🤖 RobotsGrade 8Reading: grades 5-6ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Neo-City Scrap Yard Mystery
The golden Core Processor has been stolen from the central laboratory! A rogue automaton is sneaking through the scrap yards trying to escape. Decode the sensor logs to catch the robot thief before they upload the stolen plans!
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 | Main Power | Extra Tool | Arm Grip | Head Antenna | System Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada Lovelace | Jet Thrusters | Nano-Repair | Right-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Rust Spray |
| Katherine Johnson | Sonic Screech | Rocket Fist | Left-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Magnet Wand |
| Alan Turing | Laser Cutting | Stealth Camouflage | Left-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Rust Spray |
| Victor Scheinman | EMP Blasts | Nano-Repair | Left-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Magnet Wand |
| Linus Torvalds | Magnetism | Rocket Fist | Right-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Water Splash |
| Isaac Asimov | Laser Cutting | Plasma Shield | Right-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Magnet Wand |
| George Devol | Magnetism | Stealth Camouflage | Right-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Magnet Wand |
| Arthur Clarke | Laser Cutting | Plasma Shield | Right-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Rust Spray |
| Charles Babbage | Magnetism | Plasma Shield | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Marie Curie | Sonic Screech | Plasma Shield | Left-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Rust Spray |
| Tim Berners Lee | EMP Blasts | Rocket Fist | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Richard Feynman | Magnetism | Hologram Mimic | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Rachel Carson | Laser Cutting | Nano-Repair | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Water Splash |
| Margaret Hamilton | Laser Cutting | Hologram Mimic | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Nikola Tesla | EMP Blasts | Hologram Mimic | Left-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Anita Borg | Sonic Screech | Rocket Fist | Right-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Magnet Wand |
| Stephen Hawking | Sonic Screech | Hologram Mimic | Right-arm grip | Copper Antenna | Magnet Wand |
| Albert Einstein | Laser Cutting | Hologram Mimic | Right-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Rust Spray |
| Hedy Lamarr | Laser Cutting | Nano-Repair | Left-arm grip | Glass Sensor Dome | Magnet Wand |
| Steve Wozniak | Jet Thrusters | Nano-Repair | Right-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Water Splash |
| Sally Ride | Sonic Screech | Hologram Mimic | Left-arm grip | Steel Mohawk | Rust Spray |
Clue 1
Exponents
The lab computer shows the virus is multiplying fast. Every second, the rogue data doubles as an exponent. Solve the power level to unlock 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
27
216
121
441
125
125
169
441
225
25
400
216
81
225
400
T
100
27
169
121
216
T
100
27
216
49
400
512
196
216
T
100
36
441
81
T
100
10^2 =T
15^2 =N
20^2 =O
5^3 =L
9^2 =S
6^3 =E
3^3 =H
14^2 =K
7^2 =R
2^9 =C
21^2 =I
13^2 =A
11^2 =V
6^2 =F
5^2 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We found the rogue bot's square microchip burned onto the workbench. If you find the square root of the total area, you can bypass the chip 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
24
10
8
12
19
3
10
T
24
14
12
23
9
8
14
25
8
21
10
8
14
25
13
21
T
24
12
19
5
8
21
sqrt(576) =T
sqrt(100) =H
sqrt(625) =V
sqrt(25) =P
sqrt(64) =E
sqrt(169) =Y
sqrt(361) =I
sqrt(441) =S
sqrt(9) =G
sqrt(196) =A
sqrt(144) =R
sqrt(529) =M
sqrt(81) =L
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The thief ran diagonally across the square testing pad. Use the side measurements of the right triangle to calculate the shortest cable path.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
87
29
A
87
5
51
26
52
74
A
87
51
58
13
52
68
30
13
52
40
26
34
20
5
26
A
87
20
13
58
26
A
87
58
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =A
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =O
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =G
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =M
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =S
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =E
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =P
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =R
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =I
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =W
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =D
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =N
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The security lock requires a precise code. Follow the strict order of operations to solve the equation and crack open the secure drawer.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
99
95
85
44
44
68
54
A
99
109
59
68
109
109
A
99
50
A
99
26
26
68
68
109
26
44
A
99
54
115
8
109
23
9 × 12 - 9 =A
9 × 4 - 13 =G
9 × 10 - 5 =O
12 × 10 - 25 =C
47 + 3 × 7 =E
11 × 10 - 1 =N
12 × 10 - 5 =K
38 + 2 × 3 =P
5 × 12 - 1 =T
10 × 5 - 24 =S
2 + 3 × 2 =I
24 + 5 × 6 =R
40 + 5 × 2 =W
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We need to find out how many battery packs the bot stole. Set up a two-step equation with the total weight and solve for the unknown variable.
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
5x + 8 = 53, x = ?
3x + 9 = 15, x = ?
3x + 3 = 15, x = ?
5x + 5 = 35, x = ?
5x + 9 = 34, x = ?
3x + 8 = 11, x = ?
4x + 11 = 39, x = ?
6x + 11 = 77, x = ?
2x + 12 = 18, x = ?
4x + 8 = 40, x = ?
6x + 8 = 80, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fires up their booster rocket engines, then blends into the shadows using stealth camouflage.
2.The villain activates their high-voltage magnet, then fools the security guards using a hologram mimic.
3.The villain triggers a massive electric emp blast, then blends into the shadows using stealth camouflage.
4.The villain carves a hole with a laser cutter, then fools the security guards using a hologram mimic.
5.The villain emits a deafening sonic alarm screech, then blocks the exit with a glowing plasma shield.
6.The villain activates their high-voltage magnet, then smashes the main laboratory door with a rocket fist.
7.The villain carves a hole with a laser cutter, then blocks the exit with a glowing plasma shield.
8.The villain fires up their booster rocket engines, then fixes their own broken circuits with nano-repair.
9.The villain emits a deafening sonic alarm screech, then fools the security guards using a hologram mimic.
10.The villain activates their high-voltage magnet, then blocks the exit with a glowing plasma shield.
11.The villain fires up their booster rocket engines, then smashes the main laboratory door with a rocket fist.
12.The villain activates their high-voltage magnet, then fixes their own broken circuits with nano-repair.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Neo-City Scrap Yard Mystery
Culprit: Charles Babbage (Magnetism · Plasma Shield · Right-arm grip · Copper Antenna · Magnet Wand)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE THE ROCKET FIST"10^2 = 100 (T) · 15^2 = 225 (N) · 20^2 = 400 (O) · 5^3 = 125 (L) · 9^2 = 81 (S) · 6^3 = 216 (E) · 3^3 = 27 (H) · 14^2 = 196 (K) · 7^2 = 49 (R) · 2^9 = 512 (C) · 21^2 = 441 (I) · 13^2 = 169 (A) · 11^2 = 121 (V) · 6^2 = 36 (F) · 5^2 = 25 (D)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE RIGHT ARM LEAVES HEAVY STRIPES"sqrt(576) = 24 (T) · sqrt(100) = 10 (H) · sqrt(625) = 25 (V) · sqrt(25) = 5 (P) · sqrt(64) = 8 (E) · sqrt(169) = 13 (Y) · sqrt(361) = 19 (I) · sqrt(441) = 21 (S) · sqrt(9) = 3 (G) · sqrt(196) = 14 (A) · sqrt(144) = 12 (R) · sqrt(529) = 23 (M) · sqrt(81) = 9 (L)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "A MAGNET WAND STOPS THEIR GEARS DEAD"legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (A) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (O) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (G) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (M) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (S) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (E) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (P) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (R) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (I) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (W) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (T) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (D) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (N) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (H)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A COPPER ANTENNA WAS SEEN SPARKING"9 × 12 - 9 = 99 (A) · 9 × 4 - 13 = 23 (G) · 9 × 10 - 5 = 85 (O) · 12 × 10 - 25 = 95 (C) · 47 + 3 × 7 = 68 (E) · 11 × 10 - 1 = 109 (N) · 12 × 10 - 5 = 115 (K) · 38 + 2 × 3 = 44 (P) · 5 × 12 - 1 = 59 (T) · 10 × 5 - 24 = 26 (S) · 2 + 3 × 2 = 8 (I) · 24 + 5 × 6 = 54 (R) · 40 + 5 × 2 = 50 (W)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Charles Babbage5x + 8 = 53, x = 9 · 3x + 9 = 15, x = 2 · 3x + 3 = 15, x = 4 · 5x + 5 = 35, x = 6 · 5x + 9 = 34, x = 5 · 3x + 8 = 11, x = 1 · 4x + 11 = 39, x = 7 · 6x + 11 = 77, x = 11 · 2x + 12 = 18, x = 3 · 4x + 8 = 40, x = 8 · 6x + 8 = 80, x = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Neo-City Scrap Yard Mystery — set in the high-tech scrap yards of Neo-City
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects