🔎 Golf,reading,booksGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Fairway Library
A villain has stolen the legendary Golden Golf Tee, which was being used as a bookmark inside a priceless first-edition novel! It is up to you to crack the clues and find the thief before the grand tournament begins.
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 | Golf Technique | Library Trick | Stance | Hair and Headwear | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelly Korda | sand wedge escape | silent turning | right handed grip | visor with brown hair | loud page rustle |
| Dav Pilkey | laser aim | heavy hardcover throw | right handed grip | cap with blonde hair | loud page rustle |
| R L Stine | heavy slice | bookmark shield | left handed grip | cap with blonde hair | loud page rustle |
| Arnold Palmer | heavy slice | bookmark shield | right handed grip | hat with black hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Roald Dahl | laser aim | heavy hardcover throw | left handed grip | cap with blonde hair | loud page rustle |
| Beverly Cleary | heavy slice | speed reading | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Justin Thomas | power drive | book storage bag | right handed grip | visor with brown hair | squeaky golf shoes |
| Jack Nicklaus | trick putt | silent turning | right handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| E B White | trick putt | heavy hardcover throw | right handed grip | visor with brown hair | squeaky golf shoes |
| J K Rowling | trick putt | bookmark shield | left handed grip | hat with black hair | squeaky golf shoes |
| Lexi Thompson | power drive | book storage bag | right handed grip | cap with blonde hair | loud page rustle |
| Annika Sorenstam | sand wedge escape | heavy hardcover throw | left handed grip | hat with black hair | squeaky golf shoes |
| Dr Seuss | laser aim | bookmark shield | left handed grip | hat with black hair | squeaky golf shoes |
| Tiger Woods | heavy slice | book storage bag | right handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Judy Blume | trick putt | bookmark shield | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Beatrix Potter | sand wedge escape | heavy hardcover throw | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Rick Riordan | sand wedge escape | silent turning | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | loud page rustle |
| Jordan Spieth | trick putt | bookmark shield | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | loud page rustle |
| Lewis Carroll | heavy slice | silent turning | left handed grip | cap with blonde hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Mary Pope Osborne | sand wedge escape | speed reading | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
| Payne Stewart | sand wedge escape | book storage bag | left handed grip | visor with brown hair | bright golf ball glow |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The detective finds a torn book list in the golf cart. Only a fraction of the total titles are checked off, revealing the first 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
27
20
3
36
30
33
37
34
T
27
37
5
3
38
33
5
T
27
T
27
20
16
5
2
20
30
16
37
26
5
7
3
16
38
3/4 of 36 =T
1/6 of 42 =V
2/4 of 66 =N
2/3 of 39 =C
8/10 of 25 =H
4/8 of 76 =S
2/4 of 32 =R
2/6 of 111 =D
1/6 of 30 =O
4/10 of 85 =I
1/3 of 108 =B
4/6 of 45 =A
1/3 of 9 =E
2/4 of 4 =W
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To open the secret scorecard safe, the detective must solve the strict order of buttons to push on the lock.
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
20
63
74
47
78
73
71
10
55
78
36
43
63
62
67
74
64
55
56
74
54
T
20
63
55
24
64
74
64
43
67
73
24
47
3 × 12 - 16 =T
42 + 6 × 2 =F
8 × 11 - 14 =E
62 + 4 × 4 =R
32 + 2 × 2 =K
8 + 4 × 4 =N
43 + 8 × 3 =W
7 × 11 - 13 =D
19 + 4 × 7 =G
14 + 8 × 6 =O
31 + 6 × 4 =A
8 × 10 - 24 =L
5 × 12 - 17 =S
9 × 4 - 26 =M
7 × 10 - 7 =H
59 + 2 × 7 =I
10 × 8 - 9 =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We count the neat rows of golf ball boxes stacked on the library shelves, multiplying them to find the total.
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
50
66
80
54
81
6
55
22
11
80
63
110
T
50
T
50
66
80
81
84
55
56
66
T
50
81
110
6
6
56
6
8
44
5 × 10 =T
6 × 1 =L
8 × 7 =G
8 × 10 =E
11 × 5 =I
7 × 12 =R
11 × 4 =W
7 × 9 =D
11 × 2 =N
11 × 10 =A
11 × 1 =K
2 × 4 =O
9 × 9 =B
6 × 11 =H
6 × 9 =Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar gun on the driving range only displays speeds rounded to the nearest ten, hiding the exact number.
