🚀 SpaceGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Moonbase Mystery

Oh no! A mysterious figure has sneaked into the science lab and swiped the glowing cosmic crystals. The alarm is sounding and the space dome is locked down! We need to scan the logs, solve the clues, and find the culprit.

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	Jetpack Power	Glove Laser	Active Wristband	Helmet Stripe	Weakness
Grace Hopper	Gravity Lock	Sonic Boom	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Peggy Whitson	Laser Blast	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Dorothy Vaughan	Invisibility	Sonic Boom	Left Wristband	Blue Stripe	Magnet Waves
Halley Comet	Force Field	Magnetic Pull	Right Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Galileo Galilei	Laser Blast	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Blue Stripe	Solar Flares
Carl Sagan	Gravity Lock	Fire Trail	Right Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Valerie Thomas	Laser Blast	Sonic Boom	Right Wristband	Blue Stripe	Moon Dust
Kepler Planet	Gravity Lock	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Gold Stripe	Moon Dust
Katherine Johnson	Gravity Lock	Fire Trail	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Marie Curie	Gravity Lock	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Buzz Aldrin	Laser Blast	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Gold Stripe	Magnet Waves
Sally Ride	Gravity Lock	Ice Beam	Right Wristband	Gold Stripe	Solar Flares
Mae Jemison	Force Field	Acid Splash	Right Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Mary Jackson	Force Field	Fire Trail	Right Wristband	Red Stripe	Solar Flares
Cassini Probe	Rocket Jump	Sonic Boom	Left Wristband	Blue Stripe	Moon Dust
Albert Einstein	Invisibility	Fire Trail	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Moon Dust
Chris Hadfield	Force Field	Magnetic Pull	Left Wristband	Blue Stripe	Magnet Waves
Stephen Hawking	Rocket Jump	Magnetic Pull	Right Wristband	Gold Stripe	Moon Dust
Neil Armstrong	Gravity Lock	Acid Splash	Left Wristband	Blue Stripe	Magnet Waves
John Glenn	Invisibility	Ice Beam	Left Wristband	Gold Stripe	Moon Dust
Hubble Scope	Rocket Jump	Acid Splash	Left Wristband	Red Stripe	Magnet Waves

Clue 1

Percentages

The main dome scanner needs seventy percent power to run a crystal scan. Help the cadet calculate the power grid level.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

50% of 38 =T

20% of 145 =M

20% of 70 =E

50% of 46 =N

40% of 90 =O

50% of 10 =B

25% of 80 =D

40% of 65 =U

20% of 215 =C

75% of 44 =S

40% of 45 =I

20% of 190 =H

25% of 52 =F

0/13 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

A space computer virus is doubling every minute on the screen. We need to find the total number of infected files.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

225

100

125

216

125

169

225

100

125

144

225

256

361

225

128

121

15^2 =T

12^2 =F

10^2 =H

3^4 =S

6^2 =L

13^2 =C

11^2 =D

6^3 =U

8^2 =I

5^3 =E

2^5 =A

3^3 =P

4^4 =W

5^2 =N

19^2 =R

2^7 =B

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

To mix the rocket fuel, we must follow a strict order of steps. Solve the order of operations to start the engines.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

29 + 6 × 4 =T

55 + 5 × 2 =U

4 + 6 × 2 =R

8 × 10 - 13 =Y

31 + 4 × 5 =H

4 × 11 - 15 =O

12 × 7 - 16 =M

11 × 8 - 12 =N

11 + 5 × 7 =E

48 + 8 × 4 =W

33 + 5 × 5 =A

12 × 5 - 12 =D

7 × 4 - 13 =K

8 × 10 - 2 =S

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We need to count the emergency solar panels outside. There are several rows of panels with equal numbers in each row.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

132

108

121

1 × 1 =A

7 × 4 =S

3 × 6 =E

4 × 2 =R

11 × 11 =O

5 × 7 =W

12 × 11 =I

9 × 10 =T

12 × 6 =D

12 × 9 =P

0/10 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The junior team wants to share the remaining energy bars equally. Let us divide the total to see what everyone gets.

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

60 ÷ 5 = ?

32 ÷ 8 = ?

30 ÷ 10 = ?

55 ÷ 5 = ?

72 ÷ 12 = ?

96 ÷ 12 = ?

90 ÷ 10 = ?

50 ÷ 5 = ?

42 ÷ 6 = ?

30 ÷ 6 = ?

10 ÷ 10 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain fires a bright laser, then uses magnetic pull to grab the keys.

2.The villain activates the gravity lock, then blasts an ice beam to freeze the door.

3.The villain activates the gravity lock, then leaves a fiery trail down the hall.

4.The villain fires a bright laser, then blasts an ice beam to freeze the door.

5.The villain fires a bright laser, then creates a sonic boom to stun the guards.

6.The villain deploys a force shield, then creates a sonic boom to stun the guards.

7.The villain activates the gravity lock, then splashes acid on the lock.

8.The villain fires a bright laser, then splashes acid on the lock.

9.The villain performs a rocket jump, then uses magnetic pull to grab the keys.

10.The villain turns completely invisible, then splashes acid on the lock.

11.The villain performs a rocket jump, then blasts an ice beam to freeze the door.

12.The villain turns completely invisible, then leaves a fiery trail down the hall.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Moonbase Mystery

Culprit: Marie Curie (Gravity Lock · Ice Beam · Left Wristband · Red Stripe · Moon Dust)

Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE SONIC BOOM"
50% of 38 = 19 (T) · 20% of 145 = 29 (M) · 20% of 70 = 14 (E) · 50% of 46 = 23 (N) · 40% of 90 = 36 (O) · 50% of 10 = 5 (B) · 25% of 80 = 20 (D) · 40% of 65 = 26 (U) · 20% of 215 = 43 (C) · 75% of 44 = 33 (S) · 40% of 45 = 18 (I) · 20% of 190 = 38 (H) · 25% of 52 = 13 (F)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT HAS A LEFT WRISTBAND"
15^2 = 225 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (F) · 10^2 = 100 (H) · 3^4 = 81 (S) · 6^2 = 36 (L) · 13^2 = 169 (C) · 11^2 = 121 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (U) · 8^2 = 64 (I) · 5^3 = 125 (E) · 2^5 = 32 (A) · 3^3 = 27 (P) · 4^4 = 256 (W) · 5^2 = 25 (N) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 2^7 = 128 (B)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THEY ARE WEAK TO MOON DUST"
29 + 6 × 4 = 53 (T) · 55 + 5 × 2 = 65 (U) · 4 + 6 × 2 = 16 (R) · 8 × 10 - 13 = 67 (Y) · 31 + 4 × 5 = 51 (H) · 4 × 11 - 15 = 29 (O) · 12 × 7 - 16 = 68 (M) · 11 × 8 - 12 = 76 (N) · 11 + 5 × 7 = 46 (E) · 48 + 8 × 4 = 80 (W) · 33 + 5 × 5 = 58 (A) · 12 × 5 - 12 = 48 (D) · 7 × 4 - 13 = 15 (K) · 8 × 10 - 2 = 78 (S)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A RED STRIPE WAS SPOTTED"
1 × 1 = 1 (A) · 7 × 4 = 28 (S) · 3 × 6 = 18 (E) · 4 × 2 = 8 (R) · 11 × 11 = 121 (O) · 5 × 7 = 35 (W) · 12 × 11 = 132 (I) · 9 × 10 = 90 (T) · 12 × 6 = 72 (D) · 12 × 9 = 108 (P)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Marie Curie
60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 6 math
Math topics: Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Moonbase Mystery — set in Moonbase Alpha-Nine
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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