🤖 RobotsGrade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Silicon Spire Sabotage
A rogue android has bypassed the security protocols of the Silicon Spire, stealing the master blueprint for the city's power grid. We must analyze the electronic footprint left behind and calculate our way to the culprit.
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 | Primary Tool | Secondary Sensor | Chassis Decal | Wiring Color | Reboot Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix | nanite repairing | thermal sensing | right-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Einstein | nanite repairing | radar scanning | left-side port | gold wires | strong magnets |
| Bolt | plasma heating | infrared vision | left-side port | silver fibers | high frequency sounds |
| Edison | magnetic lifting | radar scanning | left-side port | copper coils | extreme cold |
| Widget | sonic welding | thermal sensing | left-side port | silver fibers | strong magnets |
| Sparky | magnetic lifting | infrared vision | right-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Gearbox | sonic welding | radar scanning | left-side port | copper coils | strong magnets |
| Rustbolt | sonic welding | thermal sensing | left-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Tesla | sonic welding | infrared vision | right-side port | silver fibers | high frequency sounds |
| Sprocket | laser cutting | sonar mapping | right-side port | gold wires | extreme cold |
| Gizmo | magnetic lifting | sonar mapping | right-side port | gold wires | strong magnets |
| Lovelace | plasma heating | lidar tracking | left-side port | silver fibers | strong magnets |
| Kepler | sonic welding | infrared vision | left-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Galileo | nanite repairing | sonar mapping | left-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Hopper | magnetic lifting | radar scanning | right-side port | copper coils | high frequency sounds |
| Vector | sonic welding | radar scanning | right-side port | copper coils | high frequency sounds |
| Buster | magnetic lifting | sonar mapping | right-side port | copper coils | strong magnets |
| Newton | laser cutting | infrared vision | right-side port | copper coils | high frequency sounds |
| Circuit | magnetic lifting | radar scanning | left-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
| Pixel | magnetic lifting | lidar tracking | left-side port | silver fibers | extreme cold |
| Asimov | magnetic lifting | lidar tracking | left-side port | gold wires | high frequency sounds |
Clue 1
Exponents
The Silicon Spire security network logs data in exponential byte chunks. To decrypt the first data block, calculate the final storage capacity of the server array.
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
125
100
T
64
441
361
27
100
T
64
243
216
100
144
16
216
T
64
256
144
100
81
343
243
441
361
T
64
361
441
512
196
343
16
27
2^6 =T
3^5 =D
3^3 =G
14^2 =K
21^2 =A
2^9 =C
3^4 =L
6^3 =O
12^2 =S
2^4 =N
5^3 =H
16^2 =U
7^3 =I
19^2 =R
10^2 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We found a perfectly square motherboard left behind by the intruder. Finding its side length by computing the square root of its area reveals the next lock code.
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
13
6
18
T
13
6
12
18
14
6
5
23
5
17
18
14
T
13
23
12
3
18
22
7
8
T
13
sqrt(169) =T
sqrt(324) =E
sqrt(529) =S
sqrt(9) =D
sqrt(484) =P
sqrt(64) =R
sqrt(25) =A
sqrt(144) =I
sqrt(49) =O
sqrt(289) =L
sqrt(36) =H
sqrt(196) =F
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
The thief fled diagonally across a rectangular courtyard. Solve the right triangle distance to find exactly how far the signal transmitter needs to reach.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
H
52
41
5
H
52
13
74
15
51
30
15
58
75
50
40
85
30
58
68
40
25
41
17
17
74
15
37
85
85
87
87
H
52
15
29
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =H
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =M
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =U
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =C
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =R
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =Q
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =B
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =I
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =G
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =L
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =O
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =T
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =Y
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =S
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =F
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =N
legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse =W
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
A locked console requires us to solve a multi-step equation. Remember to process multiplication before addition to unlock the terminal and reveal the 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.
G
103
19
52
43
12
110
47
53
77
12
53
47
53
52
53
62
22
120
22
22
45
53
77
90
53
106
53
67 + 9 × 4 =G
4 + 9 × 2 =T
37 + 2 × 3 =D
11 × 12 - 12 =A
8 × 12 - 6 =C
50 + 3 × 9 =S
11 × 5 - 3 =L
7 × 11 - 15 =F
62 + 6 × 8 =I
7 + 8 × 5 =R
10 × 12 - 14 =N
2 + 2 × 5 =W
4 + 7 × 7 =E
3 × 10 - 11 =O
8 × 8 - 19 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The security drone has a draining battery that loses charge at a steady rate. Solve the two-step equation to find how many minutes it ran before dying.
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
3x + 4 = 7, x = ?
3x + 5 = 11, x = ?
6x + 10 = 40, x = ?
3x + 5 = 26, x = ?
5x + 3 = 63, x = ?
5x + 10 = 25, x = ?
6x + 1 = 49, x = ?
2x + 10 = 30, x = ?
4x + 6 = 22, x = ?
6x + 2 = 68, x = ?
6x + 9 = 63, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain repaired the damaged escape drone, then navigated the dark sewer pipes.
2.The villain welded the titanium gate shut, then detected the guard patrols.
3.The villain repaired the damaged escape drone, then mapped the entire ventilation network.
4.The villain welded the titanium gate shut, then mapped the entire ventilation network.
5.The villain welded the titanium gate shut, then tracked heat signatures to escape.
6.The villain lifted the heavy vault door clean off, then located the hidden energy lines.
7.The villain repaired the damaged escape drone, then tracked heat signatures to escape.
8.The villain sliced through the security vaults, then detected the guard patrols.
9.The villain melted the central circuit boards, then detected the guard patrols.
10.The villain repaired the damaged escape drone, then located the hidden energy lines.
11.The villain welded the titanium gate shut, then located the hidden energy lines.
12.The villain welded the titanium gate shut, then navigated the dark sewer pipes.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Silicon Spire Sabotage
Culprit: Circuit (magnetic lifting · radar scanning · left-side port · gold wires · high frequency sounds)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE TARGET DOES NOT USE LIDAR TRACKING"2^6 = 64 (T) · 3^5 = 243 (D) · 3^3 = 27 (G) · 14^2 = 196 (K) · 21^2 = 441 (A) · 2^9 = 512 (C) · 3^4 = 81 (L) · 6^3 = 216 (O) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 2^4 = 16 (N) · 5^3 = 125 (H) · 16^2 = 256 (U) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 10^2 = 100 (E)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE THIEF HAS A LEFT SIDE PORT"sqrt(169) = 13 (T) · sqrt(324) = 18 (E) · sqrt(529) = 23 (S) · sqrt(9) = 3 (D) · sqrt(484) = 22 (P) · sqrt(64) = 8 (R) · sqrt(25) = 5 (A) · sqrt(144) = 12 (I) · sqrt(49) = 7 (O) · sqrt(289) = 17 (L) · sqrt(36) = 6 (H) · sqrt(196) = 14 (F)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "HIGH FREQUENCY SOUNDS WILL REBOOT THEM"legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (H) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (M) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (U) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (C) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (R) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (Q) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (B) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (D) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (I) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (G) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (L) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (O) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (T) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (Y) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (S) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (F) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (E) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (N) · legs 15 and 20, hypotenuse = 25 (W)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "GOLD WIRES WERE LEFT AT THE SCENE"67 + 9 × 4 = 103 (G) · 4 + 9 × 2 = 22 (T) · 37 + 2 × 3 = 43 (D) · 11 × 12 - 12 = 120 (A) · 8 × 12 - 6 = 90 (C) · 50 + 3 × 9 = 77 (S) · 11 × 5 - 3 = 52 (L) · 7 × 11 - 15 = 62 (F) · 62 + 6 × 8 = 110 (I) · 7 + 8 × 5 = 47 (R) · 10 × 12 - 14 = 106 (N) · 2 + 2 × 5 = 12 (W) · 4 + 7 × 7 = 53 (E) · 3 × 10 - 11 = 19 (O) · 8 × 8 - 19 = 45 (H)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 6) → Circuit3x + 4 = 7, x = 1 · 3x + 5 = 11, x = 2 · 6x + 10 = 40, x = 5 · 3x + 5 = 26, x = 7 · 5x + 3 = 63, x = 12 · 5x + 10 = 25, x = 3 · 6x + 1 = 49, x = 8 · 2x + 10 = 30, x = 10 · 4x + 6 = 22, x = 4 · 6x + 2 = 68, x = 11 · 6x + 9 = 63, x = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Silicon Spire Sabotage — set in The Silicon Spire
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects