Grade 8Reading: grades 7-9ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations

The Skydom Reach Heist

A rogue sky-thief has swiped the ancient Golden Astrolabe from the Lead Cartographer's floating workshop! The Academy needs our best junior detectives to analyze the flight logs, track the culprit's gear, and crack the codes before they vanish into the storm clouds.

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	Backup Gadget	Hand Grip	Goggles Style	Vulnerability
Cadet Wren	magnetic glider	gravel launcher	left handed grip	bright orange visor	high pitch sirens
Cadet Jade	rocket boots	laser pointer	right handed grip	neon green goggles	high pitch sirens
Cadet Leo	sonic whistle	smoke bombs	left handed grip	silver aviators	high pitch sirens
Pilot Gage	rocket boots	decoy drones	left handed grip	neon green goggles	bright flashlights
Cadet Nova	sonic whistle	plasma torch	left handed grip	bright orange visor	bright flashlights
Cadet Zoe	rocket boots	gravel launcher	right handed grip	bright orange visor	sticky foam nets
Pilot Dash	stealth cloak	gravel launcher	right handed grip	bright orange visor	sticky foam nets
Explorer Tess	grappling gauntlet	gravel launcher	right handed grip	bright orange visor	high pitch sirens
Explorer Cole	stealth cloak	plasma torch	left handed grip	silver aviators	bright flashlights
Cadet Chase	magnetic glider	smoke bombs	right handed grip	silver aviators	bright flashlights
Cadet Clay	stealth cloak	decoy drones	left handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Explorer Finn	stealth cloak	gravel launcher	right handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Cadet Ruby	grappling gauntlet	laser pointer	left handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Explorer Knox	stealth cloak	smoke bombs	left handed grip	bright orange visor	sticky foam nets
Cadet Toby	grappling gauntlet	smoke bombs	left handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Pilot Vance	grappling gauntlet	gravel launcher	left handed grip	neon green goggles	sticky foam nets
Pilot Skye	stealth cloak	gravel launcher	right handed grip	bright orange visor	bright flashlights
Explorer Jett	grappling gauntlet	plasma torch	left handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Cadet Reese	rocket boots	gravel launcher	left handed grip	silver aviators	bright flashlights
Cadet Maya	stealth cloak	gravel launcher	left handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets
Pilot Piper	rocket boots	plasma torch	right handed grip	silver aviators	sticky foam nets

Clue 1

Exponents

The thief's escape glider operates on a variable frequency engine. To track the energy output, we must calculate the power level using an exponential growth formula. Solve this exponent problem to narrow down the backup gear list.

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

125

144

125

144

441

361

100

324

125

289

225

169

216

225

625

225

125

324

400

144

5^3 =T

10^2 =D

20^2 =C

13^2 =P

21^2 =I

2^6 =N

2^2 =S

15^2 =A

19^2 =F

5^4 =M

18^2 =O

6^2 =E

17^2 =U

7^2 =R

12^2 =H

6^3 =L

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Square roots

We mapped the landing zone on our coordinate grid, but the signal analyzer only shows the area of the square sector. Find the side length of this square patch using a square root to identify the thief's flight visor.

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(196) =T

sqrt(289) =I

sqrt(9) =R

sqrt(225) =H

sqrt(400) =E

sqrt(4) =P

sqrt(484) =V

sqrt(441) =W

sqrt(625) =D

sqrt(100) =G

sqrt(25) =F

sqrt(36) =L

sqrt(16) =A

sqrt(256) =U

sqrt(144) =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Pythagorean theorem

The thief escaped by launching a zip-line from a high platform to a cargo ship. By calculating the diagonal distance of the line using the Pythagorean theorem, we can trace where they landed and find their primary gear.

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

legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =T

legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =E

legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =U

legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =N

legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =R

legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =B

legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =D

legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =C

legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =W

legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =S

legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =H

legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse =M

legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =L

legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =F

legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =A

legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =O

legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =Y

legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =I

legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =K

0/19 letters found

Clue 4

Order of operations

Our security console has a scrambled lockout code with multiple mathematical signs. We must follow the strict order of operations to solve the multi-step equation and reveal the hand-grip tell left behind.

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

104

116

120

115

107

120

115

116

104

116

115

104

115

11 × 4 - 17 =T

6 × 9 - 4 =F

88 + 4 × 7 =L

14 + 6 × 4 =I

55 + 2 × 8 =V

11 × 12 - 12 =O

88 + 3 × 9 =S

10 × 6 - 19 =G

9 × 4 - 22 =H

12 × 11 - 28 =E

6 × 12 - 6 =R

65 + 7 × 6 =P

6 × 8 - 29 =A

0/13 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The automatic defense turrets need to be calibrated to the thief's speed. Solve this two-step equation to balance the power grids and determine the thief's ultimate weakness.

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 + 11 = 29, x = ?

6x + 3 = 51, x = ?

4x + 7 = 23, x = ?

5x + 2 = 62, x = ?

5x + 2 = 27, x = ?

4x + 12 = 36, x = ?

5x + 8 = 53, x = ?

6x + 8 = 50, x = ?

3x + 11 = 44, x = ?

4x + 12 = 16, x = ?

5x + 12 = 22, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain jammed the radar, then zipped away on a glider.

2.The villain unlocked the vault, then vanished into the mist.

3.The villain unlocked the vault, then zipped away on a glider.

4.The villain swiped the compass, then bounded across the rooftops.

5.The villain jammed the radar, then bounded across the rooftops.

6.The villain sabotaged the engine, then zipped away on a glider.

7.The villain nabbed the blueprints, then zipped away on a glider.

8.The villain swiped the compass, then escaped via zip-line.

9.The villain nabbed the blueprints, then vanished into the mist.

10.The villain unlocked the vault, then skydived into the clouds.

11.The villain swiped the compass, then zipped away on a glider.

12.The villain unlocked the vault, then escaped via zip-line.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Skydom Reach Heist

Culprit: Cadet Maya (stealth cloak · gravel launcher · left handed grip · silver aviators · sticky foam nets)

Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A PLASMA TORCH"
5^3 = 125 (T) · 10^2 = 100 (D) · 20^2 = 400 (C) · 13^2 = 169 (P) · 21^2 = 441 (I) · 2^6 = 64 (N) · 2^2 = 4 (S) · 15^2 = 225 (A) · 19^2 = 361 (F) · 5^4 = 625 (M) · 18^2 = 324 (O) · 6^2 = 36 (E) · 17^2 = 289 (U) · 7^2 = 49 (R) · 12^2 = 144 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (L)
Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PULLED LEFT"
sqrt(196) = 14 (T) · sqrt(289) = 17 (I) · sqrt(9) = 3 (R) · sqrt(225) = 15 (H) · sqrt(400) = 20 (E) · sqrt(4) = 2 (P) · sqrt(484) = 22 (V) · sqrt(441) = 21 (W) · sqrt(625) = 25 (D) · sqrt(100) = 10 (G) · sqrt(25) = 5 (F) · sqrt(36) = 6 (L) · sqrt(16) = 4 (A) · sqrt(256) = 16 (U) · sqrt(144) = 12 (S)
Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE RUNAWAY WAS SLOWED BY STICKY FOAM"
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (T) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (E) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (U) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (N) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (R) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (B) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (D) · legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (C) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (W) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (S) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (H) · legs 9 and 12, hypotenuse = 15 (M) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (L) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (F) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (A) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (O) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (Y) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (I) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (K)
Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE THIEF LOST A PAIR OF SILVER GLASSES"
11 × 4 - 17 = 27 (T) · 6 × 9 - 4 = 50 (F) · 88 + 4 × 7 = 116 (L) · 14 + 6 × 4 = 38 (I) · 55 + 2 × 8 = 71 (V) · 11 × 12 - 12 = 120 (O) · 88 + 3 × 9 = 115 (S) · 10 × 6 - 19 = 41 (G) · 9 × 4 - 22 = 14 (H) · 12 × 11 - 28 = 104 (E) · 6 × 12 - 6 = 66 (R) · 65 + 7 × 6 = 107 (P) · 6 × 8 - 29 = 19 (A)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Cadet Maya
6x + 11 = 29, x = 3 · 6x + 3 = 51, x = 8 · 4x + 7 = 23, x = 4 · 5x + 2 = 62, x = 12 · 5x + 2 = 27, x = 5 · 4x + 12 = 36, x = 6 · 5x + 8 = 53, x = 9 · 6x + 8 = 50, x = 7 · 3x + 11 = 44, x = 11 · 4x + 12 = 16, x = 1 · 5x + 12 = 22, x = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 8 math
Math topics: Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Skydom Reach Heist — set in The floating islands of Skydom Reach
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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