Grade 6Reading: grades 7-9PercentagesWord problemsExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Sky-Pirate Cartographer's Compass
The Grand Cartographer's golden compass has vanished from the High Winds Observatory! A rogue Sky-Thief snuck past the cloud guards. We must track them across the floating islands before they map out the secret wind currents.
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 | Pilot Gear | Sky Gadget | Steering Hand | Goggle Strap Color | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | cloud boots | spyglass | right-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of birds |
| Hudson | wind sails | grappling hook | left-handed pilot | neon orange | fear of heights |
| Polo | rotor pack | smoke bomb | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of lightning |
| Wilbur | cloud boots | grappling hook | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of lightning |
| Amelia | wind sails | flare gun | left-handed pilot | neon orange | fear of birds |
| Zheng | cloud boots | grappling hook | left-handed pilot | neon orange | fear of heights |
| Drake | rotor pack | net launcher | left-handed pilot | leather brown | fear of heights |
| Harriet | brass jetpack | flare gun | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of birds |
| Lewis | rotor pack | grappling hook | right-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of birds |
| Bly | steam glider | flare gun | right-handed pilot | leather brown | fear of heights |
| Cabot | wind sails | spyglass | left-handed pilot | leather brown | fear of lightning |
| Cook | brass jetpack | flare gun | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
| Cartier | rotor pack | spyglass | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
| Marco | cloud boots | grappling hook | right-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
| Nellie | brass jetpack | grappling hook | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of lightning |
| Shackleton | cloud boots | grappling hook | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
| LaSalle | cloud boots | smoke bomb | left-handed pilot | leather brown | fear of lightning |
| Fremont | cloud boots | spyglass | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
| Orville | brass jetpack | spyglass | right-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of lightning |
| Vespucci | steam glider | net launcher | right-handed pilot | neon orange | fear of lightning |
| Bessie | brass jetpack | smoke bomb | left-handed pilot | sky blue | fear of heights |
Clue 1
Percentages
To start the search, we must count the cargo crates scattered around the landing pad. Solve these crate inventory word problems to find where the thief fled.
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
3
23
34
T
3
23
20
34
7
33
20
33
30
18
T
3
40
1
34
22
1
39
18
16
34
8
18
39
8
60% of 5 =T
25% of 72 =O
75% of 40 =N
20% of 40 =B
5% of 400 =I
20% of 5 =S
10% of 220 =A
50% of 80 =U
20% of 80 =K
50% of 66 =D
10% of 70 =F
25% of 156 =M
10% of 340 =E
25% of 92 =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The airship's steam engine is running low on fuel. Calculate the percentage of power remaining in the cells to steer our pursuit toward the next island.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
83
87
18
110
26
14
71
D
87
D
P
I
L
83
O
110
Sky Scout found 70 grappling hooks yesterday and 13 more today. How many grappling hooks in all?L
Sky Scout lined up 2 rows of 7 grappling hooks. How many grappling hooks in all?A
There were 27 fuel canisters. 9 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left?F
There were 123 fuel canisters. 13 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left?T
Sky Scout found 6 wind maps yesterday and 20 more today. How many wind maps in all?H
There were 96 fuel canisters. 25 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left?N
Sky Scout found 84 fuel canisters yesterday and 3 more today. How many fuel canisters in all?E
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The tracker signal expands in square miles. Use exponents to figure out how far the tracking radar can reach through the thick storm clouds.
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
169
25
343
361
289
196
16
243
36
121
196
T
169
324
243
81
49
64
T
169
25
343
25
81
4
25
125
343
225
8
13^2 =T
2^2 =G
11^2 =N
7^2 =M
5^2 =H
17^2 =W
3^5 =L
2^4 =U
6^2 =D
2^3 =K
3^4 =I
19^2 =Y
18^2 =C
8^2 =B
14^2 =O
5^3 =P
15^2 =A
7^3 =E
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To unlock the high-security sky vault, we must enter the sequence in the correct order. Solve using the order of operations to crack the 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
58
55
27
67
78
66
55
T
58
78
45
66
67
55
12
24
27
31
44
67
76
6
18
68
30
27
67
T
58
43
44
39
8 × 8 - 6 =T
10 × 9 - 12 =I
34 + 6 × 7 =K
20 + 7 × 5 =H
59 + 4 × 2 =S
6 × 8 - 24 =W
3 + 8 × 3 =E
28 + 8 × 5 =L
2 × 6 - 6 =Y
26 + 8 × 5 =G
4 × 11 - 14 =U
19 + 4 × 5 =P
5 × 8 - 22 =B
31 + 4 × 3 =R
19 + 6 × 2 =D
34 + 2 × 5 =A
7 × 9 - 18 =N
4 + 2 × 4 =O
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to split our scouting team equally among the remaining sky harbors. Divide the crew to cover all escape routes.
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
27 ÷ 9 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
108 ÷ 9 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
6 ÷ 1 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain spun up their rotor pack, then scanned the horizon with a spyglass.
2.The villain activated their cloud boots, then shot a flare gun into the fog.
3.The villain activated their cloud boots, then scanned the horizon with a spyglass.
4.The villain fired up their brass jetpack, then scanned the horizon with a spyglass.
5.The villain steered their steam glider, then shot a flare gun into the fog.
6.The villain spun up their rotor pack, then tossed a smoke bomb into the clouds.
7.The villain steered their steam glider, then fired a grappling hook to escape.
8.The villain steered their steam glider, then scanned the horizon with a spyglass.
9.The villain spun up their rotor pack, then shot a flare gun into the fog.
10.The villain activated their cloud boots, then fired a grappling hook to escape.
11.The villain fired up their brass jetpack, then fired a grappling hook to escape.
12.The villain fired up their brass jetpack, then shot a flare gun into the fog.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Pirate Cartographer's Compass
Culprit: Cartier (rotor pack · spyglass · left-handed pilot · sky blue · fear of heights)
- Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE THIEF DID NOT USE A SMOKE BOMB"60% of 5 = 3 (T) · 25% of 72 = 18 (O) · 75% of 40 = 30 (N) · 20% of 40 = 8 (B) · 5% of 400 = 20 (I) · 20% of 5 = 1 (S) · 10% of 220 = 22 (A) · 50% of 80 = 40 (U) · 20% of 80 = 16 (K) · 50% of 66 = 33 (D) · 10% of 70 = 7 (F) · 25% of 156 = 39 (M) · 10% of 340 = 34 (E) · 25% of 92 = 23 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED PILOT"Sky Scout found 70 grappling hooks yesterday and 13 more today. How many grappling hooks in all? = 83 (L) · Sky Scout lined up 2 rows of 7 grappling hooks. How many grappling hooks in all? = 14 (A) · There were 27 fuel canisters. 9 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left? = 18 (F) · There were 123 fuel canisters. 13 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left? = 110 (T) · Sky Scout found 6 wind maps yesterday and 20 more today. How many wind maps in all? = 26 (H) · There were 96 fuel canisters. 25 were used up. How many fuel canisters are left? = 71 (N) · Sky Scout found 84 fuel canisters yesterday and 3 more today. How many fuel canisters in all? = 87 (E)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THEY WOULD NOT CLIMB THE HIGH PEAK"13^2 = 169 (T) · 2^2 = 4 (G) · 11^2 = 121 (N) · 7^2 = 49 (M) · 5^2 = 25 (H) · 17^2 = 289 (W) · 3^5 = 243 (L) · 2^4 = 16 (U) · 6^2 = 36 (D) · 2^3 = 8 (K) · 3^4 = 81 (I) · 19^2 = 361 (Y) · 18^2 = 324 (C) · 8^2 = 64 (B) · 14^2 = 196 (O) · 5^3 = 125 (P) · 15^2 = 225 (A) · 7^3 = 343 (E)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE SIGHTING SHOWED A SKY BLUE STRAP"8 × 8 - 6 = 58 (T) · 10 × 9 - 12 = 78 (I) · 34 + 6 × 7 = 76 (K) · 20 + 7 × 5 = 55 (H) · 59 + 4 × 2 = 67 (S) · 6 × 8 - 24 = 24 (W) · 3 + 8 × 3 = 27 (E) · 28 + 8 × 5 = 68 (L) · 2 × 6 - 6 = 6 (Y) · 26 + 8 × 5 = 66 (G) · 4 × 11 - 14 = 30 (U) · 19 + 4 × 5 = 39 (P) · 5 × 8 - 22 = 18 (B) · 31 + 4 × 3 = 43 (R) · 19 + 6 × 2 = 31 (D) · 34 + 2 × 5 = 44 (A) · 7 × 9 - 18 = 45 (N) · 4 + 2 × 4 = 12 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Cartier27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Percentages, Word problems, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sky-Pirate Cartographer's Compass — set in the floating islands of Skylandia
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects