Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9Place valueAdditionMultiplicationRoundingTwo-step equations
The Sky-Islands Heist
The floating archives of Aethelgard have been raided! The Chief Cartographer's master compass was swiped right off the drafting table. A mysterious Sky Bandit fled into the clouds, leaving behind a trail of strange energy signatures and odd gear. It is up to you to navigate the winds and track down the thief before they vanish into the sky forever.
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 Gear | Escape Tool | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shackleton | Anchor Boots | Hook Rope | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Isabella | Wind Sail | Flash Powder | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Earhart | Cloud Glider | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Spiky Hair | Strong Wind |
| Kingsley | Grapple Glove | Spy Glass | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Magnets |
| Valentina | Wind Sail | Spy Glass | Right Handed | Spiky Hair | Strong Wind |
| Magellan | Wind Sail | Spy Glass | Left Handed | Spiky Hair | Magnets |
| Cabot | Anchor Boots | Signal Flare | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Yuri | Cloud Glider | Spy Glass | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Magnets |
| Neil | Grapple Glove | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Cousteau | Cloud Glider | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Lewis | Grapple Glove | Flash Powder | Left Handed | Spiky Hair | Magnets |
| Clark | Jet Pack | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Strong Wind |
| Aldrin | Wind Sail | Flash Powder | Right Handed | Braided Hair | Strong Wind |
| Zheng | Grapple Glove | Spy Glass | Right Handed | Braided Hair | Strong Wind |
| Freya | Jet Pack | Flash Powder | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Magnets |
| Hudson | Wind Sail | Spy Glass | Right Handed | Braided Hair | Magnets |
| Marco | Grapple Glove | Smoke Bomb | Right Handed | Silver Hair | Loud Noise |
| Amelia | Wind Sail | Smoke Bomb | Left Handed | Silver Hair | Loud Noise |
| Bly | Anchor Boots | Spy Glass | Right Handed | Spiky Hair | Loud Noise |
| Lindbergh | Jet Pack | Hook Rope | Left Handed | Braided Hair | Strong Wind |
| Drake | Wind Sail | Signal Flare | Left Handed | Silver Hair | Loud Noise |
Clue 1
Place value
To unlock the bandit's encrypted flight recorder, you have to decipher the digits. Finding the digit in the hundreds place reveals the secret frequency.
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
700
6000
600
30
300
9000
9000
90
300
70
80
900
600
400
70
900
T
700
4000
400
600
T
700
6000
600
6000
900
900
100
1000
900
10
600
What is the value of the 7 in 939,748?T
What is the value of the 1 in 322,915?P
What is the value of the 3 in 59,344?I
What is the value of the 4 in 24,966?U
What is the value of the 8 in 214,089?D
What is the value of the 7 in 514,875?N
What is the value of the 6 in 956,950?H
What is the value of the 9 in 307,901?O
What is the value of the 1 in 91,864?R
What is the value of the 6 in 23,674?E
What is the value of the 9 in 759,845?L
What is the value of the 1 in 82,146?K
What is the value of the 9 in 56,693?A
What is the value of the 3 in 16,637?V
What is the value of the 4 in 566,451?S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
A local sky merchant helps you tally the weights of the sky-ship fuel canisters. Adding up the logs reveals how much fuel the bandit stole.
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
9657
6614
4678
3200
6344
4678
6149
4678
6614
5207
3200
8736
7835
9564
6614
T
9657
6614
5207
6149
5991
4678
5991
T
9657
6502
6502
5389
2935
5207
8736
7479
3200
5810 + 3847 =T
6182 + 3382 =G
5125 + 3611 =R
1333 + 1867 =S
1729 + 1206 =M
3601 + 2548 =N
2901 + 4578 =K
3723 + 2779 =O
4169 + 2445 =H
2796 + 3195 =D
1957 + 2721 =E
4215 + 2129 =C
4966 + 2869 =I
1741 + 3648 =L
2902 + 2305 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You find rows of supply crates left at the abandoned camp. Multiplying the number of shelves by the boxes on each shelf gives you the total gear count.
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
28
100
16
64
36
36
90
10
5
100
64
2
M
28
64
88
100
54
M
28
64
5
66
100
16
54
4
54
100
72
4
36
7 × 4 =M
11 × 6 =N
8 × 11 =K
10 × 10 =E
9 × 10 =I
6 × 12 =F
1 × 2 =R
8 × 2 =T
8 × 8 =A
1 × 4 =U
5 × 2 =C
5 × 1 =G
9 × 6 =S
6 × 6 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar scanner on your airship is glitching and only displays rounded numbers. You have to estimate the distance to the hideout by rounding to the nearest ten.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
130
370
9000
300
2000
20
7000
3000
200
430
5000
3000
20
7000
300
9000
200
170
700
1700
370
5000
90
3000
170
5000
Round 132 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,708 to the nearest hundredV
Round 169 to the nearest tenI
Round 8,687 to the nearest thousandF
Round 87 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,308 to the nearest thousandU
Round 373 to the nearest tenE
Round 23 to the nearest tenN
Round 6,704 to the nearest thousandD
Round 735 to the nearest hundredL
Round 5,134 to the nearest thousandR
Round 199 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,529 to the nearest thousandA
Round 282 to the nearest hundredO
Round 431 to the nearest tenT
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The bandit's speed trap has a fixed starting distance plus a constant rate of travel. Solve the equation to figure out how many seconds they have been flying.
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
5x + 3 = 18, x = ?
4x + 6 = 10, x = ?
6x + 8 = 80, x = ?
6x + 1 = 43, x = ?
5x + 2 = 42, x = ?
4x + 9 = 53, x = ?
3x + 3 = 18, x = ?
6x + 2 = 26, x = ?
2x + 1 = 13, x = ?
5x + 2 = 52, x = ?
2x + 10 = 14, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain leaps across the canyon gap, then drops a decoy map to escape.
2.The villain zooms past the guard towers, then scrambles the navigation beacons.
3.The villain swings from the floating docks, then vanishes into the mist with the loot.
4.The villain glides through the vapor barriers, then vanishes into the mist with the loot.
5.The villain zooms past the guard towers, then vanishes into the mist with the loot.
6.The villain anchors onto the cargo vessel, then scrambles the navigation beacons.
7.The villain leaps across the canyon gap, then slips past the cloud patrol.
8.The villain swings from the floating docks, then drops a decoy map to escape.
9.The villain anchors onto the cargo vessel, then snatches the golden compass.
10.The villain anchors onto the cargo vessel, then drops a decoy map to escape.
11.The villain anchors onto the cargo vessel, then vanishes into the mist with the loot.
12.The villain glides through the vapor barriers, then drops a decoy map to escape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Islands Heist
Culprit: Cabot (Anchor Boots · Signal Flare · Right Handed · Silver Hair · Magnets)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE HOOK ROPE"What is the value of the 7 in 939,748? = 700 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 322,915? = 10 (P) · What is the value of the 3 in 59,344? = 300 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 24,966? = 4000 (U) · What is the value of the 8 in 214,089? = 80 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 514,875? = 70 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 956,950? = 6000 (H) · What is the value of the 9 in 307,901? = 900 (O) · What is the value of the 1 in 91,864? = 1000 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 23,674? = 600 (E) · What is the value of the 9 in 759,845? = 9000 (L) · What is the value of the 1 in 82,146? = 100 (K) · What is the value of the 9 in 56,693? = 90 (A) · What is the value of the 3 in 16,637? = 30 (V) · What is the value of the 4 in 566,451? = 400 (S)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SCENE HAS RIGHT HANDED TOOL MARKS"5810 + 3847 = 9657 (T) · 6182 + 3382 = 9564 (G) · 5125 + 3611 = 8736 (R) · 1333 + 1867 = 3200 (S) · 1729 + 1206 = 2935 (M) · 3601 + 2548 = 6149 (N) · 2901 + 4578 = 7479 (K) · 3723 + 2779 = 6502 (O) · 4169 + 2445 = 6614 (H) · 2796 + 3195 = 5991 (D) · 1957 + 2721 = 4678 (E) · 4215 + 2129 = 6344 (C) · 4966 + 2869 = 7835 (I) · 1741 + 3648 = 5389 (L) · 2902 + 2305 = 5207 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "METALLIC GEAR MAKES MAGNETS USEFUL"7 × 4 = 28 (M) · 11 × 6 = 66 (N) · 8 × 11 = 88 (K) · 10 × 10 = 100 (E) · 9 × 10 = 90 (I) · 6 × 12 = 72 (F) · 1 × 2 = 2 (R) · 8 × 2 = 16 (T) · 8 × 8 = 64 (A) · 1 × 4 = 4 (U) · 5 × 2 = 10 (C) · 5 × 1 = 5 (G) · 9 × 6 = 54 (S) · 6 × 6 = 36 (L)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A STRAND OF SILVER HAIR"Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (W) · Round 1,708 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (V) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (I) · Round 8,687 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (F) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 2,308 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (U) · Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (E) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 6,704 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (D) · Round 735 to the nearest hundred = 700 (L) · Round 5,134 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 199 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 2,529 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 282 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (T)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Cabot5x + 3 = 18, x = 3 · 4x + 6 = 10, x = 1 · 6x + 8 = 80, x = 12 · 6x + 1 = 43, x = 7 · 5x + 2 = 42, x = 8 · 4x + 9 = 53, x = 11 · 3x + 3 = 18, x = 5 · 6x + 2 = 26, x = 4 · 2x + 1 = 13, x = 6 · 5x + 2 = 52, x = 10 · 2x + 10 = 14, x = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sky-Islands Heist — set in Aethelgard, the Kingdom of Floating Islands
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects