🔎 Reading,books,golfGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberAdditionSubtractionOrder of operations
The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece
The golden Hacker's Almanac has been stolen right before the annual Fairway Literary Open! The thief left a trail of torn pages and damaged golf tees all over the course.
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 Style | Bookish Gear | Swing Hand | Visor Haircut | Golf Hazard Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest Hemingway | bouncing hook shot | paper storm | left handed swing | slicked back pony | loud whispering |
| Jane Austen | bouncing hook shot | bookmark shield | left handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Tolkien | gravity golf slice | hover book | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Mark Twain | bouncing hook shot | hover book | left handed swing | slicked back pony | deep water hazard |
| Phil Mickelson | bouncing hook shot | hover book | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | loud whispering |
| Arnold Palmer | magnetic golf swing | ink sprayer | right handed swing | slicked back pony | loud whispering |
| Nancy Drew | gravity golf slice | glowing glasses | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Edgar Poe | gravity golf slice | bookmark shield | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Payne Stewart | magnetic golf swing | paper storm | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Huckleberry Finn | wind tunnel drive | ink sprayer | right handed swing | slicked back pony | deep water hazard |
| Gary Player | gravity golf slice | glowing glasses | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | deep water hazard |
| Ben Hogan | sonic putt | glowing glasses | left handed swing | slicked back pony | deep water hazard |
| Alice Liddell | gravity golf slice | glowing glasses | left handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Rory McIlroy | wind tunnel drive | paper storm | left handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Tiger Woods | wind tunnel drive | bookmark shield | right handed swing | messy curls | deep water hazard |
| Herman Melville | wind tunnel drive | bookmark shield | right handed swing | messy curls | rough grass |
| Charles Dickens | gravity golf slice | bookmark shield | right handed swing | messy curls | rough grass |
| George Orwell | magnetic golf swing | ink sprayer | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Sherlock Holmes | bouncing hook shot | ink sprayer | right handed swing | spiky visor hair | rough grass |
| Jack Nicklaus | wind tunnel drive | paper storm | right handed swing | slicked back pony | deep water hazard |
| Seve Ballesteros | sonic putt | hover book | left handed swing | messy curls | deep water hazard |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
We search the wrecked archives. Only a fraction of the index cards are still in their drawers, which points us to our 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
35
15
37
8
15
30
4
T
35
5
39
18
5
37
33
4
5
T
35
2
33
37
30
4
21
4
23
33
8
29
30
7
37
29
7/8 of 40 =T
1/3 of 21 =Y
5/6 of 6 =O
1/6 of 12 =U
4/8 of 42 =I
5/10 of 78 =M
2/3 of 12 =P
1/4 of 92 =K
2/8 of 132 =S
2/5 of 45 =D
1/6 of 24 =N
1/6 of 180 =A
3/6 of 30 =H
2/6 of 87 =R
2/4 of 74 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We count the total number of neon golf tees left scattered across the fairways to reveal the thief's direction.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
6613
3065
9654
8705
9603
8705
6459
9630
9249
3709
9249
9249
3065
6437
5589
9603
4330
2895
3709
R
6613
3709
5728
5589
8008
9630
9249
5589
9630
9603
8705
3709
9654
R
6613
3709
3709
9630
3356 + 3257 =R
1037 + 2028 =I
2622 + 3106 =F
4257 + 2202 =A
2175 + 2155 =S
5514 + 2494 =U
4012 + 4693 =H
5433 + 3816 =D
6432 + 3198 =N
1700 + 2009 =E
2373 + 3216 =O
1779 + 1116 =W
2668 + 3769 =V
4326 + 5277 =T
4035 + 5619 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The thief tore pages out of the encyclopedia. Subtracting the remaining pages from the total tells us how much they stole.
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
3603
8857
6713
5762
8857
4250
5401
T
3603
8535
5013
T
3603
1954
2738
5762
5762
6713
8479
8535
5401
T
3603
8857
6713
1954
8535
6035
4419
8857
4419
1954
4250
8416
8416
6113 - 2510 =T
6298 - 536 =P
5464 - 451 =M
11938 - 3403 =O
8464 - 1751 =E
9410 - 553 =H
6737 - 3999 =I
13333 - 4917 =S
9271 - 3870 =N
6682 - 2432 =A
4592 - 2638 =R
8379 - 2344 =U
4904 - 485 =G
9787 - 1308 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
We find a coded golf scorecard. To solve the sequence, we must follow the strict rules of operations to find the hidden message.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
38
29
73
35
63
77
73
S
38
34
60
24
69
73
60
45
69
S
38
S
38
70
69
12
12
68
53
34
70
69
64
60
69
70
57
24
13 + 5 × 5 =S
19 + 3 × 5 =O
9 × 8 - 3 =A
55 + 2 × 9 =I
10 × 6 - 3 =C
47 + 2 × 8 =Y
8 × 11 - 18 =N
6 × 12 - 12 =R
9 × 11 - 22 =V
10 + 9 × 6 =B
14 + 2 × 5 =H
5 × 11 - 26 =P
12 × 2 - 12 =G
12 × 8 - 28 =E
32 + 3 × 7 =D
6 × 7 - 7 =K
9 + 6 × 6 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Confetti from shredded book pages covers a fraction of the putting green. Finding the exact portion leads us to 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
4/10 of 5 = ?
1/5 of 45 = ?
1/5 of 50 = ?
2/4 of 8 = ?
2/6 of 9 = ?
5/10 of 16 = ?
1/2 of 10 = ?
1/3 of 18 = ?
1/3 of 3 = ?
1/5 of 35 = ?
3/10 of 40 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted a wind tunnel drive, then blocked the exit with a bookmark shield.
2.The villain launched a gravity golf slice, then scouted the room with glowing glasses.
3.The villain swung a magnetic golf club, then splattered the walls with an ink sprayer.
4.The villain blasted a wind tunnel drive, then scouted the room with glowing glasses.
5.The villain struck a loud sonic putt, then blinded the guards with a paper storm.
6.The villain curved a bouncing hook shot, then blocked the exit with a bookmark shield.
7.The villain curved a bouncing hook shot, then escaped the scene riding a hover book.
8.The villain struck a loud sonic putt, then splattered the walls with an ink sprayer.
9.The villain launched a gravity golf slice, then blocked the exit with a bookmark shield.
10.The villain swung a magnetic golf club, then blinded the guards with a paper storm.
11.The villain launched a gravity golf slice, then escaped the scene riding a hover book.
12.The villain launched a gravity golf slice, then splattered the walls with an ink sprayer.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece
Culprit: Tolkien (gravity golf slice · hover book · right handed swing · spiky visor hair · rough grass)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE PHANTOM DOES NOT USE AN INK SPRAYER"7/8 of 40 = 35 (T) · 1/3 of 21 = 7 (Y) · 5/6 of 6 = 5 (O) · 1/6 of 12 = 2 (U) · 4/8 of 42 = 21 (I) · 5/10 of 78 = 39 (M) · 2/3 of 12 = 8 (P) · 1/4 of 92 = 23 (K) · 2/8 of 132 = 33 (S) · 2/5 of 45 = 18 (D) · 1/6 of 24 = 4 (N) · 1/6 of 180 = 30 (A) · 3/6 of 30 = 15 (H) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (R) · 2/4 of 74 = 37 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "RIGHT HANDED DIVOTS WERE FOUND ON THE GREEN"3356 + 3257 = 6613 (R) · 1037 + 2028 = 3065 (I) · 2622 + 3106 = 5728 (F) · 4257 + 2202 = 6459 (A) · 2175 + 2155 = 4330 (S) · 5514 + 2494 = 8008 (U) · 4012 + 4693 = 8705 (H) · 5433 + 3816 = 9249 (D) · 6432 + 3198 = 9630 (N) · 1700 + 2009 = 3709 (E) · 2373 + 3216 = 5589 (O) · 1779 + 1116 = 2895 (W) · 2668 + 3769 = 6437 (V) · 4326 + 5277 = 9603 (T) · 4035 + 5619 = 9654 (G)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE PHANTOM TRIPPED ON THE ROUGH GRASS"6113 - 2510 = 3603 (T) · 6298 - 536 = 5762 (P) · 5464 - 451 = 5013 (M) · 11938 - 3403 = 8535 (O) · 8464 - 1751 = 6713 (E) · 9410 - 553 = 8857 (H) · 6737 - 3999 = 2738 (I) · 13333 - 4917 = 8416 (S) · 9271 - 3870 = 5401 (N) · 6682 - 2432 = 4250 (A) · 4592 - 2638 = 1954 (R) · 8379 - 2344 = 6035 (U) · 4904 - 485 = 4419 (G) · 9787 - 1308 = 8479 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "SPIKY VISOR HAIR WAS SNAGGED ON A BRANCH"13 + 5 × 5 = 38 (S) · 19 + 3 × 5 = 34 (O) · 9 × 8 - 3 = 69 (A) · 55 + 2 × 9 = 73 (I) · 10 × 6 - 3 = 57 (C) · 47 + 2 × 8 = 63 (Y) · 8 × 11 - 18 = 70 (N) · 6 × 12 - 12 = 60 (R) · 9 × 11 - 22 = 77 (V) · 10 + 9 × 6 = 64 (B) · 14 + 2 × 5 = 24 (H) · 5 × 11 - 26 = 29 (P) · 12 × 2 - 12 = 12 (G) · 12 × 8 - 28 = 68 (E) · 32 + 3 × 7 = 53 (D) · 6 × 7 - 7 = 35 (K) · 9 + 6 × 6 = 45 (W)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 11) → Tolkien4/10 of 5 = 2 · 1/5 of 45 = 9 · 1/5 of 50 = 10 · 2/4 of 8 = 4 · 2/6 of 9 = 3 · 5/10 of 16 = 8 · 1/2 of 10 = 5 · 1/3 of 18 = 6 · 1/3 of 3 = 1 · 1/5 of 35 = 7 · 3/10 of 40 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Addition, Subtraction, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece — set in The Green Jacket Library and Country Club
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects