🏎️ Mclaren racing carGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Wind Tunnel Sabotage
A saboteur has stolen the highly classified engine maps for the new McLaren hypercar! The Chief Telemetry Engineer was locked inside the high-speed wind tunnel, and the suspect fled the paddock in a disguised test mule. We must decode the performance logs to find the culprit.
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 | Engine Map Type | Chassis Mode | Telemetry Signature | Helmet Visor Tint | Cooling Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilles | Drag Reduction | Slipstream Mode | Left Foot Brake | Neon Chrome Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Lewis | Thermal Kinetic | Active Suspension | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Jenson | Torque Vector | Active Aero | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Pedro | Thermal Kinetic | Active Suspension | Right Foot Brake | Midnight Tint Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Mika | Torque Vector | Slipstream Mode | Right Foot Brake | Neon Chrome Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Lando | Torque Vector | Active Suspension | Right Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Juan | Torque Vector | Active Aero | Right Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Kevin | Launch Control | Active Aero | Right Foot Brake | Midnight Tint Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Ayrton | Torque Vector | Hydraulic Tilt | Left Foot Brake | Neon Chrome Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Nico | Drag Reduction | Active Suspension | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Daniel | Torque Vector | Active Aero | Right Foot Brake | Midnight Tint Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Fernando | Drag Reduction | Active Aero | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Alain | Torque Vector | Hydraulic Tilt | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Emerson | Apex Boost | Active Aero | Left Foot Brake | Midnight Tint Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Oscar | Torque Vector | Hydraulic Tilt | Left Foot Brake | Midnight Tint Visor | Brake Pad Wear |
| Denny | Apex Boost | Ground Effect | Right Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Battery Thermal Spikes |
| Niki | Launch Control | Active Suspension | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
| Zak | Launch Control | Ground Effect | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Battery Thermal Spikes |
| Stoffel | Drag Reduction | Slipstream Mode | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Battery Thermal Spikes |
| Carlos | Drag Reduction | Active Suspension | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Battery Thermal Spikes |
| Bruce | Torque Vector | Hydraulic Tilt | Left Foot Brake | Gold Iridium Visor | Radiator Fan Block |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To locate the saboteur, our telemetry drone needs to measure the straight-line diagonal distance from the pit lane wall to the main paddock roof.
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
123
37
41
51
74
85
125
41
51
75
17
41
51
20
74
41
34
52
74
T
123
125
34
41
37
40
20
51
75
125
26
13
17
T
123
13
26
T
123
legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse =T
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =A
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =G
legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse =L
legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse =C
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =H
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =E
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =U
legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse =N
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =D
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =R
legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse =I
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =O
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =Y
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
We can narrow down the escape route by calculating the exact side length of the square tire-testing pad from its total area.
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
2
15
20
6
17
T
2
13
18
4
4
21
20
T
2
20
7
T
2
20
21
15
20
18
25
19
4
20
24
T
2
24
11
11
T
2
23
9
18
8
17
5
22
sqrt(4) =T
sqrt(49) =C
sqrt(289) =I
sqrt(16) =L
sqrt(400) =E
sqrt(64) =K
sqrt(576) =F
sqrt(324) =A
sqrt(225) =H
sqrt(529) =B
sqrt(625) =V
sqrt(81) =R
sqrt(121) =O
sqrt(441) =D
sqrt(169) =W
sqrt(25) =N
sqrt(361) =Y
sqrt(36) =P
sqrt(484) =G
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The engine's hybrid thermal system is heating up rapidly, and we must calculate the exponential power surge to see how far the racer got.
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
361
289
144
9
16
125
343
324
121
343
216
121
100
144
324
400
121
625
243
400
144
324
9
125
343
100
81
125
32
100
144
49
216
100
19^2 =B
3^5 =S
12^2 =O
2^5 =M
7^3 =D
2^4 =K
3^4 =H
6^3 =I
5^3 =E
20^2 =F
7^2 =P
3^2 =C
18^2 =R
11^2 =A
10^2 =T
17^2 =L
5^4 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To decode the corrupted telemetry signal, we must solve a complex, multi-step sensor equation in the correct mathematical 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.
G
61
45
17
79
39
85
39
79
39
105
77
85
89
68
17
89
84
58
39
45
28
13
96
89
85
89
45
28
58
37
89
84
80
77
89
85
80
37 + 4 × 6 =G
29 + 4 × 4 =O
8 × 9 - 14 =T
62 + 2 × 9 =A
81 + 2 × 2 =R
4 × 11 - 5 =I
88 + 2 × 4 =W
6 × 3 - 5 =S
12 × 6 - 4 =F
57 + 4 × 5 =M
12 × 4 - 11 =H
35 + 7 × 7 =C
11 × 8 - 9 =D
83 + 3 × 2 =E
5 × 10 - 22 =N
87 + 9 × 2 =U
1 + 2 × 8 =L
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
Our tracking computer needs to calculate the precise speed value from the kinetic energy formula, which requires finding a square root.
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(64) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(1) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain engages the advanced torque vectoring, then seals the underbody ground effect tunnels.
2.The villain launches with high-grip control, then seals the underbody ground effect tunnels.
3.The villain activates the drag reduction system, then deploys the active carbon wings.
4.The villain triggers the thermal kinetic recovery, then stiffens the active electromagnetic suspension.
5.The villain launches with high-grip control, then deploys the active carbon wings.
6.The villain engages the apex boost, then deploys the active carbon wings.
7.The villain engages the apex boost, then stiffens the active electromagnetic suspension.
8.The villain activates the drag reduction system, then stiffens the active electromagnetic suspension.
9.The villain launches with high-grip control, then stiffens the active electromagnetic suspension.
10.The villain triggers the thermal kinetic recovery, then tucks into the slipstream of the pace car.
11.The villain activates the drag reduction system, then tucks into the slipstream of the pace car.
12.The villain triggers the thermal kinetic recovery, then adjusts the hydraulic chassis pitch.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Wind Tunnel Sabotage
Culprit: Fernando (Drag Reduction · Active Aero · Left Foot Brake · Gold Iridium Visor · Radiator Fan Block)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE ROGUE RACER DOES NOT USE HYDRAULIC TILT"legs 27 and 120, hypotenuse = 123 (T) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (A) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (G) · legs 10 and 24, hypotenuse = 26 (L) · legs 8 and 15, hypotenuse = 17 (C) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (H) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (E) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (U) · legs 20 and 48, hypotenuse = 52 (N) · legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (D) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (R) · legs 5 and 12, hypotenuse = 13 (I) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (O) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (Y) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (S)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE PIT WALL DETECTED HEAVY LEFT FOOT BRAKING"sqrt(4) = 2 (T) · sqrt(49) = 7 (C) · sqrt(289) = 17 (I) · sqrt(16) = 4 (L) · sqrt(400) = 20 (E) · sqrt(64) = 8 (K) · sqrt(576) = 24 (F) · sqrt(324) = 18 (A) · sqrt(225) = 15 (H) · sqrt(529) = 23 (B) · sqrt(625) = 25 (V) · sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(121) = 11 (O) · sqrt(441) = 21 (D) · sqrt(169) = 13 (W) · sqrt(25) = 5 (N) · sqrt(361) = 19 (Y) · sqrt(36) = 6 (P) · sqrt(484) = 22 (G)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "BLOCKED RADIATOR FANS FORCED THEM TO PIT"19^2 = 361 (B) · 3^5 = 243 (S) · 12^2 = 144 (O) · 2^5 = 32 (M) · 7^3 = 343 (D) · 2^4 = 16 (K) · 3^4 = 81 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (I) · 5^3 = 125 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (F) · 7^2 = 49 (P) · 3^2 = 9 (C) · 18^2 = 324 (R) · 11^2 = 121 (A) · 10^2 = 100 (T) · 17^2 = 289 (L) · 5^4 = 625 (N)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "GOLD IRIDIUM REFLECTIONS WERE ON THE CAMERA"37 + 4 × 6 = 61 (G) · 29 + 4 × 4 = 45 (O) · 8 × 9 - 14 = 58 (T) · 62 + 2 × 9 = 80 (A) · 81 + 2 × 2 = 85 (R) · 4 × 11 - 5 = 39 (I) · 88 + 2 × 4 = 96 (W) · 6 × 3 - 5 = 13 (S) · 12 × 6 - 4 = 68 (F) · 57 + 4 × 5 = 77 (M) · 12 × 4 - 11 = 37 (H) · 35 + 7 × 7 = 84 (C) · 11 × 8 - 9 = 79 (D) · 83 + 3 × 2 = 89 (E) · 5 × 10 - 22 = 28 (N) · 87 + 9 × 2 = 105 (U) · 1 + 2 × 8 = 17 (L)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 3) → Fernandosqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(25) = 5 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(1) = 1 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(121) = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Wind Tunnel Sabotage — set in McLaren Technology Centre
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects