🤖 RobotsGrade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Titan Foundry Heist

A rogue automaton has hijacked the main assembly mainframe at the Neon Foundry, locking the Chief Systems Engineer in the server closet and escaping with the master quantum core. Use your deductive skills to analyze the technical data and isolate the suspect unit before it uploads the stolen schematics.

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	Chassis Armor	Auxiliary Tool	Active Indicator LED	Fiber Optic Cable Color	System Vulnerability
Anita Borg	reinforced steel	plasma welder	green blinking light	red cables	overheating
Grace Hopper	brass casing	laser cutter	green blinking light	silver cables	static shock
Marc Raibert	carbon fiber shell	plasma welder	green blinking light	red cables	overheating
Steve Wozniak	graphene coating	laser cutter	amber steady glow	silver cables	magnetism
Nikola Tesla	graphene coating	laser cutter	green blinking light	silver cables	magnetism
Arthur Clarke	reinforced steel	sonar array	green blinking light	silver cables	magnetism
Alan Turing	carbon fiber shell	sonar array	green blinking light	red cables	static shock
Ayanna Howard	brass casing	plasma welder	amber steady glow	silver cables	overheating
William Gibson	titanium plating	sonar array	green blinking light	red cables	overheating
Cynthia Breazeal	graphene coating	sonar array	green blinking light	blue cables	overheating
Philip Dick	graphene coating	sonar array	green blinking light	silver cables	static shock
Joseph Engelberger	carbon fiber shell	magnetic clamp	green blinking light	silver cables	magnetism
Isaac Asimov	titanium plating	magnetic clamp	green blinking light	blue cables	static shock
Rodney Brooks	graphene coating	magnetic clamp	green blinking light	silver cables	overheating
John von Neumann	brass casing	magnetic clamp	green blinking light	blue cables	magnetism
Margaret Hamilton	titanium plating	plasma welder	green blinking light	silver cables	magnetism
George Devol	reinforced steel	plasma welder	green blinking light	silver cables	static shock
Timnit Gebru	graphene coating	hydraulic drill	green blinking light	red cables	static shock
Fei Fei Li	brass casing	hydraulic drill	amber steady glow	red cables	static shock
Radia Perlman	titanium plating	magnetic clamp	green blinking light	silver cables	magnetism
Claude Shannon	brass casing	plasma welder	green blinking light	red cables	magnetism

Clue 1

Integers

We analyze the temperature logs of the server room. The temperature dropped way below zero during the breach, leaving a clear digital trail of positive and negative integer spikes.

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

8 - (-1) =T

17 - (-2) =M

(-9) + 33 =H

(-7) + 9 =E

(-11) + 24 =Y

(-9) + 31 =O

(-10) + 13 =R

(-8) + 20 =A

3 - (-5) =S

(-6) + 7 =N

0/10 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

The backup power cell was only partially drained. By calculating the exact percentage level of remaining power, we can narrow down the electrical footprint of the rogue unit's chassis armor.

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

20% of 300 =T

25% of 172 =K

10% of 520 =N

10% of 330 =L

25% of 68 =H

5% of 940 =I

60% of 20 =S

10% of 240 =B

20% of 25 =E

20% of 105 =G

25% of 196 =A

75% of 64 =R

0/12 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

To unlock the encrypted security camera feed, we must execute the central mainframe commands in the exact order of operations to bypass the corrupt video 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.

118

117

106

117

10 × 7 - 11 =T

66 + 5 × 8 =W

25 + 3 × 8 =E

5 × 10 - 21 =O

25 + 4 × 4 =I

12 × 10 - 3 =S

61 + 2 × 6 =G

11 × 6 - 19 =H

12 × 6 - 26 =N

91 + 9 × 3 =B

46 + 4 × 2 =D

51 + 8 × 4 =U

10 × 10 - 30 =M

22 + 8 × 5 =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The rogue unit cloned its memory files exponentially across multiple processing cores, and we need to use exponents to determine the total size of the digital signature.

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

100

343

144

256

361

256

243

125

243

144

169

100

196

256

121

144

100

243

3^4 =T

2^8 =A

13^2 =V

2^3 =Y

6^2 =C

5^2 =H

11^2 =B

3^3 =U

14^2 =R

7^3 =O

12^2 =L

19^2 =W

5^3 =N

7^2 =I

10^2 =E

3^5 =S

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

To isolate the transmission frequency of the rogue unit, we must solve a two-step algebraic equation to balance the receiver antenna's input and output channels.

