⛏️ MinecraftGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremMulti-step word problemsSquare rootsExponents
The Spawn Town Sabotage
An unknown player has logged onto the community server and wreaked havoc. They flooded the main lobby, locked the communal chests, and hid a repeating command block somewhere deep underground. The Admin has called in the server's top detectives to find out who did it before the next world backup.
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 Server Skill | Griefing Weapon | Active Swing Hand | Skin Style | Defense Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel | Potion Brewer | Wither Spawner | Right Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Scar | Mob Summoner | Lava Placer | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Ranboo | Diamond Miner | Wither Spawner | Left Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Dream | Redstone Master | Lava Placer | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Snowballs |
| Tommy | Redstone Master | Ender Porter | Left Hand Active | Green Helmet | Water Buckets |
| Tubbo | Potion Brewer | Wither Spawner | Left Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Snowballs |
| Antfrost | Elytra Flier | Lava Placer | Right Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Milk Buckets |
| Jimmy | Potion Brewer | Ender Porter | Left Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Water Buckets |
| CaptainSparklez | Elytra Flier | TNT Blaster | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Stampy | Redstone Master | Anvil Dropper | Left Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Milk Buckets |
| Cleo | Elytra Flier | TNT Blaster | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Snowballs |
| Shubble | Elytra Flier | Lava Placer | Right Hand Active | Green Helmet | Milk Buckets |
| Philza | Redstone Master | TNT Blaster | Left Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Scott | Diamond Miner | Wither Spawner | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| DanTDM | Mob Summoner | Wither Spawner | Right Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Snowballs |
| Grian | Elytra Flier | Ender Porter | Right Hand Active | Green Helmet | Snowballs |
| George | Diamond Miner | Wither Spawner | Left Hand Active | Orange Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Lizzie | Elytra Flier | Lava Placer | Left Hand Active | Green Helmet | Snowballs |
| BadBoyHalo | Potion Brewer | Wither Spawner | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Snowballs |
| Mumbo | Mob Summoner | Anvil Dropper | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
| Pearl | Potion Brewer | TNT Blaster | Right Hand Active | Brown Pixels | Water Buckets |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To trace the suspect's server hops, we need to calculate the exact count of redstone dust used to power their massive repeater loop across three separate bases.
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
68
13
87
123
111
29
87
52
87
111
51
26
87
100
5
26
T
68
51
111
26
34
30
5
58
29
125
100
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =T
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =V
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =P
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =O
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =G
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =N
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =E
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =I
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =L
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =S
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =F
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =R
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =D
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =A
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The suspect fled diagonally across a flat plains biome. By measuring how many blocks they ran north and how many blocks they ran east, we can find the exact straight-line distance of their escape route.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
52
45
37
70
63
70
53
65
D
53
C
63
45
V
E
Steve collected 59 redstone torches in the morning and 201 redstone torches in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Mining Guild. How many redstone torches did each get?R
Steve filled 8 boxes with 5 redstone torches each, then found 5 more redstone torches. How many redstone torches are there in all?I
Steve collected 125 redstone torches in the morning and 15 redstone torches in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 The Mining Guild. How many redstone torches did each get?H
Steve earned 8 emeralds in each of 5 rounds, plus 38 bonus emeralds. Then 13 emeralds were lost. How many emeralds are left?N
Steve filled 2 boxes with 2 emeralds each, then found 49 more emeralds. How many emeralds are there in all?A
There were 228 ender pearls in all. 1 The Mining Guild used 39 ender pearls each. The other 3 The Mining Guild shared the rest equally. How many ender pearls did each of the other The Mining Guild get?T
There were 206 ender pearls in all. 21 ender pearls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Mining Guild. How many ender pearls did each get?G
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Square roots
We found a perfectly square wheat farm that the suspect trampled. If we can calculate the side length of this square plot from its total block area, we will uncover a hidden clue chest.
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
24
11
10
21
14
19
10
13
10
14
11
16
T
24
10
18
15
4
8
25
3
16
T
24
10
14
sqrt(576) =T
sqrt(64) =L
sqrt(625) =D
sqrt(9) =W
sqrt(324) =S
sqrt(225) =C
sqrt(121) =H
sqrt(100) =E
sqrt(361) =I
sqrt(196) =R
sqrt(16) =O
sqrt(256) =A
sqrt(169) =F
sqrt(441) =G
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The griefer set up a mob spawner that doubles its active zombie count every minute. Calculating the exponential growth of these mobs over time will unlock the restricted admin files.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
81
32
256
100
4
625
144
49
32
729
49
343
484
512
361
100
484
32
484
169
256
400
4
125
9^2 =B
2^9 =L
13^2 =F
19^2 =S
10^2 =W
16^2 =O
5^4 =H
7^2 =I
20^2 =U
12^2 =A
22^2 =E
3^6 =P
7^3 =X
2^5 =R
2^2 =N
5^3 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
The suspect built a square obsidian vault to hide their stolen blocks. To bypass the digital lock, we must find the side length of the vault floor using its total area.
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
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain steals the community diamonds, then drinks a speed potion.
2.The villain griefs the spawn town, then drinks a speed potion.
3.The villain breaks the nether portal, then logs off the server.
4.The villain steals the community diamonds, then hides in a deep cave.
5.The villain spawns fifty creepers, then escapes into the nether.
6.The villain griefs the spawn town, then logs off the server.
7.The villain hacks the command blocks, then flies away with an elytra.
8.The villain breaks the nether portal, then flies away with an elytra.
9.The villain griefs the spawn town, then escapes into the nether.
10.The villain steals the community diamonds, then escapes into the nether.
11.The villain hacks the command blocks, then drinks a speed potion.
12.The villain hacks the command blocks, then logs off the server.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Spawn Town Sabotage
Culprit: CaptainSparklez (Elytra Flier · TNT Blaster · Right Hand Active · Brown Pixels · Water Buckets)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE GRIEFER DOES NOT DROP ANVILS"legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (T) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (V) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (P) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (O) · legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (G) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (N) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (E) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (I) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (L) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (S) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (F) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (R) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (D) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (A) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (H)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HAND ACTIVE"Steve collected 59 redstone torches in the morning and 201 redstone torches in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Mining Guild. How many redstone torches did each get? = 52 (R) · Steve filled 8 boxes with 5 redstone torches each, then found 5 more redstone torches. How many redstone torches are there in all? = 45 (I) · Steve collected 125 redstone torches in the morning and 15 redstone torches in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 The Mining Guild. How many redstone torches did each get? = 70 (H) · Steve earned 8 emeralds in each of 5 rounds, plus 38 bonus emeralds. Then 13 emeralds were lost. How many emeralds are left? = 65 (N) · Steve filled 2 boxes with 2 emeralds each, then found 49 more emeralds. How many emeralds are there in all? = 53 (A) · There were 228 ender pearls in all. 1 The Mining Guild used 39 ender pearls each. The other 3 The Mining Guild shared the rest equally. How many ender pearls did each of the other The Mining Guild get? = 63 (T) · There were 206 ender pearls in all. 21 ender pearls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Mining Guild. How many ender pearls did each get? = 37 (G)
- Clue 3 (Square roots): "THE GRIEFER HATES COLD WATER"sqrt(576) = 24 (T) · sqrt(64) = 8 (L) · sqrt(625) = 25 (D) · sqrt(9) = 3 (W) · sqrt(324) = 18 (S) · sqrt(225) = 15 (C) · sqrt(121) = 11 (H) · sqrt(100) = 10 (E) · sqrt(361) = 19 (I) · sqrt(196) = 14 (R) · sqrt(16) = 4 (O) · sqrt(256) = 16 (A) · sqrt(169) = 13 (F) · sqrt(441) = 21 (G)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "BROWN HAIR PIXELS WERE FOUND"9^2 = 81 (B) · 2^9 = 512 (L) · 13^2 = 169 (F) · 19^2 = 361 (S) · 10^2 = 100 (W) · 16^2 = 256 (O) · 5^4 = 625 (H) · 7^2 = 49 (I) · 20^2 = 400 (U) · 12^2 = 144 (A) · 22^2 = 484 (E) · 3^6 = 729 (P) · 7^3 = 343 (X) · 2^5 = 32 (R) · 2^2 = 4 (N) · 5^3 = 125 (D)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 10) → CaptainSparklezsqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(1) = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Multi-step word problems, Square roots, Exponents
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Spawn Town Sabotage — set in The Craftia SMP Server
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects