before they escape into the deep ocean trenches.
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 | Diving Suit Gear | Submarine Upgrade | Dominant Hand | Hair Color | Gear Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roald Amundsen | plasma cutting torch | electric hull shield | left handed swimmer | bright blue hair | cluttered air lines |
| Jeanne Villepreux | plasma cutting torch | laser spotlight | right handed swimmer | neon pink hair | cluttered air lines |
| Ferdinand Magellan | heavy drill arm | electric hull shield | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| Mary Read | turbo thrusters | stealth camouflage | left handed swimmer | neon pink hair | leaky helmet seal |
| Matthew Henson | turbo thrusters | laser spotlight | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| William Beebe | heavy drill arm | sonar jammer | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| Anne Bonny | harpoon launcher | laser spotlight | left handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| Leif Erikson | harpoon launcher | super speed propeller | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| Jim Hawkins | heavy drill arm | electric hull shield | left handed swimmer | neon pink hair | sandy thruster fan |
| Captain Nemo | plasma cutting torch | stealth camouflage | right handed swimmer | bright blue hair | sandy thruster fan |
| James Cook | turbo thrusters | laser spotlight | right handed swimmer | neon pink hair | leaky helmet seal |
| Steve Zissou | turbo thrusters | super speed propeller | left handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | leaky helmet seal |
| Peter Benchley | mechanical claw | stealth camouflage | left handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | sandy thruster fan |
| David Attenborough | plasma cutting torch | stealth camouflage | right handed swimmer | bright blue hair | cluttered air lines |
| Robert Ballard | mechanical claw | super speed propeller | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | sandy thruster fan |
| Jeanne Baret | turbo thrusters | electric hull shield | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | cluttered air lines |
| Grace OMalley | plasma cutting torch | electric hull shield | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | leaky helmet seal |
| Captain Ahab | heavy drill arm | super speed propeller | right handed swimmer | neon pink hair | cluttered air lines |
| Ernest Shackleton | harpoon launcher | super speed propeller | right handed swimmer | sunset orange hair | leaky helmet seal |
| James Cameron | mechanical claw | super speed propeller | right handed swimmer | neon pink hair | cluttered air lines |
| Sylvia Earle | heavy drill arm | sonar jammer | right handed swimmer | bright blue hair | cluttered air lines |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We are analyzing rows of locked storage lockers in the sub-dock. Multiply the number of rows by the locker count to find the vault code.
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
8
72
70
18
14
2
2
64
14
24
55
90
70
54
24
90
T
8
72
64
18
70
64
54
90
24
64
16
28
64
42
42
70
16
2 × 4 =T
6 × 4 =N
6 × 9 =S
6 × 7 =M
2 × 1 =L
7 × 10 =E
4 × 7 =J
9 × 2 =V
10 × 9 =O
2 × 8 =R
7 × 2 =I
12 × 6 =H
8 × 8 =A
11 × 5 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The station's backup battery is draining quickly. Calculate the remaining percentage of power to keep the security terminal online.
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
12
40
28
10
16
10
11
28
14
T
12
10
7
21
23
10
23
1
21
6
36
2
7
21
T
12
40
T
12
40
28
9
21
42
40
T
12
40
1
6
24
50% of 24 =T
25% of 44 =P
10% of 10 =A
25% of 84 =I
50% of 48 =D
10% of 400 =H
10% of 160 =U
25% of 28 =W
60% of 60 =L
25% of 36 =R
5% of 40 =Y
5% of 200 =S
20% of 115 =M
25% of 56 =C
25% of 112 =E
75% of 56 =G
50% of 12 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The sub's radar grid expands exponentially with each ping. Figure out the grid power level to trace the rogue diver's path.
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
169
225
8
243
128
32
32
121
128
125
225
121
36
T
169
121
125
49
32
8
256
121
128
144
32
128
125
8
36
25
125
256
8
361
4
13^2 =T
5^3 =N
2^7 =I
12^2 =R
2^5 =L
2^2 =K
7^2 =G
5^2 =O
3^5 =V
11^2 =A
15^2 =H
19^2 =C
2^8 =D
6^2 =S
2^3 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To unlock the encrypted security footage, you must solve this multi-step operational sequence in the correct order.
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
60
80
26
63
55
39
62
54
55
39
54
80
42
63
72
76
39
41
80
50
76
30
72
63
39
42
50
80
54
55
73
54
80
76
42
32 + 4 × 7 =W
4 × 7 - 2 =F
33 + 5 × 8 =B
7 × 7 - 19 =I
12 × 8 - 20 =A
4 + 5 × 7 =N
5 × 9 - 3 =T
42 + 5 × 4 =D
6 × 9 - 4 =H
8 × 11 - 8 =E
9 × 9 - 26 =U
42 + 6 × 5 =R
42 + 6 × 2 =S
51 + 3 × 4 =O
12 × 5 - 19 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to distribute the emergency oxygen tanks equally among the scout subs. Divide the total supply to see how many subs can launch.
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
6 ÷ 6 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
63 ÷ 9 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain bored a hole using the heavy drill arm, then shocked the pursuing droids with an electric hull shield.
2.The villain fired the harpoon launcher at the vault door, then zipped through the reef with a super speed propeller.
3.The villain fired the harpoon launcher at the vault door, then shocked the pursuing droids with an electric hull shield.
4.The villain fired the harpoon launcher at the vault door, then faded away using stealth camouflage.
5.The villain clamped the mechanical claw onto the safe, then blinded the tracking radar with a sonar jammer.
6.The villain activated the turbo thrusters to flee, then faded away using stealth camouflage.
7.The villain clamped the mechanical claw onto the safe, then zipped through the reef with a super speed propeller.
8.The villain sliced open the steel safe with a plasma cutting torch, then lit up the dark abyss with a laser spotlight.
9.The villain activated the turbo thrusters to flee, then lit up the dark abyss with a laser spotlight.
10.The villain bored a hole using the heavy drill arm, then zipped through the reef with a super speed propeller.
11.The villain activated the turbo thrusters to flee, then shocked the pursuing droids with an electric hull shield.
12.The villain sliced open the steel safe with a plasma cutting torch, then blinded the tracking radar with a sonar jammer.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Midnight Zone Mystery
Culprit: Jeanne Baret (turbo thrusters · electric hull shield · right handed swimmer · sunset orange hair · cluttered air lines)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A SONAR JAMMER"2 × 4 = 8 (T) · 6 × 4 = 24 (N) · 6 × 9 = 54 (S) · 6 × 7 = 42 (M) · 2 × 1 = 2 (L) · 7 × 10 = 70 (E) · 4 × 7 = 28 (J) · 9 × 2 = 18 (V) · 10 × 9 = 90 (O) · 2 × 8 = 16 (R) · 7 × 2 = 14 (I) · 12 × 6 = 72 (H) · 8 × 8 = 64 (A) · 11 × 5 = 55 (D)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT SWIMS MAINLY WITH THE RIGHT HAND"50% of 24 = 12 (T) · 25% of 44 = 11 (P) · 10% of 10 = 1 (A) · 25% of 84 = 21 (I) · 50% of 48 = 24 (D) · 10% of 400 = 40 (H) · 10% of 160 = 16 (U) · 25% of 28 = 7 (W) · 60% of 60 = 36 (L) · 25% of 36 = 9 (R) · 5% of 40 = 2 (Y) · 5% of 200 = 10 (S) · 20% of 115 = 23 (M) · 25% of 56 = 14 (C) · 25% of 112 = 28 (E) · 75% of 56 = 42 (G) · 50% of 12 = 6 (N)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN HAS TANGLED AIR LINES ON DECK"13^2 = 169 (T) · 5^3 = 125 (N) · 2^7 = 128 (I) · 12^2 = 144 (R) · 2^5 = 32 (L) · 2^2 = 4 (K) · 7^2 = 49 (G) · 5^2 = 25 (O) · 3^5 = 243 (V) · 11^2 = 121 (A) · 15^2 = 225 (H) · 19^2 = 361 (C) · 2^8 = 256 (D) · 6^2 = 36 (S) · 2^3 = 8 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND SUNSET ORANGE HAIR ON THE SUB SEAT"32 + 4 × 7 = 60 (W) · 4 × 7 - 2 = 26 (F) · 33 + 5 × 8 = 73 (B) · 7 × 7 - 19 = 30 (I) · 12 × 8 - 20 = 76 (A) · 4 + 5 × 7 = 39 (N) · 5 × 9 - 3 = 42 (T) · 42 + 5 × 4 = 62 (D) · 6 × 9 - 4 = 50 (H) · 8 × 11 - 8 = 80 (E) · 9 × 9 - 26 = 55 (U) · 42 + 6 × 5 = 72 (R) · 42 + 6 × 2 = 54 (S) · 51 + 3 × 4 = 63 (O) · 12 × 5 - 19 = 41 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Jeanne Baret6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Midnight Zone Mystery — set in Sub-Aquatic Research Station Neptune II
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects