Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsMulti-step word problemsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremTwo-step equations
The Sky-Schooner Showdown
The Golden Compass has been stolen from the Grand Observatory of Zephyria! A rogue sky-captain broke in during the midnight cloud-shift. The Chief Cartographer needs your help to track down the thief before they navigate to the Edge of the World.
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 sky-ability | specialist gadget | glove control hand | helmet plume color | weather vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabella Bird | Storm Calling | Spyglass Drone | Left-handed grip | Bright orange plume | Bright lightning |
| George Mallory | Glider Flight | Spyglass Drone | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Bright lightning |
| Roald Amundsen | Cloud Stealth | Magnet Boots | Left-handed grip | Bright orange plume | Soggy clouds |
| Hiram Bingham | Wind Hooking | Grappling Arm | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | High winds |
| Nellie Bly | Cloud Stealth | Sonic Horn | Right-handed grip | Deep violet plume | Bright lightning |
| Ferdinand Magellan | Glider Flight | Magnet Boots | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Mary Kingsley | Glider Flight | Spark Pistol | Left-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Sacagawea | Glider Flight | Spyglass Drone | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Richard Byrd | Cloud Stealth | Spark Pistol | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Robert Peary | Steam Jetting | Grappling Arm | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Bright lightning |
| Leif Erikson | Cloud Stealth | Sonic Horn | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Ibn Battuta | Cloud Stealth | Spark Pistol | Right-handed grip | Bright orange plume | High winds |
| James Cook | Glider Flight | Grappling Arm | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Bright lightning |
| Marco Polo | Cloud Stealth | Spark Pistol | Left-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
| Bessie Coleman | Wind Hooking | Sonic Horn | Left-handed grip | Bright orange plume | High winds |
| Jacques Cousteau | Cloud Stealth | Spark Pistol | Left-handed grip | Deep violet plume | High winds |
| Amelia Earhart | Storm Calling | Sonic Horn | Right-handed grip | Deep violet plume | Soggy clouds |
| Jeanne Baret | Storm Calling | Grappling Arm | Right-handed grip | Bright orange plume | Soggy clouds |
| Gertrude Bell | Glider Flight | Grappling Arm | Left-handed grip | Deep violet plume | Bright lightning |
| Matthew Henson | Glider Flight | Spyglass Drone | Right-handed grip | Deep violet plume | High winds |
| David Livingstone | Steam Jetting | Spark Pistol | Right-handed grip | Neon green plume | Soggy clouds |
Clue 1
Exponents
We intercepted a series of complex shipping manifests from the docks. By calculating the total fuel crates loaded across multiple decks and subtracting the spoiled cargo, we found a hidden flight path coordinate.
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
8
64
49
400
216
169
128
49
361
4
25
T
8
4
32
196
484
216
49
243
196
216
T
8
16
49
4
400
256
4
169
196
49
T
8
729
216
216
T
8
243
2^3 =T
7^2 =E
3^6 =B
20^2 =R
22^2 =D
13^2 =G
2^5 =I
14^2 =N
6^3 =O
4^3 =H
2^7 =U
2^4 =W
5^2 =P
19^2 =C
16^2 =M
3^5 =S
2^2 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The airship's altimeter works on an exponential scale. By calculating the power of the altitude sensor at its peak elevation, we managed to isolate the frequency of the villain's radio.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
40
32
76
69
73
69
77
58
D
E
D
76
R
40
32
P
Skychaser collected 3 brass gears in the morning and 157 brass gears in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Cloud Patrol. How many brass gears did each get?R
Skychaser collected 24 star maps in the morning and 40 star maps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Cloud Patrol. How many star maps did each get?I
Skychaser earned 6 star maps in each of 5 rounds, plus 55 bonus star maps. Then 9 star maps were lost. How many star maps are left?G
Skychaser earned 4 spyglasses in each of 5 rounds, plus 53 bonus spyglasses. Then 15 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left?N
There were 320 brass gears in all. 1 Cloud Patrol used 12 brass gears each. The other 4 Cloud Patrol shared the rest equally. How many brass gears did each of the other Cloud Patrol get?A
Skychaser filled 9 boxes with 3 star maps each, then found 42 more star maps. How many star maps are there in all?H
Skychaser collected 14 compasses in the morning and 132 compasses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Cloud Patrol. How many compasses did each get?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
The Grand Observatory has a square docking bay tiled with perfect square dimensions. Finding the side length of this area revealed which escape hatch the intruder used.
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
11
14
13
T
11
14
4
13
12
7
T
11
17
24
22
22
3
13
20
4
9
7
4
20
13
7
6
22
22
18
16
3
6
24
20
7
sqrt(121) =T
sqrt(289) =R
sqrt(196) =H
sqrt(49) =S
sqrt(144) =F
sqrt(484) =G
sqrt(16) =I
sqrt(36) =O
sqrt(169) =E
sqrt(9) =L
sqrt(256) =C
sqrt(400) =D
sqrt(324) =Y
sqrt(576) =U
sqrt(81) =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Pythagorean theorem
The thief shot a zip-line from the high mast to the lower platform. We can calculate the exact diagonal distance of their escape slide to determine how fast they traveled.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
5
74
58
75
74
65
29
58
58
74
52
58
A
5
51
39
58
29
50
A
5
87
13
29
75
82
82
58
13
A
5
51
51
39
58
87
15
58
74
58
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =A
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =O
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =F
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =H
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =S
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =W
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =T
legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =C
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =G
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =E
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =N
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =D
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =P
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The generator consumes fuel at a steady rate minus the reserve tank backup. We set up a balance equation to figure out how many hours of flight time the thief has left.
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
6x + 12 = 42, x = ?
5x + 3 = 63, x = ?
3x + 2 = 29, x = ?
3x + 11 = 17, x = ?
4x + 1 = 25, x = ?
2x + 4 = 18, x = ?
5x + 2 = 17, x = ?
6x + 11 = 71, x = ?
6x + 10 = 34, x = ?
2x + 7 = 23, x = ?
4x + 12 = 56, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain soared away using glider flight, then mapped the escape route using a spyglass drone.
2.The villain blasted off using high-pressure steam jetting, then swung over the wall with a grappling arm.
3.The villain blasted off using high-pressure steam jetting, then scaled the metal hull with magnet boots.
4.The villain slipped past the guards using cloud stealth, then scaled the metal hull with magnet boots.
5.The villain slipped past the guards using cloud stealth, then shattered the vault window with a sonic horn.
6.The villain swung through the rigging using wind hooking, then scaled the metal hull with magnet boots.
7.The villain soared away using glider flight, then swung over the wall with a grappling arm.
8.The villain escaped into the fog using storm calling, then mapped the escape route using a spyglass drone.
9.The villain blasted off using high-pressure steam jetting, then zapped the alarm locks with a spark pistol.
10.The villain escaped into the fog using storm calling, then swung over the wall with a grappling arm.
11.The villain soared away using glider flight, then scaled the metal hull with magnet boots.
12.The villain slipped past the guards using cloud stealth, then zapped the alarm locks with a spark pistol.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Schooner Showdown
Culprit: Sacagawea (Glider Flight · Spyglass Drone · Right-handed grip · Neon green plume · Soggy clouds)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE ROGUE CAPTAIN DOES NOT WEAR MAGNET BOOTS"2^3 = 8 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (E) · 3^6 = 729 (B) · 20^2 = 400 (R) · 22^2 = 484 (D) · 13^2 = 169 (G) · 2^5 = 32 (I) · 14^2 = 196 (N) · 6^3 = 216 (O) · 4^3 = 64 (H) · 2^7 = 128 (U) · 2^4 = 16 (W) · 5^2 = 25 (P) · 19^2 = 361 (C) · 16^2 = 256 (M) · 3^5 = 243 (S) · 2^2 = 4 (A)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED GRIP"Skychaser collected 3 brass gears in the morning and 157 brass gears in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Cloud Patrol. How many brass gears did each get? = 40 (R) · Skychaser collected 24 star maps in the morning and 40 star maps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Cloud Patrol. How many star maps did each get? = 32 (I) · Skychaser earned 6 star maps in each of 5 rounds, plus 55 bonus star maps. Then 9 star maps were lost. How many star maps are left? = 76 (G) · Skychaser earned 4 spyglasses in each of 5 rounds, plus 53 bonus spyglasses. Then 15 spyglasses were lost. How many spyglasses are left? = 58 (N) · There were 320 brass gears in all. 1 Cloud Patrol used 12 brass gears each. The other 4 Cloud Patrol shared the rest equally. How many brass gears did each of the other Cloud Patrol get? = 77 (A) · Skychaser filled 9 boxes with 3 star maps each, then found 42 more star maps. How many star maps are there in all? = 69 (H) · Skychaser collected 14 compasses in the morning and 132 compasses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Cloud Patrol. How many compasses did each get? = 73 (T)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE THIEF STRUGGLED INSIDE SOGGY CLOUDS"sqrt(121) = 11 (T) · sqrt(289) = 17 (R) · sqrt(196) = 14 (H) · sqrt(49) = 7 (S) · sqrt(144) = 12 (F) · sqrt(484) = 22 (G) · sqrt(16) = 4 (I) · sqrt(36) = 6 (O) · sqrt(169) = 13 (E) · sqrt(9) = 3 (L) · sqrt(256) = 16 (C) · sqrt(400) = 20 (D) · sqrt(324) = 18 (Y) · sqrt(576) = 24 (U) · sqrt(81) = 9 (N)
- Clue 4 (Pythagorean theorem): "A NEON GREEN FEATHER WAS DROPPED AT THE SCENE"legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (A) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (O) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (F) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (H) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (S) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (W) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (T) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (C) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (G) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (E) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (N) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (D) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (P) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (R)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 1) → Sacagawea6x + 12 = 42, x = 5 · 5x + 3 = 63, x = 12 · 3x + 2 = 29, x = 9 · 3x + 11 = 17, x = 2 · 4x + 1 = 25, x = 6 · 2x + 4 = 18, x = 7 · 5x + 2 = 17, x = 3 · 6x + 11 = 71, x = 10 · 6x + 10 = 34, x = 4 · 2x + 7 = 23, x = 8 · 4x + 12 = 56, x = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Multi-step word problems, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Sky-Schooner Showdown — set in the floating sky-ports of Zephyria
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects