🤖 RobotsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Runaway Bot
A sneaky robot has stolen the golden wrench from the Chief Inventor! The factory is in lockdown, and we need to decode the clues to find the rogue machine.
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 Tool | Sub-System | Faulty Part | Head Antenna | Disabling Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracker | Hologram-throwing | Code-scrambling | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | Sticky rust-remover |
| Gearbox | Magnetic-pulling | Oil-spraying | Squeaky joint | Green steel coil | Sticky rust-remover |
| Bender | Hologram-throwing | Oil-spraying | Blinking eye | Green steel coil | High-frequency whistle |
| Widget | Jet-boosting | Bolt-launching | Blinking eye | Green steel coil | Sticky rust-remover |
| Gizmo | Metal-crushing | Sonar-pinging | Squeaky joint | Blue copper wire | Strong magnet toy |
| Socket | Jet-boosting | Code-scrambling | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Bolt | Magnetic-pulling | Sonar-pinging | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Beeper | Magnetic-pulling | Sonar-pinging | Blinking eye | Green steel coil | High-frequency whistle |
| Megatron | Magnetic-pulling | Bolt-launching | Squeaky joint | Red brass loop | Sticky rust-remover |
| Rusty | Magnetic-pulling | Bolt-launching | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | Strong magnet toy |
| Sprocket | Magnetic-pulling | Bolt-launching | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Byte | Laser-welding | Oil-spraying | Blinking eye | Red brass loop | High-frequency whistle |
| Rodney | Jet-boosting | Oil-spraying | Squeaky joint | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Data | Magnetic-pulling | Bolt-launching | Squeaky joint | Red brass loop | Strong magnet toy |
| Wall-E | Jet-boosting | Oil-spraying | Squeaky joint | Red brass loop | Strong magnet toy |
| Hal | Metal-crushing | Bolt-launching | Squeaky joint | Green steel coil | High-frequency whistle |
| Astro | Magnetic-pulling | Oil-spraying | Squeaky joint | Blue copper wire | Strong magnet toy |
| Optimus | Metal-crushing | Code-scrambling | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | Strong magnet toy |
| Sparky | Hologram-throwing | Sonar-pinging | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Micro | Jet-boosting | Wire-clipping | Blinking eye | Blue copper wire | High-frequency whistle |
| Vector | Laser-welding | Bolt-launching | Squeaky joint | Blue copper wire | Strong magnet toy |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The computer lab has twelve repair pods. Only a fraction of them are powered up. Find this fraction to boot up the scanner.
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
32
20
12
31
40
31
T
24
38
31
20
11
28
31
T
24
13
22
2
28
4
32
40
31
13
T
24
11
6/8 of 32 =T
4/6 of 60 =B
2/10 of 160 =H
1/10 of 120 =R
1/5 of 110 =A
2/5 of 70 =N
4/8 of 22 =S
4/6 of 30 =E
2/4 of 4 =U
4/6 of 57 =D
1/5 of 155 =O
1/6 of 24 =C
2/4 of 26 =L
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
We found a scrambled keycard. Follow the exact order of steps to solve the equation and unlock the card.
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
74
55
25
13
9
24
42
55
6
13
26
66
13
26
9
79
33
79
51
A
74
69
69
79
79
26
12 × 8 - 22 =A
65 + 2 × 2 =S
10 × 9 - 11 =E
11 × 5 - 22 =Y
11 × 6 - 11 =B
12 × 3 - 11 =R
2 × 4 - 2 =L
4 × 5 - 11 =G
8 × 6 - 6 =T
56 + 5 × 2 =K
2 + 3 × 8 =N
3 + 5 × 2 =I
9 × 3 - 3 =H
9 × 6 - 3 =W
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
A grid of battery racks lines the wall. Count the rows and columns to find how much power we have.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
4
49
60
8
6
20
16
49
60
21
28
20
15
48
20
121
96
16
27
21
16
66
14
7
8
20
15
35
6
49
16
2 × 2 =B
5 × 7 =S
7 × 1 =Y
2 × 3 =T
7 × 7 =L
3 × 5 =I
2 × 10 =H
10 × 6 =O
12 × 4 =G
7 × 3 =U
3 × 9 =Q
7 × 4 =D
11 × 11 =F
6 × 11 =N
4 × 4 =E
7 × 2 =C
8 × 1 =W
8 × 12 =R
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The motion radar is blurry. It only shows numbers rounded to the nearest ten. Round the signal to find the zone.
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
110
170
2000
30
170
1300
T
90
2300
1100
30
300
170
230
7000
3700
3700
170
130
370
70
130
170
Round 92 to the nearest tenT
Round 113 to the nearest tenH
Round 173 to the nearest tenE
Round 367 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,110 to the nearest hundredB
Round 232 to the nearest tenC
Round 132 to the nearest tenR
Round 6,517 to the nearest thousandO
Round 1,751 to the nearest thousandY
Round 297 to the nearest hundredU
Round 30 to the nearest tenL
Round 1,251 to the nearest hundredF
Round 67 to the nearest tenI
Round 3,723 to the nearest hundredP
Round 2,292 to the nearest hundredA
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to divide our scout bots into equal teams to search the corridors. Group them up to find the route.
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
80 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain points its laser scanner, then fires rusty bolts at the wall.
2.The villain lifts the heavy steel door, then fires rusty bolts at the wall.
3.The villain activates its turbo thrusters, then fires rusty bolts at the wall.
4.The villain points its laser scanner, then clips the emergency power wires.
5.The villain zaps the mainframe panel, then sends a loud radar signal.
6.The villain activates its turbo thrusters, then clips the emergency power wires.
7.The villain spins its metal gears, then fires rusty bolts at the wall.
8.The villain spins its metal gears, then scrambles the security computer.
9.The villain lifts the heavy steel door, then sends a loud radar signal.
10.The villain points its laser scanner, then scrambles the security computer.
11.The villain spins its metal gears, then sends a loud radar signal.
12.The villain zaps the mainframe panel, then clips the emergency power wires.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Runaway Bot
Culprit: Sparky (Hologram-throwing · Sonar-pinging · Blinking eye · Blue copper wire · High-frequency whistle)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE ROBOT DOES NOT LAUNCH BOLTS"6/8 of 32 = 24 (T) · 4/6 of 60 = 40 (B) · 2/10 of 160 = 32 (H) · 1/10 of 120 = 12 (R) · 1/5 of 110 = 22 (A) · 2/5 of 70 = 28 (N) · 4/8 of 22 = 11 (S) · 4/6 of 30 = 20 (E) · 2/4 of 4 = 2 (U) · 4/6 of 57 = 38 (D) · 1/5 of 155 = 31 (O) · 1/6 of 24 = 4 (C) · 2/4 of 26 = 13 (L)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "A BRIGHT BLINKING EYE WAS SEEN"12 × 8 - 22 = 74 (A) · 65 + 2 × 2 = 69 (S) · 10 × 9 - 11 = 79 (E) · 11 × 5 - 22 = 33 (Y) · 11 × 6 - 11 = 55 (B) · 12 × 3 - 11 = 25 (R) · 2 × 4 - 2 = 6 (L) · 4 × 5 - 11 = 9 (G) · 8 × 6 - 6 = 42 (T) · 56 + 5 × 2 = 66 (K) · 2 + 3 × 8 = 26 (N) · 3 + 5 × 2 = 13 (I) · 9 × 3 - 3 = 24 (H) · 9 × 6 - 3 = 51 (W)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BLOW THE LOUD HIGH FREQUENCY WHISTLE"2 × 2 = 4 (B) · 5 × 7 = 35 (S) · 7 × 1 = 7 (Y) · 2 × 3 = 6 (T) · 7 × 7 = 49 (L) · 3 × 5 = 15 (I) · 2 × 10 = 20 (H) · 10 × 6 = 60 (O) · 12 × 4 = 48 (G) · 7 × 3 = 21 (U) · 3 × 9 = 27 (Q) · 7 × 4 = 28 (D) · 11 × 11 = 121 (F) · 6 × 11 = 66 (N) · 4 × 4 = 16 (E) · 7 × 2 = 14 (C) · 8 × 1 = 8 (W) · 8 × 12 = 96 (R)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THEY LEFT A BLUE COPPER WIRE"Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (H) · Round 173 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (W) · Round 1,110 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (B) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (C) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (R) · Round 6,517 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (O) · Round 1,751 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (Y) · Round 297 to the nearest hundred = 300 (U) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (L) · Round 1,251 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (F) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (I) · Round 3,723 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (P) · Round 2,292 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Sparky80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Runaway Bot — set in The Bolt-and-Nut Bot Factory
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects