🐱 Math, fractions of a number,Grade 10Reading: grades 7-9Fractions of a numberMultiplicationRoundingPythagorean theorem
The Riemann Hypothesis Heist
The legendary Archimedes Medal has vanished from the university vault just hours before the global mathematics symposium. A shadowy culprit bypassed the complex laser grid and left behind a series of high-level formulas. Detective, we must use our analytical skills to deduce which brilliant but misguided mathematician stole the prize.
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 | Mathematical Specialty | Signature Tool | Chalkboard Preference | Hair Style | Concentration Breaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grigori Perelman | topology puzzles | golden slide rule | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | loud music |
| Henri Poincare | topology puzzles | fractal compass | left-handed chalk work | silver ponytail | spilled coffee |
| Maryam Mirzakhani | number theory | chalk holster | right-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Euclid | game theory | fractal compass | right-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | loud music |
| Ada Lovelace | topology puzzles | graphing calculator | left-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | spilled coffee |
| Bernhard Riemann | number theory | abacus ring | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Claude Shannon | number theory | golden slide rule | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Gottfried Leibniz | game theory | chalk holster | left-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | spilled coffee |
| Pierre de Fermat | number theory | golden slide rule | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | broken pencils |
| Grace Hopper | number theory | graphing calculator | right-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | broken pencils |
| Joseph Fourier | combinatorics | abacus ring | left-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | loud music |
| Srinivasa Ramanujan | number theory | graphing calculator | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Emmy Noether | number theory | graphing calculator | left-handed chalk work | silver ponytail | spilled coffee |
| Leonhard Euler | calculus equations | fractal compass | right-handed chalk work | silver ponytail | loud music |
| John von Neumann | topology puzzles | fractal compass | right-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | loud music |
| Sofia Kovalevskaya | number theory | chalk holster | left-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | broken pencils |
| Terence Tao | game theory | golden slide rule | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Blaise Pascal | game theory | abacus ring | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | broken pencils |
| Rene Descartes | calculus equations | chalk holster | left-handed chalk work | ink-stained hair | broken pencils |
| Augustin Cauchy | number theory | fractal compass | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | spilled coffee |
| Carl Gauss | game theory | graphing calculator | left-handed chalk work | neon hair dye | loud music |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
To find the suspect's lab locker number, we must calculate the exact fractional volume of water missing from the cooling tank.
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
34
16
47
20
54
7
7
2
54
37
52
49
47
8
37
49
T
34
59
47
2
51
T
34
16
47
2
31
2
26
39
8
51
54
37
42
4/8 of 68 =T
1/4 of 124 =B
1/6 of 12 =A
2/10 of 185 =N
4/6 of 12 =S
1/3 of 162 =I
2/6 of 156 =D
2/5 of 40 =H
1/2 of 98 =O
1/4 of 104 =C
2/6 of 126 =G
5/10 of 102 =R
1/5 of 195 =U
4/8 of 94 =E
3/6 of 40 =V
1/2 of 14 =L
1/3 of 177 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The suspect escaped down a grid of tiled hallways, and multiplying the rows reveals which floor they fled to.
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
64
44
100
11
88
7
10
100
27
11
100
60
100
44
63
27
11
44
63
8
50
54
60
T
64
44
100
8
100
132
T
64
27
7
121
100
8 × 8 =T
11 × 8 =R
1 × 11 =C
1 × 10 =M
11 × 12 =F
4 × 2 =L
11 × 11 =D
9 × 7 =A
10 × 10 =E
3 × 9 =S
1 × 7 =I
10 × 5 =K
6 × 9 =O
4 × 11 =H
6 × 10 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
A security sensor recorded the weight of the suspect's getaway bag, but the damaged screen only shows a rounded value.
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
900
1700
430
110
110
130
1100
200
370
90
90
130
130
700
500
430
1300
S
900
5000
3000
130
430
700
200
370
1300
200
130
1300
5000
700
30
5000
430
370
1300
Round 942 to the nearest hundredS
Round 106 to the nearest tenL
Round 126 to the nearest tenE
Round 27 to the nearest tenA
Round 2,578 to the nearest thousandH
Round 431 to the nearest tenI
Round 5,220 to the nearest thousandT
Round 93 to the nearest tenF
Round 1,709 to the nearest hundredP
Round 1,068 to the nearest hundredD
Round 693 to the nearest hundredR
Round 466 to the nearest hundredU
Round 373 to the nearest tenO
Round 1,271 to the nearest hundredN
Round 204 to the nearest hundredC
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Pythagorean theorem
We can trace the suspect's escape path across the quad by finding the hypotenuse of the right triangle they ran across.
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
125
34
40
52
123
52
65
40
5
T
125
34
25
52
75
40
68
75
34
25
74
29
58
13
40
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =T
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =D
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =U
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =R
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =P
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =O
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =C
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =I
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =N
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =S
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =Y
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The server room logs were partially deleted, but we can piece together the timeline by solving for the remaining fraction of data.
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
4/8 of 12 = ?
4/8 of 16 = ?
1/5 of 20 = ?
1/4 of 12 = ?
2/5 of 5 = ?
9/10 of 10 = ?
7/10 of 10 = ?
2/6 of 3 = ?
2/4 of 20 = ?
3/4 of 16 = ?
1/4 of 20 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain runs a combinatorics model, then draws with the fractal compass.
2.The villain cracks a number theory code, then twirls the abacus ring.
3.The villain plots a game theory trap, then programs the graphing calculator.
4.The villain plots a game theory trap, then checks the golden slide rule.
5.The villain plots a game theory trap, then twirls the abacus ring.
6.The villain cracks a number theory code, then checks the golden slide rule.
7.The villain runs a combinatorics model, then programs the graphing calculator.
8.The villain cracks a number theory code, then programs the graphing calculator.
9.The villain plots a game theory trap, then unholsters the chalk.
10.The villain solves a topology riddle, then unholsters the chalk.
11.The villain cracks a number theory code, then draws with the fractal compass.
12.The villain derives a calculus formula, then twirls the abacus ring.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Riemann Hypothesis Heist
Culprit: Augustin Cauchy (number theory · fractal compass · left-handed chalk work · neon hair dye · spilled coffee)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR THE ABACUS RING"4/8 of 68 = 34 (T) · 1/4 of 124 = 31 (B) · 1/6 of 12 = 2 (A) · 2/10 of 185 = 37 (N) · 4/6 of 12 = 8 (S) · 1/3 of 162 = 54 (I) · 2/6 of 156 = 52 (D) · 2/5 of 40 = 16 (H) · 1/2 of 98 = 49 (O) · 1/4 of 104 = 26 (C) · 2/6 of 126 = 42 (G) · 5/10 of 102 = 51 (R) · 1/5 of 195 = 39 (U) · 4/8 of 94 = 47 (E) · 3/6 of 40 = 20 (V) · 1/2 of 14 = 7 (L) · 1/3 of 177 = 59 (W)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE CRIME SCENE HAS CHALK ON THE LEFT SIDE"8 × 8 = 64 (T) · 11 × 8 = 88 (R) · 1 × 11 = 11 (C) · 1 × 10 = 10 (M) · 11 × 12 = 132 (F) · 4 × 2 = 8 (L) · 11 × 11 = 121 (D) · 9 × 7 = 63 (A) · 10 × 10 = 100 (E) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 1 × 7 = 7 (I) · 10 × 5 = 50 (K) · 6 × 9 = 54 (O) · 4 × 11 = 44 (H) · 6 × 10 = 60 (N)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "SPILLED COFFEE RUINS THEIR CONCENTRATION"Round 942 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 106 to the nearest ten = 110 (L) · Round 126 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 2,578 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (I) · Round 5,220 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (F) · Round 1,709 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (P) · Round 1,068 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (D) · Round 693 to the nearest hundred = 700 (R) · Round 466 to the nearest hundred = 500 (U) · Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (O) · Round 1,271 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (N) · Round 204 to the nearest hundred = 200 (C)
- Clue 4 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SUSPECT HAS NEON HAIR DYE"legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (T) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (E) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (D) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (A) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (U) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (R) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (P) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (O) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (C) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (I) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (N) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (H) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (S) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (Y)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 11) → Augustin Cauchy4/8 of 12 = 6 · 4/8 of 16 = 8 · 1/5 of 20 = 4 · 1/4 of 12 = 3 · 2/5 of 5 = 2 · 9/10 of 10 = 9 · 7/10 of 10 = 7 · 2/6 of 3 = 1 · 2/4 of 20 = 10 · 3/4 of 16 = 12 · 1/4 of 20 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Multiplication, Rounding, Pythagorean theorem
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Riemann Hypothesis Heist — set in The Archimedes Institute of Advanced Mathematics
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects