Grade 8Reading: grades 1-2ExponentsSquare rootsPythagorean theoremOrder of operationsTwo-step equations
The Whispering Jungle Mystery
Oh no! The legendary Golden Compass has vanished from the base camp. A sneaky Temple Thief took it and ran into the deep jungle. Our team of Junior Explorers must track them down before they escape!
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 | Jungle Skill | Animal Buddy | Hand Grip | Hair Style | Secret Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Mountain | cracks the secret ancient codes | commands army ants | left handed tool grip | messy brown hair | scared of frogs |
| Gus Guide | climbs up high temple walls | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | tickled by feathers |
| Benny Bold | cracks the secret ancient codes | flies small gliders | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
| Sally Scout | cracks the secret ancient codes | rides giant green frogs | left handed tool grip | messy brown hair | tickled by feathers |
| Daisy Daring | digs quick dirt tunnels | whispers to bats | left handed tool grip | bright red hair | hates cold water |
| Diego Rescuer | climbs up high temple walls | flies small gliders | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
| Rex Rescue | swings on long jungle vines | tames wild boars | left handed tool grip | spiky black hair | scared of frogs |
| Penny Pathfinder | climbs up high temple walls | tames wild boars | right handed tool grip | spiky black hair | tickled by feathers |
| Toby Trekker | jumps over wide rushing rivers | whispers to bats | right handed tool grip | spiky black hair | tickled by feathers |
| Skip Skipper | cracks the secret ancient codes | tames wild boars | left handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
| Alex Adventurer | digs quick dirt tunnels | tames wild boars | right handed tool grip | bright red hair | scared of frogs |
| Zack Zoom | climbs up high temple walls | tames wild boars | left handed tool grip | messy brown hair | tickled by feathers |
| Bindi Bush | climbs up high temple walls | rides giant green frogs | left handed tool grip | bright red hair | hates cold water |
| Dora Explorer | cracks the secret ancient codes | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | spiky black hair | tickled by feathers |
| Steve Swamp | swings on long jungle vines | whispers to bats | right handed tool grip | spiky black hair | tickled by feathers |
| Indiana Jones | digs quick dirt tunnels | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | bright red hair | hates cold water |
| Cody Canyon | cracks the secret ancient codes | tames wild boars | right handed tool grip | bright red hair | hates cold water |
| Wanda Wanderer | climbs up high temple walls | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | spiky black hair | hates cold water |
| Ranger Rick | digs quick dirt tunnels | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
| Barnaby Bones | swings on long jungle vines | whispers to bats | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
| Roxy River | swings on long jungle vines | rides giant green frogs | right handed tool grip | messy brown hair | hates cold water |
Clue 1
Exponents
We find a locked chest. The lock has a small screen. The numbers double every second. We must find the power of the exponent to open it.
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
289
9
484
T
289
9
8
484
169
100
512
484
27
361
512
T
289
441
9
8
27
49
484
243
T
289
512
729
121
T
289
27
17^2 =T
3^5 =R
22^2 =E
3^2 =H
11^2 =A
7^2 =P
2^3 =I
2^9 =O
9^3 =B
13^2 =F
3^3 =S
21^2 =W
10^2 =D
19^2 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
The temple floor has shiny square tiles. It is a perfect square grid. We find the root of the tiles to walk safely across.
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
19
7
12
T
19
7
8
12
21
22
14
8
16
20
T
19
10
10
24
20
5
8
T
19
7
T
19
7
12
14
8
22
7
T
19
7
18
3
17
sqrt(361) =T
sqrt(144) =E
sqrt(196) =R
sqrt(9) =N
sqrt(324) =A
sqrt(576) =L
sqrt(49) =H
sqrt(256) =P
sqrt(100) =O
sqrt(441) =F
sqrt(484) =G
sqrt(289) =D
sqrt(25) =W
sqrt(64) =I
sqrt(400) =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Pythagorean theorem
A heavy vine hangs down. It makes a triangle with the wall and the ground. We find the long side to climb up.
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
50
13
74
T
50
13
82
74
34
13
52
T
50
74
5
17
74
82
41
25
5
75
68
52
5
13
74
51
39
82
T
50
13
39
52
T
50
74
30
legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse =T
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =S
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =L
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =B
legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse =G
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =N
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =F
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =P
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =D
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =H
legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse =I
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =A
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =E
legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse =R
legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To get past the giant stone head, we must pull the wooden levers. We must do the 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
26
62
36
115
27
48
93
102
62
51
51
119
103
118
115
W
26
48
56
47
83
118
115
48
35
56
62
103
118
47
48
95
56
5 × 11 - 29 =W
26 + 3 × 3 =T
82 + 7 × 3 =B
50 + 3 × 2 =H
21 + 3 × 9 =N
7 × 11 - 15 =E
10 × 11 - 8 =M
56 + 9 × 7 =Y
8 × 7 - 20 =F
6 + 5 × 9 =S
91 + 2 × 2 =C
11 × 11 - 6 =O
98 + 5 × 4 =R
8 × 12 - 3 =D
29 + 2 × 9 =A
75 + 4 × 2 =I
6 + 3 × 7 =U
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
We find a heavy balance scale. It holds stone gears. We solve the equation to balance the scale and open the door.
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
4x + 4 = 44, x = ?
6x + 12 = 60, x = ?
5x + 6 = 51, x = ?
4x + 7 = 11, x = ?
5x + 10 = 70, x = ?
5x + 9 = 64, x = ?
6x + 2 = 14, x = ?
5x + 7 = 42, x = ?
6x + 7 = 43, x = ?
5x + 6 = 26, x = ?
3x + 2 = 11, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain climbs up high temple walls, then rides giant green frogs away.
2.The villain digs quick dirt tunnels, then tames wild boars to escape.
3.The villain digs quick dirt tunnels, then whispers to bats to create a distraction.
4.The villain digs quick dirt tunnels, then flies small gliders off the cliff.
5.The villain digs quick dirt tunnels, then rides giant green frogs away.
6.The villain cracks the secret ancient codes, then tames wild boars to escape.
7.The villain cracks the secret ancient codes, then rides giant green frogs away.
8.The villain swings on long jungle vines, then rides giant green frogs away.
9.The villain climbs up high temple walls, then flies small gliders off the cliff.
10.The villain cracks the secret ancient codes, then flies small gliders off the cliff.
11.The villain jumps over wide rushing rivers, then rides giant green frogs away.
12.The villain swings on long jungle vines, then flies small gliders off the cliff.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Whispering Jungle Mystery
Culprit: Ranger Rick (digs quick dirt tunnels · rides giant green frogs · right handed tool grip · messy brown hair · hates cold water)
- Clue 1 (Exponents): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WHISPER TO BATS"17^2 = 289 (T) · 3^5 = 243 (R) · 22^2 = 484 (E) · 3^2 = 9 (H) · 11^2 = 121 (A) · 7^2 = 49 (P) · 2^3 = 8 (I) · 2^9 = 512 (O) · 9^3 = 729 (B) · 13^2 = 169 (F) · 3^3 = 27 (S) · 21^2 = 441 (W) · 10^2 = 100 (D) · 19^2 = 361 (N)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE THIEF GRIPS TOOLS WITH THE RIGHT HAND"sqrt(361) = 19 (T) · sqrt(144) = 12 (E) · sqrt(196) = 14 (R) · sqrt(9) = 3 (N) · sqrt(324) = 18 (A) · sqrt(576) = 24 (L) · sqrt(49) = 7 (H) · sqrt(256) = 16 (P) · sqrt(100) = 10 (O) · sqrt(441) = 21 (F) · sqrt(484) = 22 (G) · sqrt(289) = 17 (D) · sqrt(25) = 5 (W) · sqrt(64) = 8 (I) · sqrt(400) = 20 (S)
- Clue 3 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE THIEF HATES BEING SPLASHED WITH WATER"legs 14 and 48, hypotenuse = 50 (T) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (S) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (L) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (B) · legs 7 and 24, hypotenuse = 25 (G) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (N) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (F) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (P) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (D) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (H) · legs 18 and 80, hypotenuse = 82 (I) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (A) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (E) · legs 18 and 24, hypotenuse = 30 (R) · legs 15 and 36, hypotenuse = 39 (W)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND MESSY BROWN HAIR ON THE BRANCH"5 × 11 - 29 = 26 (W) · 26 + 3 × 3 = 35 (T) · 82 + 7 × 3 = 103 (B) · 50 + 3 × 2 = 56 (H) · 21 + 3 × 9 = 48 (N) · 7 × 11 - 15 = 62 (E) · 10 × 11 - 8 = 102 (M) · 56 + 9 × 7 = 119 (Y) · 8 × 7 - 20 = 36 (F) · 6 + 5 × 9 = 51 (S) · 91 + 2 × 2 = 95 (C) · 11 × 11 - 6 = 115 (O) · 98 + 5 × 4 = 118 (R) · 8 × 12 - 3 = 93 (D) · 29 + 2 × 9 = 47 (A) · 75 + 4 × 2 = 83 (I) · 6 + 3 × 7 = 27 (U)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 5) → Ranger Rick4x + 4 = 44, x = 10 · 6x + 12 = 60, x = 8 · 5x + 6 = 51, x = 9 · 4x + 7 = 11, x = 1 · 5x + 10 = 70, x = 12 · 5x + 9 = 64, x = 11 · 6x + 2 = 14, x = 2 · 5x + 7 = 42, x = 7 · 6x + 7 = 43, x = 6 · 5x + 6 = 26, x = 4 · 3x + 2 = 11, x = 3
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 Whispering Jungle Mystery — set in the ancient Sunken Tiki Temple
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects