Grade 9Reading: grades 3-4Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers

The Sky-Island Heist

The legendary Golden Compass has vanished from the Wind Keeper's grand airship! We must search the floating docks, track down the clues, and find which pilot is the sneaky Sky Bandit before a great storm rolls in.

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	Backup Gear	Compass Type	Hair Color	Secret Flaw
Tess Turbine	grappling hook	flash powder	uses a red compass	bright orange hair	scared of heights
Joy Jetstream	grappling hook	laser pointer	uses a red compass	curly yellow hair	allergic to pollen
Sam Stratos	jet boots	smoke bombs	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	scared of heights
Mia Mapmaker	jet boots	laser pointer	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	tickled by feathers
Sky Skipper	propeller pack	flash powder	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Val Vector	glider wings	net launcher	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Amy Aviator	grappling hook	smoke bombs	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	tickled by feathers
Peg Pegasus	glider wings	net launcher	uses a blue compass	bright orange hair	allergic to pollen
Leo Pathfinder	climbing ropes	net launcher	uses a blue compass	bright orange hair	scared of heights
Rex Radar	climbing ropes	net launcher	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Zack Zenith	climbing ropes	flash powder	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Cal Cumulus	climbing ropes	laser pointer	uses a red compass	curly yellow hair	allergic to pollen
Pip Propeller	grappling hook	flash powder	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Ned Nimbus	climbing ropes	laser pointer	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen
Bob Balloon	jet boots	net launcher	uses a blue compass	curly yellow hair	allergic to pollen
Gus Goggles	glider wings	smoke bombs	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	tickled by feathers
Hal Helios	glider wings	wind blower	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	tickled by feathers
Ben Beacon	jet boots	flash powder	uses a red compass	spiky brown hair	scared of heights
Max Altitude	jet boots	flash powder	uses a red compass	curly yellow hair	allergic to pollen
Dot Drift	jet boots	flash powder	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	scared of heights
Kai Kite	glider wings	wind blower	uses a blue compass	spiky brown hair	allergic to pollen

Clue 1

Two-step equations

We found some gear boxes left on the wooden runway. The total weight of three small boxes plus a ten pound tool bag matches a heavy crate. Solve for the weight of a single box to unlock this 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.

2x + 6 = 32, x =T

7x + 5 = 26, x =O

7x + 10 = 115, x =L

2x + 7 = 23, x =S

4x + 10 = 90, x =E

6x + 9 = 105, x =W

3x + 11 = 26, x =U

8x + 8 = 24, x =N

8x + 4 = 92, x =D

7x + 3 = 87, x =I

4x + 12 = 52, x =H

5x + 5 = 75, x =R

6x + 6 = 108, x =A

7x + 6 = 48, x =B

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

The Sky Bandit locked a cargo chest to slow us down. The lock code uses exponents. We must find the value of five raised to the third power to open the latch and read the note inside.

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

225

441

121

225

441

512

121

100

169

324

121

169

343

121

324

216

343

361

15^2 =T

2^3 =U

10^2 =F

19^2 =S

5^2 =B

6^2 =P

8^2 =L

21^2 =H

6^3 =M

3^2 =R

8^3 =I

18^2 =O

7^3 =A

2^5 =C

11^2 =E

13^2 =D

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Square roots

We need to search a square landing pad for clues. If the total area of the square pad is sixty-four square yards, how long is one side? This number opens the next security 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.

sqrt(625) =T

sqrt(25) =D

sqrt(16) =E

sqrt(441) =Y

sqrt(9) =N

sqrt(169) =Z

sqrt(81) =O

sqrt(36) =S

sqrt(144) =W

sqrt(484) =F

sqrt(529) =L

sqrt(256) =R

sqrt(196) =A

sqrt(400) =H

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Integers

Our patrol airship altitude rose and fell during the chase. We started at ten feet, dropped twenty feet, and then climbed thirty feet. Find our final altitude to track the flight path.

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

(-8) + 30 =W

(-3) + 26 =P

30 - (-1) =N

(-2) + 13 =R

(-14) + 54 =S

7 - (-11) =D

14 - (-6) =O

7 - (-2) =H

(-10) + 37 =B

(-6) + 10 =E

10 - (-6) =Y

(-5) + 13 =K

28 - (-1) =U

(-14) + 17 =F

(-14) + 46 =A

(-11) + 17 =I

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The crew needs to share our remaining fuel flasks. We have thirty total flasks, but five are leaking and ruined. The rest are split evenly among five scout ships. Solve for the flasks per ship to get the final clue.

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

9x + 1 = 82, x = ?

2x + 10 = 24, x = ?

4x + 4 = 16, x = ?

8x + 7 = 71, x = ?

9x + 7 = 25, x = ?

4x + 4 = 28, x = ?

4x + 8 = 48, x = ?

3x + 3 = 18, x = ?

7x + 12 = 89, x = ?

4x + 3 = 19, x = ?

7x + 10 = 94, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain zooms past the watchtower, then leaves a dusty cloud.

2.The villain blasts off from the runway, then drops a trail of glitter.

3.The villain scales the rocky cliff, then fires a tangled mesh.

4.The villain swings from the dock crane, then fires a tangled mesh.

5.The villain blasts off from the runway, then leaves a dusty cloud.

6.The villain soars through the clouds, then shines a bright light.

7.The villain swings from the dock crane, then leaves a dusty cloud.

8.The villain zooms past the watchtower, then drops a trail of glitter.

9.The villain soars through the clouds, then fires a tangled mesh.

10.The villain swings from the dock crane, then drops a trail of glitter.

11.The villain blasts off from the runway, then shines a bright light.

12.The villain scales the rocky cliff, then blows away the map.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Sky-Island Heist

Culprit: Sky Skipper (propeller pack · flash powder · uses a blue compass · spiky brown hair · allergic to pollen)

Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE THE WIND BLOWER"
2x + 6 = 32, x = 13 (T) · 7x + 5 = 26, x = 3 (O) · 7x + 10 = 115, x = 15 (L) · 2x + 7 = 23, x = 8 (S) · 4x + 10 = 90, x = 20 (E) · 6x + 9 = 105, x = 16 (W) · 3x + 11 = 26, x = 5 (U) · 8x + 8 = 24, x = 2 (N) · 8x + 4 = 92, x = 11 (D) · 7x + 3 = 87, x = 12 (I) · 4x + 12 = 52, x = 10 (H) · 5x + 5 = 75, x = 14 (R) · 6x + 6 = 108, x = 17 (A) · 7x + 6 = 48, x = 6 (B)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DROPPED A BLUE COMPASS"
15^2 = 225 (T) · 2^3 = 8 (U) · 10^2 = 100 (F) · 19^2 = 361 (S) · 5^2 = 25 (B) · 6^2 = 36 (P) · 8^2 = 64 (L) · 21^2 = 441 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (M) · 3^2 = 9 (R) · 8^3 = 512 (I) · 18^2 = 324 (O) · 7^3 = 343 (A) · 2^5 = 32 (C) · 11^2 = 121 (E) · 13^2 = 169 (D)
Clue 3 (Square roots): "THEY SNEEZED NEAR THE FLOWERS"
sqrt(625) = 25 (T) · sqrt(25) = 5 (D) · sqrt(16) = 4 (E) · sqrt(441) = 21 (Y) · sqrt(9) = 3 (N) · sqrt(169) = 13 (Z) · sqrt(81) = 9 (O) · sqrt(36) = 6 (S) · sqrt(144) = 12 (W) · sqrt(484) = 22 (F) · sqrt(529) = 23 (L) · sqrt(256) = 16 (R) · sqrt(196) = 14 (A) · sqrt(400) = 20 (H)
Clue 4 (Integers): "WE FOUND SPIKY BROWN HAIR"
(-8) + 30 = 22 (W) · (-3) + 26 = 23 (P) · 30 - (-1) = 31 (N) · (-2) + 13 = 11 (R) · (-14) + 54 = 40 (S) · 7 - (-11) = 18 (D) · 14 - (-6) = 20 (O) · 7 - (-2) = 9 (H) · (-10) + 37 = 27 (B) · (-6) + 10 = 4 (E) · 10 - (-6) = 16 (Y) · (-5) + 13 = 8 (K) · 28 - (-1) = 29 (U) · (-14) + 17 = 3 (F) · (-14) + 46 = 32 (A) · (-11) + 17 = 6 (I)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 1) → Sky Skipper
9x + 1 = 82, x = 9 · 2x + 10 = 24, x = 7 · 4x + 4 = 16, x = 3 · 8x + 7 = 71, x = 8 · 9x + 7 = 25, x = 2 · 4x + 4 = 28, x = 6 · 4x + 8 = 48, x = 10 · 3x + 3 = 18, x = 5 · 7x + 12 = 89, x = 11 · 4x + 3 = 19, x = 4 · 7x + 10 = 94, x = 12

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 9 math
Math topics: Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Sky-Island Heist — set in Cloud Haven
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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