🤖 RobotsGrade 9Reading: grades 7-9Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers

The Robo-Expo Blackout

A Rogue Automaton has stolen the experimental Master Spark from the main laboratory, plunging the entire city into darkness. The Chief Inventor needs your help to scan the suspect logs and identify the culprit before the backup battery drains completely.

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 Utility	Sub-Routine	Active Port	Fiber-Optic Color	System Vulnerability
Ada Lovelace	Turbo Propulsion	Nano Repairing	Right-Sided Port	Blue Fiber Optics	Magnet Clamps
Steve Wozniak	Hydraulic Smashing	Solar Shielding	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Thomas Edison	Hydraulic Smashing	Thermal Imaging	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Albert Einstein	Laser Welding	Solar Shielding	Left-Sided Port	Blue Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Isaac Asimov	Laser Welding	Hologram Projection	Right-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
Marie Curie	Turbo Propulsion	Hologram Projection	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Magnet Clamps
Hedy Lamarr	Laser Welding	Nano Repairing	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Charles Babbage	Sonic Screaming	Solar Shielding	Right-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Arthur Clarke	Laser Welding	Ice Spraying	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Seymour Cray	Hydraulic Smashing	Hologram Projection	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
Norbert Wiener	Magnetic Hover	Hologram Projection	Left-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Jules Verne	Magnetic Hover	Solar Shielding	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Magnet Clamps
Margaret Hamilton	Turbo Propulsion	Ice Spraying	Right-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
Ursula Le Guin	Magnetic Hover	Solar Shielding	Right-Sided Port	Red Fiber Optics	Magnet Clamps
Tim Berners Lee	Laser Welding	Nano Repairing	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Claude Shannon	Hydraulic Smashing	Thermal Imaging	Left-Sided Port	Blue Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
George Eastman	Turbo Propulsion	Thermal Imaging	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Rust Solvent
Nikola Tesla	Sonic Screaming	Solar Shielding	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
Philip Dick	Hydraulic Smashing	Thermal Imaging	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Magnet Clamps
Rachel Carson	Sonic Screaming	Hologram Projection	Right-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Water Splashes
Alan Turing	Hydraulic Smashing	Nano Repairing	Left-Sided Port	Green Fiber Optics	Water Splashes

Clue 1

Two-step equations

The main vault door is locked, but a digital screen displays a two-step algebra puzzle. Solving for the missing power variable decodes the first data log.

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

5x + 7 = 92, x =T

2x + 7 = 39, x =Y

5x + 3 = 28, x =R

4x + 3 = 31, x =S

6x + 8 = 134, x =D

4x + 10 = 70, x =U

4x + 2 = 82, x =N

8x + 3 = 35, x =C

4x + 1 = 89, x =E

6x + 12 = 78, x =I

9x + 6 = 123, x =L

6x + 10 = 46, x =H

8x + 12 = 28, x =V

7x + 2 = 128, x =O

9x + 12 = 138, x =A

5x + 11 = 106, x =P

3x + 10 = 40, x =G

0/17 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

A memory unit is multiplying its error packets exponentially. Calculating the power of the base number allows you to restore the sector and read the file.

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

289

512

400

243

512

128

289

243

441

144

512

100

289

484

289

512

441

512

125

289

400

512

243

484

343

289

17^2 =T

2^9 =E

3^3 =I

3^5 =P

10^2 =N

7^3 =R

2^7 =C

20^2 =S

12^2 =G

22^2 =O

21^2 =L

3^4 =U

2^5 =H

5^2 =D

5^3 =F

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Square roots

We locate a square circuit board dropped on the floor. Finding the square root of the total grid area gives us the exact coordinates of the suspect's track.

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

sqrt(441) =T

sqrt(576) =M

sqrt(324) =D

sqrt(484) =O

sqrt(625) =W

sqrt(169) =S

sqrt(256) =E

sqrt(144) =N

sqrt(36) =H

sqrt(225) =F

sqrt(25) =U

sqrt(81) =Y

sqrt(4) =V

sqrt(100) =R

sqrt(64) =L

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Integers

The target fled through the sublevels, moving up and down between positive and negative floors. Tracking the total integer change reveals a hidden log.

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

(-1) + 2 =W

(-15) + 49 =A

9 - (-3) =E

9 - (-6) =K

(-15) + 52 =F

(-5) + 41 =I

18 - (-15) =N

25 - (-15) =S

(-6) + 19 =O

18 - (-11) =C

12 - (-5) =T

(-15) + 53 =D

(-11) + 22 =U

(-14) + 16 =B

8 - (-14) =P

(-11) + 14 =R

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The final security node is protected by a two-step signal equation. Balancing the formula filters out the electric static so we can decode the final message.

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 + 9 = 69, x = ?

2x + 1 = 13, x = ?

4x + 12 = 24, x = ?

6x + 5 = 47, x = ?

9x + 10 = 46, x = ?

2x + 7 = 17, x = ?

7x + 2 = 79, x = ?

7x + 11 = 25, x = ?

7x + 12 = 75, x = ?

7x + 11 = 18, x = ?

4x + 11 = 51, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain blasts a laser welding beam, then creates a hologram projection.

2.The villain smashes through with hydraulic power, then fixes itself with nano repairing.

3.The villain blasts a laser welding beam, then fixes itself with nano repairing.

4.The villain escapes with turbo propulsion, then freezes the lock with ice spraying.

5.The villain escapes with turbo propulsion, then creates a hologram projection.

6.The villain hovers with magnetic fields, then creates a hologram projection.

7.The villain blasts a laser welding beam, then scans with thermal imaging.

8.The villain smashes through with hydraulic power, then scans with thermal imaging.

9.The villain hovers with magnetic fields, then freezes the lock with ice spraying.

10.The villain smashes through with hydraulic power, then freezes the lock with ice spraying.

11.The villain blasts a laser welding beam, then activates solar shielding.

12.The villain smashes through with hydraulic power, then activates solar shielding.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Robo-Expo Blackout

Culprit: Thomas Edison (Hydraulic Smashing · Thermal Imaging · Left-Sided Port · Red Fiber Optics · Rust Solvent)

Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE ICE SPRAYING"
5x + 7 = 92, x = 17 (T) · 2x + 7 = 39, x = 16 (Y) · 5x + 3 = 28, x = 5 (R) · 4x + 3 = 31, x = 7 (S) · 6x + 8 = 134, x = 21 (D) · 4x + 10 = 70, x = 15 (U) · 4x + 2 = 82, x = 20 (N) · 8x + 3 = 35, x = 4 (C) · 4x + 1 = 89, x = 22 (E) · 6x + 12 = 78, x = 11 (I) · 9x + 6 = 123, x = 13 (L) · 6x + 10 = 46, x = 6 (H) · 8x + 12 = 28, x = 2 (V) · 7x + 2 = 128, x = 18 (O) · 9x + 12 = 138, x = 14 (A) · 5x + 11 = 106, x = 19 (P) · 3x + 10 = 40, x = 10 (G)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT PLUGGED INTO THE LEFT SIDED PORT"
17^2 = 289 (T) · 2^9 = 512 (E) · 3^3 = 27 (I) · 3^5 = 243 (P) · 10^2 = 100 (N) · 7^3 = 343 (R) · 2^7 = 128 (C) · 20^2 = 400 (S) · 12^2 = 144 (G) · 22^2 = 484 (O) · 21^2 = 441 (L) · 3^4 = 81 (U) · 2^5 = 32 (H) · 5^2 = 25 (D) · 5^3 = 125 (F)
Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN FROM RUST SOLVENT"
sqrt(441) = 21 (T) · sqrt(576) = 24 (M) · sqrt(324) = 18 (D) · sqrt(484) = 22 (O) · sqrt(625) = 25 (W) · sqrt(169) = 13 (S) · sqrt(256) = 16 (E) · sqrt(144) = 12 (N) · sqrt(36) = 6 (H) · sqrt(225) = 15 (F) · sqrt(25) = 5 (U) · sqrt(81) = 9 (Y) · sqrt(4) = 2 (V) · sqrt(100) = 10 (R) · sqrt(64) = 8 (L)
Clue 4 (Integers): "WE FOUND SPARKS OF RED FIBER OPTICS"
(-1) + 2 = 1 (W) · (-15) + 49 = 34 (A) · 9 - (-3) = 12 (E) · 9 - (-6) = 15 (K) · (-15) + 52 = 37 (F) · (-5) + 41 = 36 (I) · 18 - (-15) = 33 (N) · 25 - (-15) = 40 (S) · (-6) + 19 = 13 (O) · 18 - (-11) = 29 (C) · 12 - (-5) = 17 (T) · (-15) + 53 = 38 (D) · (-11) + 22 = 11 (U) · (-14) + 16 = 2 (B) · 8 - (-14) = 22 (P) · (-11) + 14 = 3 (R)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 8) → Thomas Edison
5x + 9 = 69, x = 12 · 2x + 1 = 13, x = 6 · 4x + 12 = 24, x = 3 · 6x + 5 = 47, x = 7 · 9x + 10 = 46, x = 4 · 2x + 7 = 17, x = 5 · 7x + 2 = 79, x = 11 · 7x + 11 = 25, x = 2 · 7x + 12 = 75, x = 9 · 7x + 11 = 18, x = 1 · 4x + 11 = 51, x = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 9 math
Math topics: Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Robo-Expo Blackout — set in Robo-City Expo Hall
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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