🔎 Golf, books,readingGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRounding
The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece
A rare, gold-leafed golf novel has been stolen from the club's private collection! The suspect left behind a trail of golf tees, bookmarks, and scuffed turf. Help the junior detectives solve the clues and find the culprit.
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 Shot Signature | Favorite Genre | Glove Hand | Visor Hair Color | Greatest Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Li | lofted bunker shot | mystery fiction | left handed glove | sandy blonde | lost golf balls |
| Roald Dahl | trick chip | science fiction | left handed glove | sandy blonde | lost golf balls |
| Arnold Palmer | power drive | mystery fiction | right handed glove | ink black | noisy lawnmowers |
| Ben Hogan | power drive | historical adventure | right handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
| Jack Nicklaus | trick chip | sports biography | right handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
| Arthur Doyle | lofted bunker shot | mystery fiction | right handed glove | rusty red | overdue library fines |
| Jordan Spieth | laser wedge | science fiction | right handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
| Jules Verne | perfect putt | mystery fiction | left handed glove | ink black | lost golf balls |
| Annika Sorenstam | power drive | sports biography | right handed glove | ink black | overdue library fines |
| Virginia Woolf | trick chip | fantasy lore | right handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
| Rory McIlroy | perfect putt | historical adventure | left handed glove | ink black | lost golf balls |
| Nelly Korda | lofted bunker shot | historical adventure | right handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
| Lewis Carroll | trick chip | mystery fiction | left handed glove | ink black | overdue library fines |
| Babe Zaharias | power drive | science fiction | left handed glove | sandy blonde | lost golf balls |
| Mark Twain | trick chip | science fiction | right handed glove | sandy blonde | lost golf balls |
| Phil Mickelson | trick chip | fantasy lore | left handed glove | sandy blonde | overdue library fines |
| Walter Hagen | lofted bunker shot | science fiction | left handed glove | sandy blonde | overdue library fines |
| Edgar Poe | laser wedge | science fiction | right handed glove | ink black | overdue library fines |
| Mary Shelley | trick chip | mystery fiction | right handed glove | ink black | lost golf balls |
| Tiger Woods | lofted bunker shot | science fiction | left handed glove | rusty red | noisy lawnmowers |
| Jane Austen | lofted bunker shot | science fiction | left handed glove | sandy blonde | noisy lawnmowers |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The club librarian notices that a specific fraction of the golf books are missing. Solve this fraction puzzle to reveal 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
20
16
39
T
20
16
13
39
17
18
2
39
15
10
2
T
20
25
39
5
18
17
5
10
T
20
5
15
9
22
2
25
39
1/8 of 160 =T
3/6 of 32 =H
6/10 of 30 =D
1/6 of 12 =O
2/6 of 75 =R
1/2 of 26 =I
2/8 of 68 =F
4/8 of 30 =S
5/10 of 78 =E
2/10 of 45 =Y
1/3 of 66 =L
1/6 of 60 =N
1/10 of 50 =A
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
To unlock the library digital security log we must calculate a multi step math score from a scorecard. Follow the order of operations to solve it.
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
49
41
45
T
49
41
60
45
46
75
30
68
40
40
45
75
6
30
60
14
41
T
49
41
6
52
75
45
75
14
69
68
29
45
13 + 4 × 9 =T
9 × 5 - 15 =R
12 × 5 - 14 =F
17 + 6 × 2 =V
24 + 9 × 4 =I
39 + 2 × 3 =E
8 + 8 × 4 =P
44 + 4 × 2 =N
2 + 2 × 2 =A
2 + 4 × 3 =G
5 × 10 - 9 =H
59 + 8 × 2 =D
57 + 4 × 3 =L
7 × 11 - 9 =O
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The suspect left behind several organized crates of brand new golf balls. Multiply the rows of boxes to count the total balls and find the next 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
90
25
108
70
22
70
3
108
20
T
90
20
15
48
108
81
108
24
12
T
90
50
15
100
70
7
27
12
48
50
88
15
48
108
81
70
10 × 9 =T
7 × 10 =S
2 × 11 =U
1 × 7 =Y
12 × 2 =D
5 × 5 =H
8 × 11 =M
9 × 9 =R
8 × 6 =W
3 × 4 =A
10 × 5 =N
10 × 10 =I
12 × 9 =E
5 × 4 =C
3 × 1 =P
9 × 3 =L
3 × 5 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
A laser rangefinder dropped on the fairway displays a yardage that we need to round to the nearest ten to pinpoint the escape route.
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
290
300
90
70
500
130
230
900
9000
110
50
130
230
900
70
90
900
50
130
230
20
3700
1300
70
130
230
300
4300
50
2000
110
Round 288 to the nearest tenW
Round 518 to the nearest hundredU
Round 52 to the nearest tenA
Round 112 to the nearest tenR
Round 234 to the nearest tenD
Round 9,122 to the nearest thousandT
Round 87 to the nearest tenF
Round 259 to the nearest hundredE
Round 3,742 to the nearest hundredB
Round 891 to the nearest hundredS
Round 1,649 to the nearest thousandI
Round 19 to the nearest tenY
Round 70 to the nearest tenO
Round 4,303 to the nearest hundredH
Round 130 to the nearest tenN
Round 1,342 to the nearest hundredL
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Our junior detective team needs to divide a stack of bookmark clues. Figure out the fraction of bookmarks assigned to each investigator to crack the final clue.
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
1/3 of 12 = ?
1/10 of 80 = ?
5/10 of 22 = ?
2/3 of 15 = ?
3/6 of 4 = ?
3/5 of 5 = ?
2/4 of 14 = ?
5/10 of 10 = ?
3/4 of 12 = ?
1/2 of 2 = ?
4/6 of 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain chipped a golf ball into the keyhole, then fled in a golf cart.
2.The villain swiped the rare book from the shelf, then dashed out the club entrance.
3.The villain distracted the librarian with a trick shot, then hid behind the book cart.
4.The villain chipped a golf ball into the keyhole, then dashed out the club entrance.
5.The villain swiped the rare book from the shelf, then fled in a golf cart.
6.The villain swiped the rare book from the shelf, then hid behind the book cart.
7.The villain snuck through the back library window, then dashed out the club entrance.
8.The villain snuck through the back library window, then bolted into the rough grass.
9.The villain snuck through the back library window, then hid behind the book cart.
10.The villain smashed a golf ball through the glass, then bolted into the rough grass.
11.The villain distracted the librarian with a trick shot, then bolted into the rough grass.
12.The villain smashed a golf ball through the glass, then hid behind the book cart.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece
Culprit: Jordan Spieth (laser wedge · science fiction · right handed glove · sandy blonde · noisy lawnmowers)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE THIEF DOES NOT READ FANTASY LORE"1/8 of 160 = 20 (T) · 3/6 of 32 = 16 (H) · 6/10 of 30 = 18 (D) · 1/6 of 12 = 2 (O) · 2/6 of 75 = 25 (R) · 1/2 of 26 = 13 (I) · 2/8 of 68 = 17 (F) · 4/8 of 30 = 15 (S) · 5/10 of 78 = 39 (E) · 2/10 of 45 = 9 (Y) · 1/3 of 66 = 22 (L) · 1/6 of 60 = 10 (N) · 1/10 of 50 = 5 (A)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE THIEF DROPPED A RIGHT HANDED GLOVE"13 + 4 × 9 = 49 (T) · 9 × 5 - 15 = 30 (R) · 12 × 5 - 14 = 46 (F) · 17 + 6 × 2 = 29 (V) · 24 + 9 × 4 = 60 (I) · 39 + 2 × 3 = 45 (E) · 8 + 8 × 4 = 40 (P) · 44 + 4 × 2 = 52 (N) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (A) · 2 + 4 × 3 = 14 (G) · 5 × 10 - 9 = 41 (H) · 59 + 8 × 2 = 75 (D) · 57 + 4 × 3 = 69 (L) · 7 × 11 - 9 = 68 (O)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT COWERED AT NOISY LAWNMOWERS"10 × 9 = 90 (T) · 7 × 10 = 70 (S) · 2 × 11 = 22 (U) · 1 × 7 = 7 (Y) · 12 × 2 = 24 (D) · 5 × 5 = 25 (H) · 8 × 11 = 88 (M) · 9 × 9 = 81 (R) · 8 × 6 = 48 (W) · 3 × 4 = 12 (A) · 10 × 5 = 50 (N) · 10 × 10 = 100 (I) · 12 × 9 = 108 (E) · 5 × 4 = 20 (C) · 3 × 1 = 3 (P) · 9 × 3 = 27 (L) · 3 × 5 = 15 (O)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF SANDY BLONDE HAIR"Round 288 to the nearest ten = 290 (W) · Round 518 to the nearest hundred = 500 (U) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 112 to the nearest ten = 110 (R) · Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (D) · Round 9,122 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (F) · Round 259 to the nearest hundred = 300 (E) · Round 3,742 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (B) · Round 891 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 1,649 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (Y) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 4,303 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (H) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (N) · Round 1,342 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (L)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 12) → Jordan Spieth1/3 of 12 = 4 · 1/10 of 80 = 8 · 5/10 of 22 = 11 · 2/3 of 15 = 10 · 3/6 of 4 = 2 · 3/5 of 5 = 3 · 2/4 of 14 = 7 · 5/10 of 10 = 5 · 3/4 of 12 = 9 · 1/2 of 2 = 1 · 4/6 of 9 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece — set in The Whispering Pines Golf and Literary Club
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects