The Skyship Chronograph Caper
A sneaky thief has snatched the Golden Chronograph right from the grand observatory of Nimbus Station! The floating docks are in an uproar. The Cloud Patrol needs your math skills to track down the culprit among the visiting airship crews.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Primary Gear | Pocket Utility | Goggle Position | Hair Color | Effective Trap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jax | Copper Zipline | Signal Mirror | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Flint | Steam Booster | Signal Mirror | Forehead Goggles | Neon Orange | Sneeze Powder |
| Cleo | Copper Zipline | Decoy Balloon | Neck Goggles | Windblown Blue | Sticky Sap |
| Hazel | Net Launcher | Decoy Balloon | Neck Goggles | Windblown Blue | Sticky Sap |
| Captain Zephyr | Clockwork Propeller | Brass Wrench | Forehead Goggles | Neon Orange | Shiny Decoys |
| Iris | Pocket Glider | Signal Mirror | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Finn | Clockwork Propeller | Grappling Hook | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sneeze Powder |
| Piper | Net Launcher | Signal Mirror | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sneeze Powder |
| Stella | Clockwork Propeller | Smoke Pellet | Forehead Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Gideon | Clockwork Propeller | Brass Wrench | Neck Goggles | Windblown Blue | Shiny Decoys |
| Tessa | Net Launcher | Smoke Pellet | Forehead Goggles | Spiky Silver | Shiny Decoys |
| Nova | Net Launcher | Grappling Hook | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Skye | Clockwork Propeller | Brass Wrench | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Maeve | Net Launcher | Decoy Balloon | Forehead Goggles | Windblown Blue | Sneeze Powder |
| Rowan | Clockwork Propeller | Decoy Balloon | Neck Goggles | Neon Orange | Sneeze Powder |
| Clara | Clockwork Propeller | Decoy Balloon | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Sticky Sap |
| Hugo | Copper Zipline | Brass Wrench | Neck Goggles | Neon Orange | Sneeze Powder |
| Otis | Steam Booster | Signal Mirror | Neck Goggles | Windblown Blue | Shiny Decoys |
| Jasper | Copper Zipline | Decoy Balloon | Forehead Goggles | Neon Orange | Sticky Sap |
| Cooper | Net Launcher | Decoy Balloon | Forehead Goggles | Neon Orange | Sneeze Powder |
| Barnaby | Steam Booster | Brass Wrench | Neck Goggles | Spiky Silver | Shiny Decoys |
Integers
To find the escape route, we must calculate the airship's sudden drops and climbs above and below the zero altitude cloud line.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Percentages
We found the thief's discarded battery pack, but we need to calculate the percentage of power remaining to see how far they flew.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Order of operations
A locked control panel blocks the engine room, and we must solve the order of button presses to crack the cabin door.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Exponents
The thief escaped through a chamber of multiplying puff cloud plants that double in size every minute.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Two-step equations — the last clue
To weigh the heavy metal scraps left on the escape platform, we must balance the double sided cargo scale.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Skyship Chronograph Caper
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A GRAPPLING HOOK"16 - (-2) = 18 (T) · 28 - (-1) = 29 (H) · 7 - (-2) = 9 (I) · (-7) + 10 = 3 (P) · 12 - (-14) = 26 (N) · (-7) + 8 = 1 (L) · (-7) + 14 = 7 (S) · (-10) + 32 = 22 (A) · (-1) + 15 = 14 (G) · (-10) + 16 = 6 (K) · 1 - (-9) = 10 (D) · (-4) + 6 = 2 (O) · (-4) + 19 = 15 (F) · (-11) + 27 = 16 (E) · (-12) + 33 = 21 (R) · (-7) + 31 = 24 (U)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT KEEPS GOGGLES AROUND THE NECK"50% of 90 = 45 (T) · 10% of 400 = 40 (K) · 40% of 20 = 8 (O) · 50% of 64 = 32 (H) · 5% of 940 = 47 (R) · 25% of 200 = 50 (N) · 10% of 560 = 56 (P) · 25% of 60 = 15 (E) · 10% of 380 = 38 (L) · 20% of 260 = 52 (D) · 20% of 295 = 59 (G) · 60% of 100 = 60 (C) · 10% of 110 = 11 (U) · 10% of 550 = 55 (A) · 5% of 180 = 9 (S)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "STICKY SAP TRAPS THE RUNAWAY BANDIT"3 × 12 - 24 = 12 (S) · 3 × 7 - 2 = 19 (R) · 41 + 6 × 4 = 65 (D) · 9 × 11 - 25 = 74 (P) · 11 × 7 - 15 = 62 (I) · 12 × 11 - 12 = 120 (N) · 17 + 3 × 3 = 26 (Y) · 31 + 7 × 2 = 45 (K) · 10 × 9 - 10 = 80 (C) · 7 × 4 - 19 = 9 (B) · 9 × 9 - 4 = 77 (H) · 12 × 5 - 16 = 44 (W) · 23 + 3 × 3 = 32 (E) · 41 + 2 × 6 = 53 (U) · 10 × 5 - 20 = 30 (T) · 10 × 12 - 27 = 93 (A)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "WINDY SPIKY SILVER STRANDS FOUND"13^2 = 169 (W) · 3^2 = 9 (U) · 11^2 = 121 (N) · 20^2 = 400 (A) · 18^2 = 324 (P) · 2^7 = 128 (Y) · 6^2 = 36 (L) · 6^3 = 216 (R) · 19^2 = 361 (O) · 5^2 = 25 (S) · 2^2 = 4 (F) · 10^2 = 100 (T) · 2^4 = 16 (V) · 2^3 = 8 (E) · 12^2 = 144 (K) · 3^4 = 81 (D) · 14^2 = 196 (I)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 8) → Iris6x + 9 = 51, x = 7 · 2x + 5 = 23, x = 9 · 3x + 8 = 26, x = 6 · 4x + 4 = 44, x = 10 · 2x + 1 = 7, x = 3 · 4x + 1 = 45, x = 11 · 5x + 8 = 13, x = 1 · 2x + 5 = 29, x = 12 · 3x + 3 = 15, x = 4 · 5x + 12 = 37, x = 5 · 2x + 7 = 11, x = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Skyship Chronograph Caper — set in the floating docks of Nimbus Station
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects