🚀 SpaceGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision

The Mystery of the Cosmic Core

A sneaky space thief has stolen the glowing Cosmic Core from the observatory! Space Station Delta is on high alert. Commander Cooper needs your help to scan the clues, track down the bandit, and save the station's power grid before it goes dark.

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 Power Gear	Space Speciality	Spacesuit Setup	Visor Hair Color	Cosmic Weakness
Nova Starling	Gravity Glove	Rocket Repair	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Leo Orbit	Hologram Watch	Star Navigation	Right-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Orion Vance	Force Shield	Zero-G Floating	Right-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Super gravity zones
Sally Ride	Force Shield	Asteroid Mining	Right-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Dr Vance	Gravity Glove	Alien Language	Left-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Magnetic space dust
Major Tom	Laser Blaster	Asteroid Mining	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Neil Armstrong	Laser Blaster	Alien Language	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Super gravity zones
Jax Comet	Force Shield	Star Navigation	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Cadet Rusty	Gravity Glove	Rocket Repair	Left-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Magnetic space dust
Zephyr Apollo	Jetpack Boots	Rocket Repair	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Solar flare light
Commander Cooper	Force Shield	Rocket Repair	Right-handed helmet dial	Cosmic blue hair	Solar flare light
Peggy Whitson	Laser Blaster	Rocket Repair	Left-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Magnetic space dust
John Glenn	Force Shield	Alien Language	Left-handed helmet dial	Cosmic blue hair	Magnetic space dust
Mae Jemison	Laser Blaster	Star Navigation	Left-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Solar flare light
Guion Bluford	Jetpack Boots	Star Navigation	Right-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Solar flare light
Chris Hadfield	Force Shield	Star Navigation	Right-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Solar flare light
Yuri Gagarin	Hologram Watch	Alien Language	Right-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Magnetic space dust
Buzz Aldrin	Jetpack Boots	Asteroid Mining	Right-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Magnetic space dust
Stella Cosmos	Force Shield	Asteroid Mining	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Kalpana Chawla	Laser Blaster	Alien Language	Left-handed helmet dial	Space silver hair	Magnetic space dust
Lyra Vega	Jetpack Boots	Zero-G Floating	Right-handed helmet dial	Neon green hair	Solar flare light

Clue 1

Rounding

The damaged space station radar is glitching and can only show rounded numbers. Let us estimate the distance to the runaway ship.

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

2300

4300

170

200

1700

200

5000

170

130

2300

3700

2900

170

200

2900

2300

1100

2900

230

2900

130

1100

170

2300

170

5000

500

Round 2,303 to the nearest hundredT

Round 248 to the nearest hundredS

Round 133 to the nearest tenC

Round 1,739 to the nearest hundredU

Round 232 to the nearest tenW

Round 2,869 to the nearest hundredO

Round 29 to the nearest tenR

Round 1,092 to the nearest hundredK

Round 90 to the nearest tenN

Round 4,547 to the nearest thousandP

Round 4,327 to the nearest hundredH

Round 168 to the nearest tenE

Round 48 to the nearest tenA

Round 521 to the nearest hundredI

Round 3,702 to the nearest hundredD

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

To power up the main search scanners, we must add up all the spare fuel cells left in the cargo bays.

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

8579

7622

2946

7469

2946

2986

8579

2376

8118

2566

7469

7957

7049

8579

7622

2946

7622

2946

7469

3381

2946

8579

8199

2566

7604

8579

9717

2310

7049

2946

2376

3446 + 5133 =T

1601 + 1385 =F

3294 + 3755 =N

5226 + 2731 =O

1565 + 1816 =M

2512 + 5687 =W

2977 + 5141 =I

1982 + 964 =E

1384 + 992 =D

3932 + 5785 =U

896 + 1670 =A

1217 + 1093 =R

4557 + 3065 =H

4499 + 3105 =S

4573 + 2896 =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

The ship's computer tells us how many star maps we started with and how many were lost during the 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.

2650

6742

2604

4606

2998

1880

7346

1940

7348

1028

6742

1940

2998

5849

7815

7348

1880

7348

6868

3475

7828

2998

5849

1880

4966

2998

1880

6742

8142

2604

2998

1880

3673 - 1023 =M

9442 - 2574 =L

8668 - 1320 =S

4110 - 1112 =E

6407 - 1441 =H

6771 - 3296 =O

9639 - 2293 =I

9368 - 1226 =R

5667 - 4639 =P

9237 - 2495 =A

8729 - 914 =U

4641 - 2037 =G

6056 - 4116 =C

4786 - 180 =N

3475 - 1595 =T

9928 - 4079 =D

9355 - 1527 =W

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found rows of mysterious footprints in the space dust. Let us multiply the rows by the prints 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.

110

10 × 2 =W

8 × 11 =I

6 × 1 =H

4 × 11 =O

8 × 5 =L

11 × 10 =V

7 × 5 =C

7 × 7 =U

8 × 10 =F

9 × 6 =R

9 × 3 =N

10 × 7 =S

9 × 9 =E

9 × 7 =P

9 × 11 =T

8 × 12 =A

1 × 10 =D

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

To feed the tracking robot pets, we must divide the energy treats equally among them.

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

110 ÷ 10 = ?

3 ÷ 3 = ?

30 ÷ 10 = ?

108 ÷ 12 = ?

72 ÷ 9 = ?

60 ÷ 6 = ?

12 ÷ 6 = ?

54 ÷ 9 = ?

25 ÷ 5 = ?

72 ÷ 6 = ?

36 ÷ 9 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain fires a bright laser blast, then digs up rare glowing moon rocks.

2.The villain lifts a heavy crate with a gravity glove, then fixes a broken hyperdrive engine.

3.The villain blocks the path with a glowing force shield, then digs up rare glowing moon rocks.

4.The villain creates three trick clones with a hologram watch, then floats upside down in zero gravity.

5.The villain zooms away using rocket boots, then steers through a dangerous asteroid belt.

6.The villain creates three trick clones with a hologram watch, then chats with a strange purple alien.

7.The villain blocks the path with a glowing force shield, then steers through a dangerous asteroid belt.

8.The villain creates three trick clones with a hologram watch, then digs up rare glowing moon rocks.

9.The villain fires a bright laser blast, then steers through a dangerous asteroid belt.

10.The villain blocks the path with a glowing force shield, then floats upside down in zero gravity.

11.The villain fires a bright laser blast, then chats with a strange purple alien.

12.The villain zooms away using rocket boots, then digs up rare glowing moon rocks.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of the Cosmic Core

Culprit: Jax Comet (Force Shield · Star Navigation · Left-handed helmet dial · Space silver hair · Magnetic space dust)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT KNOW ROCKET REPAIR"
Round 2,303 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 248 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 133 to the nearest ten = 130 (C) · Round 1,739 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (U) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (W) · Round 2,869 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (O) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (R) · Round 1,092 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (K) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (N) · Round 4,547 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (P) · Round 4,327 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (H) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 521 to the nearest hundred = 500 (I) · Round 3,702 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D)
Clue 2 (Addition): "THE LEFT DIAL ON THE HELMET WAS TURNED"
3446 + 5133 = 8579 (T) · 1601 + 1385 = 2986 (F) · 3294 + 3755 = 7049 (N) · 5226 + 2731 = 7957 (O) · 1565 + 1816 = 3381 (M) · 2512 + 5687 = 8199 (W) · 2977 + 5141 = 8118 (I) · 1982 + 964 = 2946 (E) · 1384 + 992 = 2376 (D) · 3932 + 5785 = 9717 (U) · 896 + 1670 = 2566 (A) · 1217 + 1093 = 2310 (R) · 4557 + 3065 = 7622 (H) · 4499 + 3105 = 7604 (S) · 4573 + 2896 = 7469 (L)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "MAGNETIC SPACE DUST SLOWED THE TARGET"
3673 - 1023 = 2650 (M) · 9442 - 2574 = 6868 (L) · 8668 - 1320 = 7348 (S) · 4110 - 1112 = 2998 (E) · 6407 - 1441 = 4966 (H) · 6771 - 3296 = 3475 (O) · 9639 - 2293 = 7346 (I) · 9368 - 1226 = 8142 (R) · 5667 - 4639 = 1028 (P) · 9237 - 2495 = 6742 (A) · 8729 - 914 = 7815 (U) · 4641 - 2037 = 2604 (G) · 6056 - 4116 = 1940 (C) · 4786 - 180 = 4606 (N) · 3475 - 1595 = 1880 (T) · 9928 - 4079 = 5849 (D) · 9355 - 1527 = 7828 (W)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND SPACE SILVER HAIR NEAR THE DOOR"
10 × 2 = 20 (W) · 8 × 11 = 88 (I) · 6 × 1 = 6 (H) · 4 × 11 = 44 (O) · 8 × 5 = 40 (L) · 11 × 10 = 110 (V) · 7 × 5 = 35 (C) · 7 × 7 = 49 (U) · 8 × 10 = 80 (F) · 9 × 6 = 54 (R) · 9 × 3 = 27 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (S) · 9 × 9 = 81 (E) · 9 × 7 = 63 (P) · 9 × 11 = 99 (T) · 8 × 12 = 96 (A) · 1 × 10 = 10 (D)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 7) → Jax Comet
110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Mystery of the Cosmic Core — set in the shining hallways of Space Station Delta
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Big Hoop Catastrophe

Grade 4

The Cloud Kingdom Caper

Grade 4

The Wembley Trophy Mystery

Grade 4

The Great Zero-Gravity Trophy Heist

Grade 4