🔎 The mystery of the missing gGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Mystery of the Missing Golden Clock

The Grand Timekeeper is in a huge panic! The legendary Golden Clock has vanished from the tower wall. Without its magic gears, the entire town will freeze in time. We must find the Clock Snatcher and get the clock back before the final bell chimes!

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	Tool	Escape Gear	Monocle Side	Wig Color	Weakness
Eli Terry	Dial painter	Smoke bomb	Left eye monocle	Copper hair	Loud whistles
Edward Howard	Gear polisher	Smoke bomb	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
Galileo Galilei	Dial painter	Smoke bomb	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
George Graham	Glass cutter	Grappling hook	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Loud whistles
Christiaan Huygens	Spring winder	Glider wings	Right eye monocle	Silver hair	Slippery grease
Jules Jurgensen	Gear polisher	Pocket laser	Left eye monocle	Silver hair	Strong magnets
Kintaro Hattori	Chime tuner	Glider wings	Left eye monocle	Copper hair	Strong magnets
Achille Ditesheim	Chime tuner	Glider wings	Left eye monocle	Copper hair	Loud whistles
Adrien Philippe	Chime tuner	Spring shoes	Right eye monocle	Copper hair	Slippery grease
Hans Wilsdorf	Chime tuner	Grappling hook	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
Levi Hutchins	Spring winder	Glider wings	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
Thomas Tompion	Dial painter	Glider wings	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
Louis Cartier	Chime tuner	Grappling hook	Left eye monocle	Copper hair	Loud whistles
Peter Henlein	Glass cutter	Spring shoes	Right eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
John Harrison	Glass cutter	Grappling hook	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Slippery grease
Antoni Patek	Glass cutter	Grappling hook	Left eye monocle	Golden hair	Strong magnets
Aaron Dennison	Glass cutter	Spring shoes	Left eye monocle	Copper hair	Loud whistles
Florentine Jones	Glass cutter	Pocket laser	Right eye monocle	Golden hair	Slippery grease
Abraham Breguet	Spring winder	Spring shoes	Left eye monocle	Silver hair	Slippery grease
Daniel Quare	Gear polisher	Smoke bomb	Right eye monocle	Copper hair	Strong magnets
Seth Thomas	Gear polisher	Smoke bomb	Left eye monocle	Silver hair	Slippery grease

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We need to count the rows of spare brass gears left in the workshop to see if any are missing. Count the gears in each row to find the 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.

100

132

6 × 7 =T

3 × 5 =I

3 × 10 =L

3 × 3 =C

12 × 11 =U

5 × 5 =N

10 × 8 =O

7 × 7 =G

11 × 8 =R

10 × 9 =S

5 × 12 =H

11 × 6 =D

10 × 10 =A

3 × 7 =E

8 × 2 =W

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The tower radar tool is slightly broken and only displays rounded numbers. Round the distance to the runaway suspect to get our next lead.

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

1100

290

430

900

700

1100

3000

430

2300

5000

900

5000

4300

370

3000

370

200

3700

430

370

3000

1100

290

430

3700

430

1100

430

2000

430

Round 1,054 to the nearest hundredT

Round 2,017 to the nearest thousandY

Round 3,749 to the nearest hundredL

Round 429 to the nearest tenE

Round 2,764 to the nearest thousandN

Round 207 to the nearest hundredC

Round 865 to the nearest hundredW

Round 2,282 to the nearest hundredS

Round 24 to the nearest tenF

Round 700 to the nearest hundredI

Round 372 to the nearest tenO

Round 4,322 to the nearest hundredM

Round 4,586 to the nearest thousandA

Round 293 to the nearest tenH

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Let us add up the total weight of the bronze pendulum weights left behind by the thief to see how heavy their bag was.

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

3641

6512

2380

5972

6078

5990

7373

3787

6472

7373

6642

6512

3532

3641

3967

7373

6642

5990

7373

6641

3787

6078

3868

3532

5972

3868

6078

6512

7373

5990

1846 + 1795 =W

4526 + 2115 =R

2322 + 1645 =I

2256 + 1612 =G

2199 + 3773 =A

1410 + 970 =C

3275 + 4098 =T

2559 + 3913 =P

3568 + 2510 =N

1232 + 2555 =O

2531 + 3981 =E

4066 + 2576 =H

3528 + 2462 =S

1970 + 1562 =M

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The thief dropped a bag of silver screws. We must subtract the damaged screws from the total to find the clean ones 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.

5236

5306

4783

4937

8243

6253

4955

5233

6053

4937

5236

4587

6253

5233

4937

6053

4955

5306

6253

2096

6121

4587

8235

4937

6253

6663

2096

5306

4955

4587

6121

6053

8056 - 2820 =W

8804 - 2141 =T

7567 - 1514 =L

7941 - 3354 =I

6913 - 2130 =F

9516 - 3263 =N

9812 - 1569 =U

9161 - 3855 =E

10674 - 2439 =R

5678 - 741 =O

9571 - 3450 =A

7886 - 2931 =D

5989 - 756 =G

4330 - 2234 =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We need to split our search teams evenly among the different rooms of the clock tower. Divide the apprentices to start the search.

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

5 ÷ 1 = ?

40 ÷ 4 = ?

5 ÷ 5 = ?

144 ÷ 12 = ?

11 ÷ 1 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

12 ÷ 2 = ?

72 ÷ 8 = ?

40 ÷ 10 = ?

8 ÷ 1 = ?

6 ÷ 2 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain unlocked the main gear box, then escaped down the long bell rope.

2.The villain loosened the grand pendulum, then slipped through the narrow gear gate.

3.The villain took the mainspring of the clock, then escaped down the long bell rope.

4.The villain took the mainspring of the clock, then slid down the giant clock face.

5.The villain took the mainspring of the clock, then slipped through the narrow gear gate.

6.The villain cracked the face of the clock, then slipped through the narrow gear gate.

7.The villain stole the glowing clock hands, then slipped through the narrow gear gate.

8.The villain unlocked the main gear box, then slid down the giant clock face.

9.The villain loosened the grand pendulum, then slid down the giant clock face.

10.The villain cracked the face of the clock, then escaped down the long bell rope.

11.The villain loosened the grand pendulum, then fled into the dark copper mines.

12.The villain cracked the face of the clock, then fled into the dark copper mines.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Golden Clock

Culprit: Antoni Patek (Glass cutter · Grappling hook · Left eye monocle · Golden hair · Strong magnets)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SNATCHER DOES NOT USE GLIDER WINGS"
6 × 7 = 42 (T) · 3 × 5 = 15 (I) · 3 × 10 = 30 (L) · 3 × 3 = 9 (C) · 12 × 11 = 132 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 10 × 8 = 80 (O) · 7 × 7 = 49 (G) · 11 × 8 = 88 (R) · 10 × 9 = 90 (S) · 5 × 12 = 60 (H) · 11 × 6 = 66 (D) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 3 × 7 = 21 (E) · 8 × 2 = 16 (W)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE WITNESS SAW A MONOCLE ON THE LEFT EYE"
Round 1,054 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (T) · Round 2,017 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (Y) · Round 3,749 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (L) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 2,764 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 207 to the nearest hundred = 200 (C) · Round 865 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 2,282 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (S) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (F) · Round 700 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 372 to the nearest ten = 370 (O) · Round 4,322 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (M) · Round 4,586 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (H)
Clue 3 (Addition): "WE CAN STOP THEM WITH STRONG MAGNETS"
1846 + 1795 = 3641 (W) · 4526 + 2115 = 6641 (R) · 2322 + 1645 = 3967 (I) · 2256 + 1612 = 3868 (G) · 2199 + 3773 = 5972 (A) · 1410 + 970 = 2380 (C) · 3275 + 4098 = 7373 (T) · 2559 + 3913 = 6472 (P) · 3568 + 2510 = 6078 (N) · 1232 + 2555 = 3787 (O) · 2531 + 3981 = 6512 (E) · 4066 + 2576 = 6642 (H) · 3528 + 2462 = 5990 (S) · 1970 + 1562 = 3532 (M)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND GLOWING GOLDEN HAIR ON THE DIAL"
8056 - 2820 = 5236 (W) · 8804 - 2141 = 6663 (T) · 7567 - 1514 = 6053 (L) · 7941 - 3354 = 4587 (I) · 6913 - 2130 = 4783 (F) · 9516 - 3263 = 6253 (N) · 9812 - 1569 = 8243 (U) · 9161 - 3855 = 5306 (E) · 10674 - 2439 = 8235 (R) · 5678 - 741 = 4937 (O) · 9571 - 3450 = 6121 (A) · 7886 - 2931 = 4955 (D) · 5989 - 756 = 5233 (G) · 4330 - 2234 = 2096 (H)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Antoni Patek
5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Mystery of the Missing Golden Clock — set in The Grand Clock Tower of Ticktock Town
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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