Question 1

What is a math mystery?

Accepted Answer

A math mystery is a whodunit puzzle where a child solves math problems to crack a series of clues, then uses the clues to eliminate suspects until one culprit remains. The math is how you unlock each clue; the mystery is what keeps kids working.

Question 2

What grades and ages are Math Mysteries for?

Accepted Answer

Math Mysteries are made for kids roughly ages 6 to 12 (about grades 1 through 5). The arithmetic is grade-appropriate — place value and addition for younger kids, and rounding, multi-digit addition and subtraction, and multiplication facts for older kids.

Question 3

Are Math Mysteries free and printable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every mystery is free to solve on screen and free to download as a printable PDF worksheet, with one clue per page, room for scratch work, and a teacher answer key.

Question 4

How do you make sure the puzzle has a correct answer?

Accepted Answer

Each puzzle is built by a constraint solver that proves there is exactly one possible culprit, and every math answer is independently recomputed and checked before the puzzle is published. There are no dead ends or ambiguous solutions.

Question 5

Can the mystery be about my child's interests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You pick interests like soccer, space, or dinosaurs along with the grade and reading level, and the story, characters, and setting are themed to match while the math stays grade-appropriate.

Guides & free worksheets