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
230
370
500
700
170
130
110
2900
200
700
W
230
130
5000
90
200
1700
130
110
5000
170
130
110
370
200
1700
1100
430
5000
700
200
Round 227 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,741 to the nearest hundredA
Round 503 to the nearest hundredF
Round 167 to the nearest tenU
Round 2,919 to the nearest hundredB
Round 129 to the nearest tenN
Round 1,105 to the nearest hundredV
Round 94 to the nearest tenT
Round 109 to the nearest tenD
Round 427 to the nearest tenI
Round 369 to the nearest tenE
Round 4,673 to the nearest thousandS
Round 682 to the nearest hundredO
Round 181 to the nearest hundredR
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The suspects share a bag of bookmarks equally. Splitting them up tells us exactly who was present.
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
44 ÷ 4 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
35 ÷ 5 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain aims a laser pointer at the bookshelf, then sneaks out with silent page turns.
2.The villain putts a ball into the secret book switch, then chucks a heavy dictionary at the alarm.
3.The villain putts a ball into the secret book switch, then blocks the cameras with a giant bookmark.
4.The villain blasts sand out of a trap onto the rare novels, then sneaks out with silent page turns.
5.The villain blasts sand out of a trap onto the rare novels, then stuffs the stolen volumes into a golf bag.
6.The villain drives a golf ball through the library window, then sneaks out with silent page turns.
7.The villain slices a golf ball into the card catalog, then sneaks out with silent page turns.
8.The villain drives a golf ball through the library window, then blocks the cameras with a giant bookmark.
9.The villain slices a golf ball into the card catalog, then stuffs the stolen volumes into a golf bag.
10.The villain blasts sand out of a trap onto the rare novels, then speed reads the escape map.
11.The villain slices a golf ball into the card catalog, then speed reads the escape map.
12.The villain putts a ball into the secret book switch, then speed reads the escape map.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Fairway Library
Culprit: Judy Blume (trick putt · bookmark shield · left handed grip · visor with brown hair · bright golf ball glow)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT THROW HARDCOVERS"3/4 of 36 = 27 (T) · 1/6 of 42 = 7 (V) · 2/4 of 66 = 33 (N) · 2/3 of 39 = 26 (C) · 8/10 of 25 = 20 (H) · 4/8 of 76 = 38 (S) · 2/4 of 32 = 16 (R) · 2/6 of 111 = 37 (D) · 1/6 of 30 = 5 (O) · 4/10 of 85 = 34 (I) · 1/3 of 108 = 36 (B) · 4/6 of 45 = 30 (A) · 1/3 of 9 = 3 (E) · 2/4 of 4 = 2 (W)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE GRIP MARK SHOWED A LEFT HANDED SWING"3 × 12 - 16 = 20 (T) · 42 + 6 × 2 = 54 (F) · 8 × 11 - 14 = 74 (E) · 62 + 4 × 4 = 78 (R) · 32 + 2 × 2 = 36 (K) · 8 + 4 × 4 = 24 (N) · 43 + 8 × 3 = 67 (W) · 7 × 11 - 13 = 64 (D) · 19 + 4 × 7 = 47 (G) · 14 + 8 × 6 = 62 (O) · 31 + 6 × 4 = 55 (A) · 8 × 10 - 24 = 56 (L) · 5 × 12 - 17 = 43 (S) · 9 × 4 - 26 = 10 (M) · 7 × 10 - 7 = 63 (H) · 59 + 2 × 7 = 73 (I) · 10 × 8 - 9 = 71 (P)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY BLINKED AT THE BRIGHT BALL GLOW"5 × 10 = 50 (T) · 6 × 1 = 6 (L) · 8 × 7 = 56 (G) · 8 × 10 = 80 (E) · 11 × 5 = 55 (I) · 7 × 12 = 84 (R) · 11 × 4 = 44 (W) · 7 × 9 = 63 (D) · 11 × 2 = 22 (N) · 11 × 10 = 110 (A) · 11 × 1 = 11 (K) · 2 × 4 = 8 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (B) · 6 × 11 = 66 (H) · 6 × 9 = 54 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND BROWN STRANDS UNDER A VISOR"Round 227 to the nearest ten = 230 (W) · Round 1,741 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 503 to the nearest hundred = 500 (F) · Round 167 to the nearest ten = 170 (U) · Round 2,919 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (B) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (N) · Round 1,105 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (V) · Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (D) · Round 427 to the nearest ten = 430 (I) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (E) · Round 4,673 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (S) · Round 682 to the nearest hundred = 700 (O) · Round 181 to the nearest hundred = 200 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Judy Blume44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Fairway Library — set in The Novelty Greens Country Club, where the golf holes are themed after classic books
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects