Grade 8Reading: grades 1-2ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Treehouse Island Mystery
Oh no! Someone took the grand prize golden pineapple from the treehouse! The clues are scattered around the jungle. We need to solve the puzzles to find who did it!
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 | Main Gear | Special Skill | Pencil Grip | Hat Style | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloe | pocket compass | rope climbing | right handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Jack | super flashlight | rope climbing | right handed grip | baseball cap | scared of frogs |
| Mason | walkie talkie | rope climbing | left handed grip | safari hat | dislikes thick mud |
| Leo | grappling hook | tree swinging | right handed grip | sun visor | dislikes thick mud |
| Max | metal detector | animal mimicking | left handed grip | sun visor | scared of frogs |
| Mia | walkie talkie | map reading | right handed grip | sun visor | dislikes thick mud |
| Ben | grappling hook | tree swinging | right handed grip | sun visor | scared of frogs |
| Luke | pocket compass | bush hiding | left handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Olivia | walkie talkie | rope climbing | right handed grip | safari hat | afraid of spiders |
| Abby | grappling hook | tree swinging | left handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Sophie | metal detector | bush hiding | right handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Sam | super flashlight | tree swinging | right handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Zoe | pocket compass | rope climbing | right handed grip | sun visor | scared of frogs |
| Finn | walkie talkie | rope climbing | right handed grip | sun visor | afraid of spiders |
| Jake | super flashlight | rope climbing | left handed grip | sun visor | scared of frogs |
| Ella | walkie talkie | bush hiding | left handed grip | baseball cap | scared of frogs |
| Emma | grappling hook | animal mimicking | left handed grip | baseball cap | scared of frogs |
| Cooper | walkie talkie | tree swinging | left handed grip | safari hat | dislikes thick mud |
| Owen | super flashlight | animal mimicking | right handed grip | sun visor | afraid of spiders |
| Lily | walkie talkie | tree swinging | right handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
| Ruby | walkie talkie | map reading | right handed grip | baseball cap | afraid of spiders |
Clue 1
Exponents
We found a secret box. The lock has a number grid that grows bigger and bigger.
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
225
196
144
16
169
9
9
25
169
289
512
8
144
121
289
8
T
225
196
169
512
144
169
289
256
100
121
196
144
121
15^2 =T
4^4 =B
12^2 =E
4^2 =V
17^2 =N
3^2 =L
2^3 =O
5^2 =A
14^2 =H
8^3 =D
13^2 =I
11^2 =S
10^2 =U
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We need to measure our camp square. We know the total space but need to find one side.
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
17
9
22
12
18
24
24
3
18
5
10
25
18
T
17
22
14
10
18
T
17
9
T
17
9
22
18
25
25
18
20
9
T
17
9
3
5
11
sqrt(289) =T
sqrt(121) =D
sqrt(81) =H
sqrt(196) =S
sqrt(484) =E
sqrt(9) =A
sqrt(144) =V
sqrt(25) =N
sqrt(324) =I
sqrt(625) =R
sqrt(400) =G
sqrt(576) =L
sqrt(100) =W
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
We want to walk a shortcut across the map. We need to find the diagonal 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.
T
85
37
58
30
75
25
34
58
25
52
52
30
74
87
58
65
T
85
37
58
29
41
40
40
74
41
5
74
34
74
68
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =T
legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse =E
legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse =R
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =N
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =L
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =S
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =H
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =C
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =I
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =O
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =A
legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse =D
legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse =V
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =W
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =B
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =Y
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The treasure chest has a code. We must do the math steps in the exact right order.
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
84
106
77
72
74
61
30
8
36
111
72
105
93
49
39
8
36
106
39
8
21
21
89
8
111
10 × 11 - 26 =W
11 × 10 - 5 =R
99 + 2 × 6 =P
9 × 11 - 22 =F
54 + 6 × 3 =O
10 + 4 × 5 =D
6 + 3 × 5 =L
21 + 3 × 6 =B
35 + 7 × 2 =Y
75 + 7 × 2 =C
8 × 10 - 19 =N
2 + 2 × 3 =A
8 × 12 - 22 =U
65 + 7 × 4 =T
5 × 8 - 4 =S
11 × 12 - 26 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
Our spy team lost some coins. We must work backward to find how many we started with.
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 = 17, x = ?
4x + 9 = 25, x = ?
6x + 8 = 74, x = ?
4x + 4 = 24, x = ?
3x + 8 = 32, x = ?
6x + 4 = 40, x = ?
6x + 1 = 73, x = ?
2x + 3 = 7, x = ?
6x + 8 = 62, x = ?
5x + 5 = 55, x = ?
4x + 7 = 35, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain whispers code words into a walkie talkie, then traces the old pirate map.
2.The villain whispers code words into a walkie talkie, then makes funny monkey sounds.
3.The villain checks the heading with a pocket compass, then climbs up the steep jungle rope.
4.The villain lights up the dark path with a flashlight, then leaps from branch to branch.
5.The villain swings up high with a grappling hook, then makes funny monkey sounds.
6.The villain swings up high with a grappling hook, then ducks behind a leafy green bush.
7.The villain swings up high with a grappling hook, then climbs up the steep jungle rope.
8.The villain sweeps the sandy floor with a metal detector, then climbs up the steep jungle rope.
9.The villain lights up the dark path with a flashlight, then ducks behind a leafy green bush.
10.The villain swings up high with a grappling hook, then leaps from branch to branch.
11.The villain whispers code words into a walkie talkie, then leaps from branch to branch.
12.The villain sweeps the sandy floor with a metal detector, then ducks behind a leafy green bush.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Treehouse Island Mystery
Culprit: Chloe (pocket compass · rope climbing · right handed grip · baseball cap · afraid of spiders)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HIDE IN BUSHES"15^2 = 225 (T) · 4^4 = 256 (B) · 12^2 = 144 (E) · 4^2 = 16 (V) · 17^2 = 289 (N) · 3^2 = 9 (L) · 2^3 = 8 (O) · 5^2 = 25 (A) · 14^2 = 196 (H) · 8^3 = 512 (D) · 13^2 = 169 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (S) · 10^2 = 100 (U)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE VILLAIN WRITES WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"sqrt(289) = 17 (T) · sqrt(121) = 11 (D) · sqrt(81) = 9 (H) · sqrt(196) = 14 (S) · sqrt(484) = 22 (E) · sqrt(9) = 3 (A) · sqrt(144) = 12 (V) · sqrt(25) = 5 (N) · sqrt(324) = 18 (I) · sqrt(625) = 25 (R) · sqrt(400) = 20 (G) · sqrt(576) = 24 (L) · sqrt(100) = 10 (W)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE COBWEBS SCARED THE VILLAIN AWAY"legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (T) · legs 40 and 42, hypotenuse = 58 (E) · legs 60 and 63, hypotenuse = 87 (R) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (N) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (L) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (S) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (H) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (C) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (I) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (O) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (A) · legs 25 and 60, hypotenuse = 65 (D) · legs 20 and 21, hypotenuse = 29 (V) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (W) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (B) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND A SPORTY BASEBALL CAP"10 × 11 - 26 = 84 (W) · 11 × 10 - 5 = 105 (R) · 99 + 2 × 6 = 111 (P) · 9 × 11 - 22 = 77 (F) · 54 + 6 × 3 = 72 (O) · 10 + 4 × 5 = 30 (D) · 6 + 3 × 5 = 21 (L) · 21 + 3 × 6 = 39 (B) · 35 + 7 × 2 = 49 (Y) · 75 + 7 × 2 = 89 (C) · 8 × 10 - 19 = 61 (N) · 2 + 2 × 3 = 8 (A) · 8 × 12 - 22 = 74 (U) · 65 + 7 × 4 = 93 (T) · 5 × 8 - 4 = 36 (S) · 11 × 12 - 26 = 106 (E)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 3) → Chloe6x + 11 = 17, x = 1 · 4x + 9 = 25, x = 4 · 6x + 8 = 74, x = 11 · 4x + 4 = 24, x = 5 · 3x + 8 = 32, x = 8 · 6x + 4 = 40, x = 6 · 6x + 1 = 73, x = 12 · 2x + 3 = 7, x = 2 · 6x + 8 = 62, x = 9 · 5x + 5 = 55, x = 10 · 4x + 7 = 35, x = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Exponents, Square roots, Pythagorean theorem, Order of operations, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Treehouse Island Mystery — set in a sunny secret island full of tall trees and hidden pathways
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects