🌊 Cats, MermaidsGrade 6Reading: grades 7-9PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Mystery of Mew-lantis

The legendary Golden Catfish Crown has been snatched from the Sunken Parlor of Mew-lantis! The ocean current is wild with rumors, and a trail of glowing catnip bubbles points directly to a rogue purrmaid. You must dive deep, analyze the clues, and retrieve the crown before the thief escapes into the Whispering Trench.

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	Aquatic Skill	Invention	Observable Sign	Tail Fin Style	Deterrent
Marina Claw	sonar purring	laser pointer trident	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	scent of lemon grass
Nautical	sonar purring	laser pointer trident	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	high pitch whistle
Salty Paw	bubble clawing	laser pointer trident	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare
Marlina	bubble clawing	laser pointer trident	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	high pitch whistle
Poseidon Paws	sonar purring	coral scratching post	wears left wrist guard	striped ginger tail	bright flashlight glare
Guppy	current pouncing	silver yarn anchor	wears left wrist guard	striped ginger tail	bright flashlight glare
Triton	bubble clawing	catnip bubble blower	wears left wrist guard	calico dappled tail	high pitch whistle
Angler	sonar purring	catnip bubble blower	wears left wrist guard	calico dappled tail	bright flashlight glare
Sandy Claw	current pouncing	coral scratching post	wears right wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	high pitch whistle
Octavia	current pouncing	coral scratching post	wears left wrist guard	striped ginger tail	scent of lemon grass
Coralia	depth leaping	glowing jellyfish lantern	wears right wrist guard	striped ginger tail	bright flashlight glare
Bubbles	current pouncing	silver yarn anchor	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare
Delphine	bubble clawing	silver yarn anchor	wears right wrist guard	calico dappled tail	bright flashlight glare
Finneas	depth leaping	glowing jellyfish lantern	wears left wrist guard	calico dappled tail	bright flashlight glare
Kelpsey	current pouncing	catnip bubble blower	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare
Captain Claw	current pouncing	coral scratching post	wears right wrist guard	calico dappled tail	high pitch whistle
Sir Purrval	current pouncing	coral scratching post	wears left wrist guard	calico dappled tail	scent of lemon grass
Clawdia	kelp camouflaging	catnip bubble blower	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare
Barnaby	depth leaping	catnip bubble blower	wears left wrist guard	calico dappled tail	bright flashlight glare
Fisher	current pouncing	laser pointer trident	wears left wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare
Seabiscuit	depth leaping	coral scratching post	wears right wrist guard	sleek midnight tail	bright flashlight glare

Clue 1

Percentages

To decode the first trace of the burglar, you analyze the royal vault's security log. The log displays the door's remaining seal strength as a percentage of its total power. Calculate the exact remaining power percentage to unlock the file.

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

10% of 420 =T

5% of 700 =U

25% of 16 =R

40% of 60 =I

20% of 45 =V

25% of 52 =N

20% of 115 =D

60% of 65 =Y

50% of 10 =O

40% of 5 =S

5% of 560 =C

5% of 620 =L

5% of 20 =P

20% of 15 =H

75% of 44 =E

40% of 85 =A

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

The security alarms inside the coral maze multiply their frequency exponentially at every branch. Solve the exponent equation to determine which level of the maze the suspect triggered during their escape.

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

196

256

225

196

324

216

196

144

225

324

216

343

324

289

2^5 =T

18^2 =R

3^4 =L

16^2 =N

2^3 =V

14^2 =E

2^2 =U

7^3 =G

3^2 =H

17^2 =D

4^3 =I

12^2 =F

15^2 =W

6^3 =S

7^2 =A

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The Royal Alchemist must brew a tracking potion using sequences of kelp, sea salt, and crushed pearls. Follow the strict order of operations to balance the formula and reveal the physical evidence left behind.

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

5 × 9 - 30 =T

21 + 8 × 3 =G

12 × 9 - 28 =L

37 + 3 × 4 =O

5 × 5 - 1 =H

18 + 7 × 2 =B

8 + 6 × 3 =R

8 × 9 - 26 =E

8 + 3 × 3 =V

5 + 9 × 7 =I

4 × 5 - 1 =M

56 + 2 × 7 =N

2 + 6 × 3 =S

12 × 8 - 22 =F

53 + 3 × 8 =A

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

To determine which exit tunnel the suspect used, you map the grid coordinates of the deep-sea trenches. Multiply the rows of trench vents by the columns of active bubbles to find the correct coordinates.

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

120

144

120

1 × 11 =T

3 × 9 =E

7 × 10 =G

7 × 4 =C

6 × 12 =L

8 × 7 =H

4 × 10 =D

1 × 1 =F

12 × 12 =M

6 × 1 =K

6 × 3 =N

1 × 12 =I

12 × 7 =S

10 × 12 =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

A school of helpful neon tetras witnessed the burglar's getaway, but they will only talk if you divide their school evenly into sanctuary nets. Use division to distribute the fish and hear their final testimony.

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

132 ÷ 12 = ?

12 ÷ 6 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

80 ÷ 10 = ?

48 ÷ 12 = ?

36 ÷ 12 = ?

3 ÷ 3 = ?

80 ÷ 8 = ?

72 ÷ 12 = ?

21 ÷ 3 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain blends in with kelp camouflage, then claws at a coral scratching post.

2.The villain pounces through the ocean current, then fires a catnip bubble blower.

3.The villain leaps across the deep coral trench, then claws at a coral scratching post.

4.The villain leaps across the deep coral trench, then waves a glowing jellyfish lantern.

5.The villain claws open a giant air bubble, then shines a laser pointer trident.

6.The villain uses sonar purring to distract the guards, then fires a catnip bubble blower.

7.The villain leaps across the deep coral trench, then fires a catnip bubble blower.

8.The villain leaps across the deep coral trench, then tosses a silver yarn anchor.

9.The villain pounces through the ocean current, then shines a laser pointer trident.

10.The villain pounces through the ocean current, then claws at a coral scratching post.

11.The villain blends in with kelp camouflage, then fires a catnip bubble blower.

12.The villain uses sonar purring to distract the guards, then tosses a silver yarn anchor.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of Mew-lantis

Culprit: Fisher (current pouncing · laser pointer trident · wears left wrist guard · sleek midnight tail · bright flashlight glare)

Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT CARRY A SILVER ANCHOR"
10% of 420 = 42 (T) · 5% of 700 = 35 (U) · 25% of 16 = 4 (R) · 40% of 60 = 24 (I) · 20% of 45 = 9 (V) · 25% of 52 = 13 (N) · 20% of 115 = 23 (D) · 60% of 65 = 39 (Y) · 50% of 10 = 5 (O) · 40% of 5 = 2 (S) · 5% of 560 = 28 (C) · 5% of 620 = 31 (L) · 5% of 20 = 1 (P) · 20% of 15 = 3 (H) · 75% of 44 = 33 (E) · 40% of 85 = 34 (A)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN WEARS A LEFT WRIST GUARD"
2^5 = 32 (T) · 18^2 = 324 (R) · 3^4 = 81 (L) · 16^2 = 256 (N) · 2^3 = 8 (V) · 14^2 = 196 (E) · 2^2 = 4 (U) · 7^3 = 343 (G) · 3^2 = 9 (H) · 17^2 = 289 (D) · 4^3 = 64 (I) · 12^2 = 144 (F) · 15^2 = 225 (W) · 6^3 = 216 (S) · 7^2 = 49 (A)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN FLEES FROM A BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT"
5 × 9 - 30 = 15 (T) · 21 + 8 × 3 = 45 (G) · 12 × 9 - 28 = 80 (L) · 37 + 3 × 4 = 49 (O) · 5 × 5 - 1 = 24 (H) · 18 + 7 × 2 = 32 (B) · 8 + 6 × 3 = 26 (R) · 8 × 9 - 26 = 46 (E) · 8 + 3 × 3 = 17 (V) · 5 + 9 × 7 = 68 (I) · 4 × 5 - 1 = 19 (M) · 56 + 2 × 7 = 70 (N) · 2 + 6 × 3 = 20 (S) · 12 × 8 - 22 = 74 (F) · 53 + 3 × 8 = 77 (A)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SCENE HAD A SLEEK MIDNIGHT TAIL FIN"
1 × 11 = 11 (T) · 3 × 9 = 27 (E) · 7 × 10 = 70 (G) · 7 × 4 = 28 (C) · 6 × 12 = 72 (L) · 8 × 7 = 56 (H) · 4 × 10 = 40 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (F) · 12 × 12 = 144 (M) · 6 × 1 = 6 (K) · 6 × 3 = 18 (N) · 1 × 12 = 12 (I) · 12 × 7 = 84 (S) · 10 × 12 = 120 (A)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Fisher
132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 6 math
Math topics: Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Mystery of Mew-lantis — set in Mew-lantis, a shimmering underwater city of coral reefs and catnip kelp
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

6th grade worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Percentages worksheets Exponents worksheets Order of operations worksheets All worksheets →

The Great Golden Yarn Mystery

Grade 6

The Case of the Missing MVP Trophies

Grade 6

The Grief of Great Grid City

Grade 6

The Great Museum Grief

Grade 6