🔎 Geography ,world war 2 empirGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Secret Map Room Caper
A shadowy agent has slipped past the guards in the Secret Archives! They stole the Grand Empire Atlas, a vital map showing historical trade and troop routes across the globe. You must decode the encrypted messages left behind to find out who stole it.
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 | Specialty | Equipment | Handedness | Hair Evidence | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent Douglas | Code Breaking | Topographic Drafting Kit | Left-handed writer | Slicked back hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Richard | Night Parachuting | Aerial Camera | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Winston | Terrain Scouting | Cipher Decryption Device | Right-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Ada | Night Parachuting | Morse Code Transmitter | Left-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Marie | Submarine Navigation | Armored Command Car | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Chester | Radio Interception | Morse Code Transmitter | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Charles | Radio Interception | Cipher Decryption Device | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Eleanor | Radio Interception | Cipher Decryption Device | Right-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Franklin | Code Breaking | Armored Command Car | Right-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Wilbur | Radio Interception | Armored Command Car | Left-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Nikola | Submarine Navigation | Armored Command Car | Left-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent George | Radio Interception | Topographic Drafting Kit | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Dwight | Code Breaking | Cipher Decryption Device | Left-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Albert | Code Breaking | Aerial Camera | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Amelia | Submarine Navigation | Armored Command Car | Left-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Thomas | Radio Interception | Aerial Camera | Left-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Bright searchlights |
| Agent Florence | Night Parachuting | Morse Code Transmitter | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent James | Terrain Scouting | Morse Code Transmitter | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Bernard | Terrain Scouting | Topographic Drafting Kit | Right-handed writer | Braided crown hair | Loud radar pings |
| Agent Grace | Terrain Scouting | Cipher Decryption Device | Right-handed writer | Slicked back hair | Compass magnet |
| Agent Robert | Terrain Scouting | Cipher Decryption Device | Right-handed writer | Messy parted hair | Loud radar pings |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
Our scouts found a shred of a codebook. We only have a fraction of the pages left, but figuring out how many pages survived tells us what gear the target left behind.
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
25
5
37
39
33
23
23
22
33
40
7
24
37
12
40
24
T
25
10
12
37
21
33
26
5
37
2
7
37
21
2
28
26
T
25
33
24
40
1/3 of 75 =T
2/6 of 36 =S
2/10 of 185 =E
1/3 of 69 =L
4/8 of 42 =C
2/8 of 104 =P
6/8 of 52 =V
2/8 of 88 =A
2/6 of 84 =Y
2/4 of 80 =N
1/8 of 40 =H
8/10 of 30 =O
1/5 of 50 =U
7/10 of 10 =D
1/5 of 165 =I
1/3 of 6 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
The suspect locked the map room cabinet with a multi-step lock. By solving the operations in the exact right order, we opened it and found a clue about their writing hand.
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
56
9
39
62
60
62
30
39
15
T
56
80
10
69
T
56
39
62
62
39
15
10
39
T
56
62
80
69
T
56
9
T
56
9
39
10
69
28
9
T
56
9
57
31
63
50 + 3 × 2 =T
11 × 3 - 5 =G
3 × 8 - 15 =H
20 + 7 × 7 =I
2 + 4 × 2 =R
8 + 8 × 9 =W
6 × 6 - 21 =C
25 + 2 × 7 =E
24 + 4 × 9 =U
43 + 5 × 4 =D
19 + 2 × 6 =N
5 × 12 - 30 =P
6 × 12 - 15 =A
26 + 6 × 6 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We discovered stacks of empty shipping crates arranged in equal rows. Multiplying the rows reveals a clue about the hair strands left on the desk.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
44
77
25
35
6
2
35
2
6
64
96
20
84
42
80
96
L
44
L
44
84
96
56
99
2
80
2
66
32
48
99
96
6
64
77
42
96
32
96
77
20
4 × 11 =L
8 × 8 =P
8 × 6 =H
5 × 5 =U
8 × 10 =W
7 × 8 =V
11 × 9 =E
7 × 11 =O
5 × 7 =D
2 × 1 =A
11 × 6 =Y
12 × 7 =G
8 × 12 =I
10 × 2 =N
3 × 2 =R
4 × 8 =T
6 × 7 =S
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The escape plane's fuel gauge only shows rounded whole numbers. Estimating the exact flight distance to the nearest hundred miles points us to the suspect's main weakness.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
M
7000
2900
3700
3700
30
3700
3000
1700
5000
30
3700
3000
1700
5000
2000
200
3700
300
2900
1700
2900
370
2900
500
3000
4300
2000
3000
170
2900
5000
3000
370
5000
3700
Round 6,830 to the nearest thousandM
Round 169 to the nearest tenH
Round 3,734 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,863 to the nearest thousandT
Round 374 to the nearest tenL
Round 528 to the nearest hundredF
Round 4,270 to the nearest hundredO
Round 221 to the nearest hundredD
Round 1,679 to the nearest hundredR
Round 30 to the nearest tenY
Round 255 to the nearest hundredW
Round 2,883 to the nearest hundredE
Round 2,285 to the nearest thousandN
Round 5,092 to the nearest thousandA
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Our team of six codebreakers has a stack of intercepted telegrams to share equally. Dividing the files gives us the final detail about the culprit's hair.
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
72 ÷ 9 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain steered a submarine past the harbor defense grid, then drew a detailed terrain map of the border.
2.The villain plotted a secret flight path over the Channel, then sped away in an armored command car.
3.The villain dropped from a bomber into the dark forest, then snapped photos of the coastline from above.
4.The villain plotted a secret flight path over the Channel, then drew a detailed terrain map of the border.
5.The villain dropped from a bomber into the dark forest, then drew a detailed terrain map of the border.
6.The villain intercepted the coded transatlantic broadcast, then transmitted coordinates using rapid Morse code.
7.The villain intercepted the coded transatlantic broadcast, then snapped photos of the coastline from above.
8.The villain dropped from a bomber into the dark forest, then transmitted coordinates using rapid Morse code.
9.The villain intercepted the coded transatlantic broadcast, then unlocked the safe containing the treaty plans.
10.The villain cracked the diplomatic codebook in record time, then snapped photos of the coastline from above.
11.The villain plotted a secret flight path over the Channel, then transmitted coordinates using rapid Morse code.
12.The villain steered a submarine past the harbor defense grid, then sped away in an armored command car.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Secret Map Room Caper
Culprit: Agent Chester (Radio Interception · Morse Code Transmitter · Right-handed writer · Messy parted hair · Loud radar pings)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE CIPHER DECRYPTION"1/3 of 75 = 25 (T) · 2/6 of 36 = 12 (S) · 2/10 of 185 = 37 (E) · 1/3 of 69 = 23 (L) · 4/8 of 42 = 21 (C) · 2/8 of 104 = 26 (P) · 6/8 of 52 = 39 (V) · 2/8 of 88 = 22 (A) · 2/6 of 84 = 28 (Y) · 2/4 of 80 = 40 (N) · 1/8 of 40 = 5 (H) · 8/10 of 30 = 24 (O) · 1/5 of 50 = 10 (U) · 7/10 of 10 = 7 (D) · 1/5 of 165 = 33 (I) · 1/3 of 6 = 2 (R)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE SUSPECT WRITES SECRETS WITH THE RIGHT HAND"50 + 3 × 2 = 56 (T) · 11 × 3 - 5 = 28 (G) · 3 × 8 - 15 = 9 (H) · 20 + 7 × 7 = 69 (I) · 2 + 4 × 2 = 10 (R) · 8 + 8 × 9 = 80 (W) · 6 × 6 - 21 = 15 (C) · 25 + 2 × 7 = 39 (E) · 24 + 4 × 9 = 60 (U) · 43 + 5 × 4 = 63 (D) · 19 + 2 × 6 = 31 (N) · 5 × 12 - 30 = 30 (P) · 6 × 12 - 15 = 57 (A) · 26 + 6 × 6 = 62 (S)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "LOUD RADAR PINGS WILL GIVE AWAY THEIR POSITION"4 × 11 = 44 (L) · 8 × 8 = 64 (P) · 8 × 6 = 48 (H) · 5 × 5 = 25 (U) · 8 × 10 = 80 (W) · 7 × 8 = 56 (V) · 11 × 9 = 99 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (O) · 5 × 7 = 35 (D) · 2 × 1 = 2 (A) · 11 × 6 = 66 (Y) · 12 × 7 = 84 (G) · 8 × 12 = 96 (I) · 10 × 2 = 20 (N) · 3 × 2 = 6 (R) · 4 × 8 = 32 (T) · 6 × 7 = 42 (S)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "MESSY STRAY STRANDS WERE LEFT ON THE ATLAS"Round 6,830 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (M) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 3,734 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (S) · Round 2,863 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (L) · Round 528 to the nearest hundred = 500 (F) · Round 4,270 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 221 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 1,679 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (R) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (Y) · Round 255 to the nearest hundred = 300 (W) · Round 2,883 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (E) · Round 2,285 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (N) · Round 5,092 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Agent Chester72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Secret Map Room Caper — set in the underground allied archives during a high-stakes historical mission
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects