Crime Scene Decoders Algebra: Polynomials

Standard Focus : Number, Number Sense, and Time Range : 1-3 Days
Operations, Measurement Supplies : Pencil and Paper

Topics of Focus :
- Multiplying and Dividing Monomials

- Scientific Notation

- Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

- Multiplying Polynomials

This particular was mapped to the curriculum in Glencoe Algebra 1 Chapter 8 and can be used
as an enrichment or review activity.

Procedures:
Expressions and 2c. Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include
6.EE
Equations expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems.

4. Use variables to represent quantities in a real-world or mathematical

Expressions and
7.EE problem, and construct simple equations and inequalities to solve problems
Equations
by reasoning about the quantities.

Arithmetic with
1. Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers,
Polynomials and A-
namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and
Rational APR
multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.
Expressions

© 21st Century Math Projects

 CSD: The Evidence
Name:_______________________________
1.

Clue

___________
2.

Clue

___________
3.

Clue

___________
© 21st Century Math Projects
4.

Clue

___________
5.

Clue

___________
6.

Clue

___________
Cryptic Text Message

Suspect

___________
© 21st Century Math Projects
Crime Scene Decoders Algebra:
Polynomials

Detectives,

As you probably could have guessed, the evil genius terrorist group the Mathemagicians are at it again.
The latest series of heists have brought a dark cloud over the Land of the Rising Sun -- Japan. The latest
heists are by the hand of anonymous minion, Hideo Nomial. Investigators fear that the Mathemagicians
are putting the finishing touches on their world conquering device -- to conquer the world.

As has become their trademark, the Mathemagicians have scattered

six mathematical puzzles and a cryptic text message that must be
solved. After solving the puzzles, you can decode the message which
will lead to Hideo’s favorite number. So far there are six suspects
that police have questioned. It is hoped that someone with a
relatively strong number sense and geometry spatial sense can crack
some codes that have puzzled the detectives on the case so far.

Your job is to bring Hideo Nomial to justice and save the planet. You
need to be prepared to state your case and demonstrate your
understanding of the following skills that Hideo is known to use in
the notes.

- Multiplying and Dividing Monomials

- Scientific Notation

- Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

- Multiplying Polynomials

Be sure to include:

- Other examples of the concepts

- Definitions

- Any other relevant information.

This is not a time to be sloppy. The slightest miscalculation or illegible footnote could result in a not
guilty verdict. Oh, did I mention that use of a calculator might prematurely set off his world conquering
device? Good luck to you, gumshoe.

Chief Harris

© 21st Century Math Projects

Who is Hideo Nomial?

Name: Tommy Name: HD

Occupation: Game Show Occupation:

Host Entertainer

Favorite Number : 0 Favorite Number:

-3.2 x 105

Name: Siku Name: Esteban

Occupation: Game Occupation:

Designer Professional Ping
Pong Player
Favorite Number: -74
Favorite Number:
6.9 x 1013

Name: Roanoke Name: Yamamoto

Occupation: Farmer Occupation: Automotive

Executive
Favorite Number: 1.1 x 105
Favorite Number:
3.2 x 104

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #1 Origami Laboratory –- Osaka, Japan

Late at night there was a break-in at a lab that specializes in mathematical, micro-origami figures.
The scientist was devastated to find out his entire Pokemon collection was taken.

The sun will soon set on the

Land of the Rising Sun. The
Mathemagicians will reign!
That is unless you can conquer
my polynomial puzzles, but I
doubt it. Off we go…

Add the perimeter of this

origami crane, match it to the
correct answer below and
you’ll have the first piece of
the puzzle.

12x + 17y 12x +14y 14x +12y 17x+12y

b = -4 c = -4 d = -4 f = -4
Scene #2 Kantei –- Toyko

The office of the Japanese Prime Minister was raided and a thousand top secret flash drives were taken
from the secret flash drive vault. In the vault, investigators found this note.

You shouldn’t spend what you don’t have and you shouldn’t need a Mathemagician
to tell you that. If you’re not careful, you’ll be in worse financial shape than the
United States. Let’s see if you can handle some scientific notation conversion...

In July 2012, the national debt of Japan was about $7.203 x 1012
(converted from yen to dollars) and the population was 1.27 x 108.
About how much was each Japanese citizen’s share of the national
debt at that time?

Round your total to the nearest dollar and find it below.

$52,919 $56,717 $58, 215 $60,420

a = 2.5 x 103 b = 2.5 x 103 c = 2.5 x 103 f = 2.5 x 103

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #3 Higashi Hongan-ji -- Kyoto, Japan

During the night, a number of healing tea leaves were taken from one of the largest Buddhist temple
in Japan. ATV marks on the floor and splatters on the carpet indicate Hideo Monomial was trying to
make a fresh batch of tea on the run.

Let’s use a little area dissection on

one of the world’s most recognizable
flags.

Calculate an expression for the area

of the white space on the flag and
match your answer to the correction
option below. (Use 3.14 for π)

4.86x2 + 1.72xy – 9.14y2 4.86x2 – 1.72xy + 9.14y2

c=2 f=2
Scene #4 Ryougoku Sumo Hall –- Sumida, Tokyo, Japan

A locker room attendant noticed a broken window around the belongings of the greatest sumo champs
in the country. It is believed, Hideo Nomial stole the mawashis of the ten largest men from the dirty
laundry. The attendant later found this note in a soiled mawashi.

Large men wear large mawashis. These should make excellent slingshots. See if you
can handle a sumo sized chain problem…

Solve the equations from left to right and hopefully you’ll figure out z.

4x(x-2) = 4(x2 -3)- 4 xy(y+x) = x(y2-7)+x yz(xz – x) = xy(z2 – x) – 3x

z = ______
© 21st Century Math Projects
Scene #5 Geisha Karaoke Restaurant – Kyoto, Japan

This morning the geishas were alarmed to find out that their trademark face powder and their best
karaoke machine were stolen.

None of the geishas would give me their memoirs. What’s up with that?

How many of the outside expressions are the same as this one?
This answer is equal to g.

(2.4*103)
x – 4x – (4.8*102)
2

(x2 – 2x – 1) – (2x + 4)

(x2 – 8x – 2) + (4x -3)

2(0.5x2 – 2x) – 5
x - 4x - 5
2

(x5y2z) (x-5)(x+1)
– 4x – 5
(x3y2z)

g =______

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #6 Underground Ninja Academy –- Parts Unknown

It is believed that Hideo Nomial, disguised as a pizza delivery man, infiltrated the secret Ninja
camp. Nomial left with a cache of ninja stars and nunchucks. Later the ninja sensei found this
note and investigators were sent a cryptic text message.

Cowabunga dudes,

Since I’m a diamond class ninja, I need to build my team. One credential I’m looking
for is a ninja’s ability to break down complex polynomials. This is a good indication of
their ability to break arms and legs. You might not believe me, but trust me -- I’m a
diamond class ninja.

Choose the ninja who has the

most correct answers.

Master Mitsubishi b=10

Samurai Nintendo c=10
Sensei Sony g=10
Shogun Toshiba f=10

CRYPTIC PUZZLE SOLVER TEXT MESSAGE

It’s Hideo Nomial here. Cruising in my Prius. Here’s your
code… If you dare.
c× fg c
( )(d × f )
bz
© 21st Century Math Projects
Who is Hideo Nomial?

Name: Tommy Name: HD

Occupation: Game Show Occupation:

Host Entertainer

Favorite Number : 0 Favorite Number:

-3.2 x 105

Name: Siku Name: Esteban

Occupation: Game Occupation:

Designer Professional Ping
Pong Player
Favorite Number: -74
Favorite Number:
6.9 x 1013

Name: Roanoke Name: Yamamoto

Occupation: Farmer Occupation: Automotive

Executive
Favorite Number: 1.1 x 105
Favorite Number:
3.2 x 104

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #1 Origami Laboratory –- Osaka, Japan

Late at night there was a break-in at a lab that specializes in mathematical, micro-origami figures.
The scientist was devastated to find out his entire Pokemon collection was taken.

The sun will soon set on the

Land of the Rising Sun. The
Mathemagicians will reign!
That is unless you can conquer
my polynomial puzzles, but I
doubt it. Off we go…

Add the perimeter of this

origami crane, match it to the
correct answer below and
you’ll have the first piece of
the puzzle.

12x + 17y 12x +14y 14x +12y 17x+12y

b = -4 c = -4 d = -4 f = -4
Scene #2 Kantei –- Toyko

The office of the Japanese Prime Minister was raided and a thousand top secret flash drives were taken
from the secret flash drive vault. In the vault, investigators found this note.

You shouldn’t spend what you don’t have and you shouldn’t need a Mathemagician
to tell you that. If you’re not careful, you’ll be in worse financial shape than the
United States. Let’s see if you can handle some scientific notation conversion...

In July 2012, the national debt of Japan was about $7.203 x 1012
(converted from yen to dollars) and the population was 1.27 x 108.
About how much was each Japanese citizen’s share of the national
debt at that time?

Round your total to the nearest dollar and find it below.

$52,919 $56,717 $58, 215 $60,420

a = 2.5 x 103 b = 2.5 x 103 c = 2.5 x 103 f = 2.5 x 103

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #3 Higashi Hongan-ji -- Kyoto, Japan

During the night, a number of healing tealeaves were taken from one of the largest Buddhist temple
in Japan. ATV marks on the floor and splatters on the carpet indicate Hideo Monomial was trying to
make a fresh batch of tea on the run.

Let’s use a little area dissection on

one of the world’s most recognizable
flags.

Calculate an expression for the area

of the white space on the flag and
match your answer to the correction
option below. (Use 3.14 for π)

4.86x2 + 1.72xy – 9.14y2 4.86x2 – 1.72xy + 9.14y2

c=2 f=2
Scene #4 Ryougoku Sumo Hall –- Sumida, Tokyo, Japan

A locker room attendant noticed a broken window around the belongings of the greatest sumo champs
in the country. It is believed, Hideo Nomial stole the mawashis of the ten largest men from the dirty
laundry. The attendant later found this note in a soiled mawashi.

Large men wear large mawashis. These should make excellent slingshots. See if you
can handle a sumo sized chain problem…

Solve the equations from left to right and hopefully you’ll figure out z.

4x(x-2) = 4(x2 -3)- 4 xy(y+x) = x(y2-7)+x yz(xz – x) = xy(z2 – x) – 3x

4x2-8x = 4x2-12 - 4 2y(y+2) = 2(y2-7)+2 -3z(2z – 2) = 2(-3)(z2-2)-3(2)
-6z2 +6z = -6(z2-2)-6
-8x = -16 2y2+4y=2y2-14+2 -6z2 +6z = -6z2+12-6
X=2 4y=-12 6z = 6
y=-3 Z=1

z = ______1
© 21st Century Math Projects
Scene #5 Geisha Karaoke Restaurant – Kyoto, Japan

This morning the geishas were alarmed to find out that their trademark face powder and their best
karaoke machine were stolen.

None of the geishas would give me their memoirs. What’s up with that?

How many of the outside expressions are the same as this one?
This answer is equal to g.

(2.4*103)
x – 4x – (4.8*102)
2

(x2 – 2x – 1) – (2x + 4)

(x2 – 8x – 2) + (4x -3)

2(0.5x2 – 2x) – 5
x - 4x - 5
2

(x5y2z) (x-5)(x+1)
– 4x – 5
(x3y2z)

g =______ g =6 (all are equal)

© 21st Century Math Projects

Scene #6 Underground Ninja Academy –- Parts Unknown

It is believed that Hideo Nomial, disguised as a pizza delivery man, infiltrated the secret Ninja
camp. Nomial left with a cache of ninja stars and nunchucks. Later the ninja sensei found this
note and investigators were sent a cryptic text message.

Cowabunga dudes,

Since I’m a diamond class ninja, I need to build my team. One credential I’m looking
for is a ninja’s ability to break down complex polynomials. This is a good indication of
their ability to break arms and legs. You might not believe me, but trust me -- I’m a
diamond class ninja.

Choose the ninja who has the

most correct answers.

Master Mitsubishi b=10

Samurai Nintendo c=10
Sensei Sony g=10
Shogun Toshiba f=10

CRYPTIC PUZZLE SOLVER TEXT MESSAGE

It’s Hideo Nomial here. Cruising in my Prius. Here’s your code… If you
dare. d = -4 b = 2.5 x 103 c=2 f=10
c× fg
)(d × f c )
Z=1g=6
(
bz 2000000/2500 = 800 ( -400) =-3.2x105
© 21st Century Math Projects