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

2x + 6 = 18, x = ?

5x + 7 = 47, x = ?

2x + 1 = 3, x = ?

6x + 12 = 54, x = ?

6x + 8 = 80, x = ?

6x + 5 = 65, x = ?

3x + 2 = 11, x = ?

4x + 2 = 18, x = ?

6x + 11 = 77, x = ?

5x + 4 = 14, x = ?

6x + 4 = 34, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain disables the high voltage generator, then safeguards the backup hard drive.

2.The villain disables the high voltage generator, then locks the hangar doors.

3.The villain reprograms the welding drones, then vents the cooling chamber.

4.The villain disables the high voltage generator, then wipes the central database.

5.The villain drains the main power coupling, then safeguards the backup hard drive.

6.The villain disables the high voltage generator, then escapes through the exhaust shaft.

7.The villain reprograms the welding drones, then escapes through the exhaust shaft.

8.The villain overrides the perimeter lock, then safeguards the backup hard drive.

9.The villain drains the main power coupling, then vents the cooling chamber.

10.The villain drains the main power coupling, then wipes the central database.

11.The villain overrides the perimeter lock, then escapes through the exhaust shaft.

12.The villain reprograms the welding drones, then safeguards the backup hard drive.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Titan Foundry Heist

Culprit: Nikola Tesla (graphene coating · laser cutter · green blinking light · silver cables · magnetism)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE SYSTEM HAS NO SONAR ARRAY"
8 - (-1) = 9 (T) · 17 - (-2) = 19 (M) · (-9) + 33 = 24 (H) · (-7) + 9 = 2 (E) · (-11) + 24 = 13 (Y) · (-9) + 31 = 22 (O) · (-10) + 13 = 3 (R) · (-8) + 20 = 12 (A) · 3 - (-5) = 8 (S) · (-6) + 7 = 1 (N)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE TARGET HAS A GREEN BLINKING LIGHT"
20% of 300 = 60 (T) · 25% of 172 = 43 (K) · 10% of 520 = 52 (N) · 10% of 330 = 33 (L) · 25% of 68 = 17 (H) · 5% of 940 = 47 (I) · 60% of 20 = 12 (S) · 10% of 240 = 24 (B) · 20% of 25 = 5 (E) · 20% of 105 = 21 (G) · 25% of 196 = 49 (A) · 75% of 64 = 48 (R)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE BOT SHUTS DOWN WITH MAGNETISM"
10 × 7 - 11 = 59 (T) · 66 + 5 × 8 = 106 (W) · 25 + 3 × 8 = 49 (E) · 5 × 10 - 21 = 29 (O) · 25 + 4 × 4 = 41 (I) · 12 × 10 - 3 = 117 (S) · 61 + 2 × 6 = 73 (G) · 11 × 6 - 19 = 47 (H) · 12 × 6 - 26 = 46 (N) · 91 + 9 × 3 = 118 (B) · 46 + 4 × 2 = 54 (D) · 51 + 8 × 4 = 83 (U) · 10 × 10 - 30 = 70 (M) · 22 + 8 × 5 = 62 (A)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "THE OUTLAW HAS SHINY SILVER CABLES"
3^4 = 81 (T) · 2^8 = 256 (A) · 13^2 = 169 (V) · 2^3 = 8 (Y) · 6^2 = 36 (C) · 5^2 = 25 (H) · 11^2 = 121 (B) · 3^3 = 27 (U) · 14^2 = 196 (R) · 7^3 = 343 (O) · 12^2 = 144 (L) · 19^2 = 361 (W) · 5^3 = 125 (N) · 7^2 = 49 (I) · 10^2 = 100 (E) · 3^5 = 243 (S)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 9) → Nikola Tesla
2x + 6 = 18, x = 6 · 5x + 7 = 47, x = 8 · 2x + 1 = 3, x = 1 · 6x + 12 = 54, x = 7 · 6x + 8 = 80, x = 12 · 6x + 5 = 65, x = 10 · 3x + 2 = 11, x = 3 · 4x + 2 = 18, x = 4 · 6x + 11 = 77, x = 11 · 5x + 4 = 14, x = 2 · 6x + 4 = 34, x = 5

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 Titan Foundry Heist — set in Neon Foundry on Titan
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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