Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Someone snuck into the Treehouse Headquarters and took the legendary Golden Compass. The Chief Cartographer needs your help to get it back. Use your math skills to track down the mischievous thief.
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 | Primary Gear | Secondary Tool | Glove Style | Hair Style | Special Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoe Mapmaker | Grappling Hook | Brass Binoculars | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Sweet honey |
| Finn Falcon | Grappling Hook | Brass Binoculars | Right hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Sweet honey |
| Marco Cruz | Jet Pack | Silver Whistle | Left hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Sweet honey |
| Navigator Nate | Glider Wings | Silver Whistle | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Squeaky toys |
| Otis Owl | Grappling Hook | Old Map | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Pip Pocket | Climbing Rope | Old Map | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Skyler Wind | Grappling Hook | Shiny Compass | Left hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Tickle feathers |
| Penny Pilot | Rocket Boots | Tiny Flashlight | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Daring Dora | Glider Wings | Old Map | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Squeaky toys |
| Ruby Rope | Jet Pack | Shiny Compass | Right hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Bella Compass | Glider Wings | Brass Binoculars | Right hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Tickle feathers |
| Lexi Lock | Jet Pack | Tiny Flashlight | Left hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Squeaky toys |
| Kip Ranger | Jet Pack | Brass Binoculars | Right hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Squeaky toys |
| Gus Goggles | Glider Wings | Shiny Compass | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Squeaky toys |
| Leo Lantern | Jet Pack | Silver Whistle | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Miles Cloud | Climbing Rope | Brass Binoculars | Left hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Jax Explorer | Climbing Rope | Old Map | Right hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Sweet honey |
| Daisy Digger | Rocket Boots | Old Map | Right hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Squeaky toys |
| Toby Tracker | Rocket Boots | Old Map | Right hand glove | Curly red hair | Tickle feathers |
| Scout Sally | Rocket Boots | Silver Whistle | Right hand glove | Braided green hair | Sweet honey |
| Hazel Hawk | Jet Pack | Tiny Flashlight | Left hand glove | Spiky blue hair | Sweet honey |
Clue 1
Place value
We found the locked sky-chest! The lock screen shows a big number. We must look at the value of the hundreds digit to open the lid and find 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
100
600
400
80
5000
50
2000
T
100
30
50
400
80
70
50
T
100
600
90
200
400
T
100
600
400
8000
40
90
80
80
8000
3000
70
50
5000
2000
4000
90
40
80
What is the value of the 1 in 609,105?T
What is the value of the 4 in 853,849?R
What is the value of the 5 in 15,680?C
What is the value of the 8 in 68,504?B
What is the value of the 2 in 81,255?V
What is the value of the 9 in 852,196?A
What is the value of the 8 in 433,684?S
What is the value of the 3 in 13,781?I
What is the value of the 6 in 854,634?H
What is the value of the 4 in 84,135?L
What is the value of the 3 in 40,938?D
What is the value of the 2 in 862,506?U
What is the value of the 5 in 327,052?O
What is the value of the 7 in 338,478?N
What is the value of the 4 in 83,460?E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
To track the thief, we need to gather our tools. We count the walking sticks we found in the yard and add them to the pile of ropes in our cart.
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
6232
8139
3449
8730
5064
4102
4102
3804
5064
7627
2082
3449
3804
7057
8197
3804
4102
3449
5082
T
6232
8139
3804
7627
6773
2363
4102
2097
8730
3449
2311 + 3921 =T
801 + 1281 =W
3741 + 3316 =R
2061 + 1388 =E
1407 + 690 =O
3497 + 1585 =F
3411 + 5319 =V
1443 + 920 =G
1267 + 2835 =L
1576 + 3488 =I
2424 + 1380 =A
5657 + 2540 =S
3183 + 3590 =D
5245 + 2382 =N
3443 + 4696 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The thief snatched some glowing crystal rocks from the collection. We count the remaining crystals and subtract them from the starting total to see how many are gone.
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
6440
2169
1611
2926
4035
6496
5696
6496
8520
T
6440
8667
6496
3204
2495
3102
2169
4035
4035
2495
T
6440
8238
3473
T
6440
8667
2169
2495
4093
2169
4035
4035
8520
2169
5422
8745 - 2305 =T
7911 - 4985 =K
5535 - 2433 =W
4487 - 1283 =R
7152 - 1730 =N
3435 - 1266 =I
4900 - 2405 =S
6074 - 4463 =C
9879 - 1641 =O
13224 - 4704 =A
8010 - 4537 =P
7545 - 3452 =V
10001 - 3505 =E
7843 - 2147 =F
8758 - 4723 =L
13373 - 4706 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We spot footprints leading into the ancient temple. They are arranged in neat rows. We multiply the rows of tracks to find the total number of steps.
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
2
121
144
72
32
64
12
55
32
22
88
11
22
121
12
7
100
54
22
100
66
66
7
121
60
55
121
64
121
1 × 2 =W
8 × 4 =U
9 × 8 =O
11 × 6 =T
11 × 11 =E
2 × 6 =D
6 × 10 =S
12 × 12 =F
11 × 1 =Y
8 × 8 =N
1 × 7 =H
10 × 10 =A
5 × 11 =C
2 × 11 =R
8 × 11 =L
9 × 6 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We find a stash of map pieces left behind. We must divide the scraps equally among our rescue team so everyone can study a piece.
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
72 ÷ 12 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
2 ÷ 1 = ?
16 ÷ 2 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung across on a grappling hook, then spied ahead through brass binoculars.
2.The villain soared down using glider wings, then checked the direction on a shiny compass.
3.The villain blasted off on a jet pack, then blew a signal on a silver whistle.
4.The villain blasted off on a jet pack, then spied ahead through brass binoculars.
5.The villain soared down using glider wings, then shined a light with a tiny flashlight.
6.The villain slid down a long climbing rope, then plotted a route on an old map.
7.The villain slid down a long climbing rope, then blew a signal on a silver whistle.
8.The villain soared down using glider wings, then plotted a route on an old map.
9.The villain zoomed past with rocket boots, then plotted a route on an old map.
10.The villain swung across on a grappling hook, then plotted a route on an old map.
11.The villain zoomed past with rocket boots, then shined a light with a tiny flashlight.
12.The villain zoomed past with rocket boots, then spied ahead through brass binoculars.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Otis Owl (Grappling Hook · Old Map · Left hand glove · Curly red hair · Tickle feathers)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SCOUT DOES NOT HAVE THE BRASS BINOCULARS"What is the value of the 1 in 609,105? = 100 (T) · What is the value of the 4 in 853,849? = 40 (R) · What is the value of the 5 in 15,680? = 5000 (C) · What is the value of the 8 in 68,504? = 8000 (B) · What is the value of the 2 in 81,255? = 200 (V) · What is the value of the 9 in 852,196? = 90 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 433,684? = 80 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 13,781? = 3000 (I) · What is the value of the 6 in 854,634? = 600 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 84,135? = 4000 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 40,938? = 30 (D) · What is the value of the 2 in 862,506? = 2000 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 327,052? = 50 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 338,478? = 70 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 83,460? = 400 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN WEARS A LEFT HAND GLOVE"2311 + 3921 = 6232 (T) · 801 + 1281 = 2082 (W) · 3741 + 3316 = 7057 (R) · 2061 + 1388 = 3449 (E) · 1407 + 690 = 2097 (O) · 3497 + 1585 = 5082 (F) · 3411 + 5319 = 8730 (V) · 1443 + 920 = 2363 (G) · 1267 + 2835 = 4102 (L) · 1576 + 3488 = 5064 (I) · 2424 + 1380 = 3804 (A) · 5657 + 2540 = 8197 (S) · 3183 + 3590 = 6773 (D) · 5245 + 2382 = 7627 (N) · 3443 + 4696 = 8139 (H)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "TICKLE FEATHERS WILL STOP THIS VILLAIN"8745 - 2305 = 6440 (T) · 7911 - 4985 = 2926 (K) · 5535 - 2433 = 3102 (W) · 4487 - 1283 = 3204 (R) · 7152 - 1730 = 5422 (N) · 3435 - 1266 = 2169 (I) · 4900 - 2405 = 2495 (S) · 6074 - 4463 = 1611 (C) · 9879 - 1641 = 8238 (O) · 13224 - 4704 = 8520 (A) · 8010 - 4537 = 3473 (P) · 7545 - 3452 = 4093 (V) · 10001 - 3505 = 6496 (E) · 7843 - 2147 = 5696 (F) · 8758 - 4723 = 4035 (L) · 13373 - 4706 = 8667 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND CURLY RED HAIR AT THE SCENE"1 × 2 = 2 (W) · 8 × 4 = 32 (U) · 9 × 8 = 72 (O) · 11 × 6 = 66 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (E) · 2 × 6 = 12 (D) · 6 × 10 = 60 (S) · 12 × 12 = 144 (F) · 11 × 1 = 11 (Y) · 8 × 8 = 64 (N) · 1 × 7 = 7 (H) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 5 × 11 = 55 (C) · 2 × 11 = 22 (R) · 8 × 11 = 88 (L) · 9 × 6 = 54 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Otis Owl72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 16 ÷ 2 = 8 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Compass — set in Adventure Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects