Grade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations
The Temple of the Gilded Jaguar
The golden Sun-Disk has vanished from the base camp at the Temple of the Gilded Jaguar, and the chief archaeologist has been locked inside the supply vault. It is up to you to track down the thief before they escape the jungle.
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 | Gear Choice | Stolen Relic | Compass Style | Hair Description | Avoided Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibn Battuta | sharp machete | jade compass | left handed compass | dark braided hair | high ledges |
| Sally Ride | sharp machete | bronze whistle | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| James Cook | heavy headlamp | gold medallion | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Indiana Jones | climbing harness | jade compass | right handed compass | sandy blonde hair | creepy spiders |
| Nellie Bly | brass binoculars | gold medallion | right handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Jane Goodall | climbing harness | jade compass | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Hiram Bingham | brass binoculars | crystal prism | left handed compass | sandy blonde hair | high ledges |
| Alexander Humboldt | climbing harness | jade compass | right handed compass | dark braided hair | deep water |
| Gertrude Bell | brass binoculars | crystal prism | left handed compass | bright red hair | deep water |
| Mary Anning | sharp machete | obsidian scarab | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Roald Amundsen | climbing harness | crystal prism | left handed compass | dark braided hair | high ledges |
| Amelia Earhart | sharp machete | crystal prism | left handed compass | sandy blonde hair | creepy spiders |
| Jacques Cousteau | sharp machete | bronze whistle | right handed compass | sandy blonde hair | high ledges |
| Sylvia Earle | heavy headlamp | bronze whistle | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Matthew Henson | sharp machete | crystal prism | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Steve Irwin | sharp machete | gold medallion | left handed compass | dark braided hair | creepy spiders |
| Charles Darwin | shortwave radio | obsidian scarab | left handed compass | sandy blonde hair | creepy spiders |
| Sacagawea | climbing harness | jade compass | left handed compass | sandy blonde hair | creepy spiders |
| Isabella Bird | brass binoculars | bronze whistle | left handed compass | bright red hair | high ledges |
| Percy Fawcett | brass binoculars | jade compass | left handed compass | sandy blonde hair | high ledges |
| Marco Polo | heavy headlamp | gold medallion | left handed compass | dark braided hair | high ledges |
Clue 1
Integers
To decode the suspect's elevation trail, you must calculate the net change from a series of drops and climbs in the deep subterranean shafts.
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
26
19
21
13
12
24
24
18
12
20
22
1
21
9
20
1
T
26
1
23
20
T
26
19
21
5
17
1
20
29
21
23
19
12
9
T
26
24
21
21 - (-5) =T
16 - (-1) =R
(-4) + 5 =O
(-5) + 28 =W
(-2) + 22 =N
18 - (-6) =L
11 - (-8) =H
1 - (-4) =B
(-2) + 14 =I
(-1) + 22 =E
4 - (-5) =S
(-11) + 40 =Z
(-7) + 25 =A
(-12) + 34 =D
(-14) + 27 =V
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The temple's ancient sun-lock requires you to determine exactly what percentage of the light-beams must be aligned to trigger the 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.
T
9
27
18
28
33
28
40
18
29
T
9
55
4
57
40
40
18
55
13
41
18
59
T
9
27
13
1
55
18
55
29
57
45
40
13
28
28
20% of 45 =T
40% of 70 =S
50% of 110 =D
60% of 95 =O
60% of 75 =M
25% of 4 =N
5% of 820 =L
20% of 65 =A
25% of 108 =H
25% of 236 =F
10% of 180 =E
50% of 58 =C
25% of 160 =P
5% of 80 =R
75% of 44 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
A complex series of stone gears operates the drawbridge. Calculate their rotations in the correct order to lower the platform.
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
114
86
100
88
76
106
106
43
76
10
43
88
109
76
83
100
83
T
114
86
100
86
76
23
86
67
106
76
47
47
87 + 3 × 9 =T
64 + 9 × 5 =O
9 × 12 - 22 =H
4 × 7 - 5 =G
70 + 6 × 3 =V
52 + 5 × 3 =C
2 + 4 × 2 =N
7 × 8 - 13 =A
10 × 10 - 17 =D
19 + 4 × 7 =F
11 × 10 - 4 =L
73 + 9 × 3 =E
52 + 8 × 3 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
The security chamber uses a grid pattern where the traps scale exponentially. Solve the base and exponent puzzle to find the safe path.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
4
216
64
400
128
196
361
49
243
27
9
225
16
243
216
361
225
125
27
243
125
16
16
225
216
36
343
216
196
216
2^2 =W
6^2 =S
4^3 =F
15^2 =H
4^2 =T
5^3 =A
3^2 =G
7^3 =C
14^2 =N
19^2 =D
6^3 =E
20^2 =O
3^5 =R
2^7 =U
7^2 =B
3^3 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
You find a heavy scale balanced with basalt blocks. Solve the two-step algebraic riddle of the weights to unlock the final room.
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 + 4 = 70, x = ?
6x + 4 = 76, x = ?
4x + 11 = 43, x = ?
6x + 12 = 72, x = ?
3x + 10 = 31, x = ?
2x + 11 = 29, x = ?
3x + 6 = 18, x = ?
2x + 11 = 15, x = ?
3x + 9 = 12, x = ?
5x + 5 = 20, x = ?
2x + 7 = 19, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain lights up the dark tunnel with a heavy headlamp, then snatches the shining crystal prism.
2.The villain scouts the ruins with brass binoculars, then swipes the obsidian scarab relic.
3.The villain uses a climbing harness to scale the temple wall, then grabs the noisy bronze whistle.
4.The villain clears path brush with a sharp machete, then pockets the priceless gold medallion.
5.The villain clears path brush with a sharp machete, then swipes the obsidian scarab relic.
6.The villain scouts the ruins with brass binoculars, then pockets the priceless gold medallion.
7.The villain clears path brush with a sharp machete, then grabs the noisy bronze whistle.
8.The villain uses a climbing harness to scale the temple wall, then steals the ancient jade compass.
9.The villain uses a climbing harness to scale the temple wall, then swipes the obsidian scarab relic.
10.The villain scouts the ruins with brass binoculars, then grabs the noisy bronze whistle.
11.The villain clears path brush with a sharp machete, then snatches the shining crystal prism.
12.The villain lights up the dark tunnel with a heavy headlamp, then pockets the priceless gold medallion.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Temple of the Gilded Jaguar
Culprit: Mary Anning (sharp machete · obsidian scarab · left handed compass · bright red hair · high ledges)
- Clue 1 (Integers): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT OWN THE BRONZE WHISTLE"21 - (-5) = 26 (T) · 16 - (-1) = 17 (R) · (-4) + 5 = 1 (O) · (-5) + 28 = 23 (W) · (-2) + 22 = 20 (N) · 18 - (-6) = 24 (L) · 11 - (-8) = 19 (H) · 1 - (-4) = 5 (B) · (-2) + 14 = 12 (I) · (-1) + 22 = 21 (E) · 4 - (-5) = 9 (S) · (-11) + 40 = 29 (Z) · (-7) + 25 = 18 (A) · (-12) + 34 = 22 (D) · (-14) + 27 = 13 (V)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A LEFT HANDED COMPASS"20% of 45 = 9 (T) · 40% of 70 = 28 (S) · 50% of 110 = 55 (D) · 60% of 95 = 57 (O) · 60% of 75 = 45 (M) · 25% of 4 = 1 (N) · 5% of 820 = 41 (L) · 20% of 65 = 13 (A) · 25% of 108 = 27 (H) · 25% of 236 = 59 (F) · 10% of 180 = 18 (E) · 50% of 58 = 29 (C) · 25% of 160 = 40 (P) · 5% of 80 = 4 (R) · 75% of 44 = 33 (U)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN AVOIDED THE HIGH CLIFF"87 + 3 × 9 = 114 (T) · 64 + 9 × 5 = 109 (O) · 9 × 12 - 22 = 86 (H) · 4 × 7 - 5 = 23 (G) · 70 + 6 × 3 = 88 (V) · 52 + 5 × 3 = 67 (C) · 2 + 4 × 2 = 10 (N) · 7 × 8 - 13 = 43 (A) · 10 × 10 - 17 = 83 (D) · 19 + 4 × 7 = 47 (F) · 11 × 10 - 4 = 106 (L) · 73 + 9 × 3 = 100 (E) · 52 + 8 × 3 = 76 (I)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND BRIGHT RED HAIR AT THE SCENE"2^2 = 4 (W) · 6^2 = 36 (S) · 4^3 = 64 (F) · 15^2 = 225 (H) · 4^2 = 16 (T) · 5^3 = 125 (A) · 3^2 = 9 (G) · 7^3 = 343 (C) · 14^2 = 196 (N) · 19^2 = 361 (D) · 6^3 = 216 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (O) · 3^5 = 243 (R) · 2^7 = 128 (U) · 7^2 = 49 (B) · 3^3 = 27 (I)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 5) → Mary Anning6x + 4 = 70, x = 11 · 6x + 4 = 76, x = 12 · 4x + 11 = 43, x = 8 · 6x + 12 = 72, x = 10 · 3x + 10 = 31, x = 7 · 2x + 11 = 29, x = 9 · 3x + 6 = 18, x = 4 · 2x + 11 = 15, x = 2 · 3x + 9 = 12, x = 1 · 5x + 5 = 20, x = 3 · 2x + 7 = 19, x = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Temple of the Gilded Jaguar — set in a mist-shrouded jungle valley
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects