Grade 7Reading: grades 5-6AdditionMulti-step word problemsWord problemsSubtractionDivision

The Sky Bandit of Altus

A mysterious rogue pilot has hijacked the Golden Compass from the Sky Academy vault. We must decode the flight logs to find 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	Sky Skill	Survival Tool	Grip Style	Pilot Hair Style	Grounded By
Indiana Jones	lightning dash	prop repair	left handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Orville Wright	lightning dash	map reading	right handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Amelia Skyhart	lightning dash	prop repair	left handed	slick black hair	scared of heights
Sally Ride	sky grappling	map reading	right handed	messy brown curls	ticklish ankles
Drake Voyage	wind gliding	knot tying	right handed	messy brown curls	ticklish ankles
Freya Stark	cloud stealth	prop repair	right handed	slick black hair	sneezes from pollen
Yuri Gagarin	wind gliding	prop repair	right handed	messy brown curls	ticklish ankles
Marco Polo	sky grappling	knot tying	right handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Jeanne Baret	sky grappling	prop repair	left handed	bright red ponytail	scared of heights
Wilbur Wright	sky grappling	map reading	right handed	slick black hair	scared of heights
Steve Fossett	lightning dash	map reading	left handed	bright red ponytail	scared of heights
Arthur Conan	sky grappling	prop repair	left handed	messy brown curls	ticklish ankles
Lara Croft	lightning dash	prop repair	left handed	bright red ponytail	sneezes from pollen
Guy Bluford	storm brewing	prop repair	left handed	slick black hair	scared of heights
Vasco da Gama	cloud stealth	prop repair	left handed	messy brown curls	ticklish ankles
Hudson Bay	lightning dash	prop repair	right handed	bright red ponytail	ticklish ankles
Valentina Teresh	wind gliding	map reading	right handed	bright red ponytail	sneezes from pollen
Charles Lindy	sky grappling	star tracking	right handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Nellie Bly	cloud stealth	prop repair	right handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Mae Jemison	storm brewing	knot tying	right handed	slick black hair	ticklish ankles
Buzz Aldrin	storm brewing	prop repair	left handed	slick black hair	sneezes from pollen

Clue 1

Addition

To unlock the dock gate, we must count the active airships. Solve this quick problem to find the bypass 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.

9176

3187

5950

8761

4123

4861

7516

3906

9176

7516

5582

5950

6958

4861

5582

9176

3172

6958

5950

6958

9176

4123

3333

9176

3333

4123

3344

9078

3906

4861

3006

5388 + 3788 =T

2328 + 3622 =E

2098 + 1089 =H

1697 + 2426 =A

985 + 2021 =G

5848 + 2913 =B

5991 + 3087 =K

1659 + 1513 =U

2384 + 1522 =I

1981 + 1363 =C

2152 + 3430 =O

2171 + 1162 =R

4561 + 2955 =D

1688 + 3173 =N

3658 + 3300 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Multi-step word problems

The airship fuel tank has a slow leak. Solve this multi-step calculation to figure out how much fuel remains before we crash.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Awitnesssawthevillainwas

Navigator earned 6 spyglasses in each of 4 rounds, plus 42 bonus spyglasses. Then 8 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left?R

Navigator earned 8 maps in each of 3 rounds, plus 32 bonus maps. Then 8 maps were lost. How many maps are left?I

There were 181 grappling hooks in all. 9 grappling hooks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Sky Patrol. How many grappling hooks did each get?H

Navigator filled 7 boxes with 2 grappling hooks each, then found 15 more grappling hooks. How many grappling hooks are there in all?N

Navigator collected 7 propellers in the morning and 73 propellers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Sky Patrol. How many propellers did each get?G

Navigator earned 2 spyglasses in each of 3 rounds, plus 21 bonus spyglasses. Then 6 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left?A

There were 468 grappling hooks in all. 4 Sky Patrol used 30 grappling hooks each. The other 4 Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many grappling hooks did each of the other Sky Patrol get?T

0/7 letters found

Clue 3

Word problems

We found piles of dropped cargo on the lower platform. Let's tally them all up to see if any items are still missing.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Someonescaredthevillainoffwith

Navigator found 2 spyglasses yesterday and 9 more today. How many spyglasses in all?T

There were 61 grappling hooks. 27 were used up. How many grappling hooks are left?H

Navigator found 17 grappling hooks yesterday and 22 more today. How many grappling hooks in all?L

There were 95 propellers. 32 were used up. How many propellers are left?S

There were 64 maps. 7 were used up. How many maps are left?K

There were 68 maps. 33 were used up. How many maps are left?C

Navigator lined up 2 rows of 11 maps. How many maps in all?I

0/7 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The emergency battery power is dropping fast. Calculate how much power was lost when the thief cut the power grid wires.

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

2714

6994

1335

5880

6429

3950

6994

1936

5880

6429

2078

1936

1335

8609

2411

4855

6689

2815

5970

1335

2815

2096

2078

7927

2078

7927

6994

4222

7927

2096

5417 - 2703 =S

5541 - 4206 =I

7778 - 1808 =D

9533 - 3653 =C

5538 - 1316 =M

6362 - 2412 =B

11357 - 4363 =L

6499 - 1644 =O

4329 - 1918 =F

10335 - 2408 =E

4086 - 2150 =A

2906 - 828 =H

8288 - 1599 =U

9513 - 904 =R

5737 - 2922 =N

4094 - 1998 =T

9255 - 2826 =K

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We have to split our rescue squad evenly into different rescue gliders. Solve this to make sure everyone has a seat.

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

55 ÷ 5 = ?

110 ÷ 11 = ?

18 ÷ 9 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

132 ÷ 11 = ?

27 ÷ 3 = ?

28 ÷ 7 = ?

40 ÷ 5 = ?

30 ÷ 10 = ?

42 ÷ 7 = ?

5 ÷ 1 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain brews up a sudden wild rainstorm, then ties a fast knot to secure the stolen gear.

2.The villain dashes like a bolt of lightning, then checks their map to plot an escape route.

3.The villain glides through the gusty winds, then ties a fast knot to secure the stolen gear.

4.The villain dashes like a bolt of lightning, then fires a bright red flare into the night.

5.The villain brews up a sudden wild rainstorm, then looks up to track the North Star.

6.The villain sneaks through the thick storm clouds, then ties a fast knot to secure the stolen gear.

7.The villain grapples up the side of the airship tower, then fires a bright red flare into the night.

8.The villain dashes like a bolt of lightning, then ties a fast knot to secure the stolen gear.

9.The villain glides through the gusty winds, then tightens a loose propeller screw.

10.The villain sneaks through the thick storm clouds, then tightens a loose propeller screw.

11.The villain grapples up the side of the airship tower, then ties a fast knot to secure the stolen gear.

12.The villain glides through the gusty winds, then fires a bright red flare into the night.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Sky Bandit of Altus

Culprit: Mae Jemison (storm brewing · knot tying · right handed · slick black hair · ticklish ankles)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE STAR TRACKING"
5388 + 3788 = 9176 (T) · 2328 + 3622 = 5950 (E) · 2098 + 1089 = 3187 (H) · 1697 + 2426 = 4123 (A) · 985 + 2021 = 3006 (G) · 5848 + 2913 = 8761 (B) · 5991 + 3087 = 9078 (K) · 1659 + 1513 = 3172 (U) · 2384 + 1522 = 3906 (I) · 1981 + 1363 = 3344 (C) · 2152 + 3430 = 5582 (O) · 2171 + 1162 = 3333 (R) · 4561 + 2955 = 7516 (D) · 1688 + 3173 = 4861 (N) · 3658 + 3300 = 6958 (S)
Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"
Navigator earned 6 spyglasses in each of 4 rounds, plus 42 bonus spyglasses. Then 8 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left? = 58 (R) · Navigator earned 8 maps in each of 3 rounds, plus 32 bonus maps. Then 8 maps were lost. How many maps are left? = 48 (I) · There were 181 grappling hooks in all. 9 grappling hooks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 4 Sky Patrol. How many grappling hooks did each get? = 43 (H) · Navigator filled 7 boxes with 2 grappling hooks each, then found 15 more grappling hooks. How many grappling hooks are there in all? = 29 (N) · Navigator collected 7 propellers in the morning and 73 propellers in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Sky Patrol. How many propellers did each get? = 16 (G) · Navigator earned 2 spyglasses in each of 3 rounds, plus 21 bonus spyglasses. Then 6 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left? = 21 (A) · There were 468 grappling hooks in all. 4 Sky Patrol used 30 grappling hooks each. The other 4 Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many grappling hooks did each of the other Sky Patrol get? = 87 (T)
Clue 3 (Word problems): "TICKLISH ANKLES"
Navigator found 2 spyglasses yesterday and 9 more today. How many spyglasses in all? = 11 (T) · There were 61 grappling hooks. 27 were used up. How many grappling hooks are left? = 34 (H) · Navigator found 17 grappling hooks yesterday and 22 more today. How many grappling hooks in all? = 39 (L) · There were 95 propellers. 32 were used up. How many propellers are left? = 63 (S) · There were 64 maps. 7 were used up. How many maps are left? = 57 (K) · There were 68 maps. 33 were used up. How many maps are left? = 35 (C) · Navigator lined up 2 rows of 11 maps. How many maps in all? = 22 (I)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "SLICK BLACK HAIR FOUND IN THE HELMET"
5417 - 2703 = 2714 (S) · 5541 - 4206 = 1335 (I) · 7778 - 1808 = 5970 (D) · 9533 - 3653 = 5880 (C) · 5538 - 1316 = 4222 (M) · 6362 - 2412 = 3950 (B) · 11357 - 4363 = 6994 (L) · 6499 - 1644 = 4855 (O) · 4329 - 1918 = 2411 (F) · 10335 - 2408 = 7927 (E) · 4086 - 2150 = 1936 (A) · 2906 - 828 = 2078 (H) · 8288 - 1599 = 6689 (U) · 9513 - 904 = 8609 (R) · 5737 - 2922 = 2815 (N) · 4094 - 1998 = 2096 (T) · 9255 - 2826 = 6429 (K)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Mae Jemison
55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Addition, Multi-step word problems, Word problems, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Sky Bandit of Altus — set in the floating docks of Altus Academy
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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