Operation Detective Worksheet
Operation Detective
Case File 05: Real-World Whole Number Word Problems
Name:
Date:
Investigator Mission: For each scenario below: (1) Select the correct mathematical operation, (2) write down the clue word(s) that gave it away, (3) show your complete calculation steps, and (4) write your final answer with accurate units.
Case 01: Solar Racer Workshop
Choose Operation: Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
The STEM Club is building miniature solar race cars for the county engineering expo. Each car kit requires exactly 148 precision bolts. If the club prepares to build 26 full car kits, how many bolts will they need altogether?
Clue word(s) & reason:
Show Calculation Steps:
Final Answer:
Ans:
Case 02: Orchard Harvest Crates
Choose Operation: Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
Oak Valley Orchard harvested a total of 3,456 pounds of crisp apples during autumn harvest week. Farm workers pack all the apples evenly into 16 large wooden shipping crates. How many pounds of apples will be placed in each crate?
Clue word(s) & reason:
Show Calculation Steps:
Final Answer:
Ans:
Case 03: River Barge Cargo
Choose Operation: Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
A river freight barge has a strict maximum capacity of 75,000 pounds of cargo. At the first loading port, crews loaded 48,635 pounds of steel beams onto the deck. How many more pounds of cargo can safely be loaded at the second port?
Clue word(s) & reason:
Show Calculation Steps:
Final Answer:
Ans:
Math Detective Training • Level 5 Operations Page 1 of 2
Operation Detective: Continued
Solve remaining cases and author your own investigator problem
Investigator:
Case 04: Three-Day Charity Run
Choose Operation: Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
The community recreation department held an annual weekend 5K marathon. 2,845 runners completed the course on Friday, 4,680 runners finished on Saturday, and 3,725 runners crossed the line on Sunday. What was the combined total number of finishers over all three days?
Clue word(s) & reason:
Show Calculation Steps:
Final Answer:
Ans:
Case 05: Book Donation Drive
Choose Operation: Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
The elementary school council collected 1,824 brand-new books to distribute to neighborhood community centers. Student volunteers pack the books into donation cartons holding exactly 24 books each. How many full cartons will the volunteers be able to pack?
Clue word(s) & reason:
Show Calculation Steps:
Final Answer:
Ans:
Detective Challenge: Write Your Own Case
Target Operation: + − × ÷
Write a real-world word problem using whole numbers (at least 3 digits). Include specific clue words that tell a peer which operation to use:
Your Clue Words & Solution Steps:
Solution with Unit:
Answer:
Math Detective Training • Level 5 Operations Page 2 of 2
Operation Detective Answer Key
Answer Key & Guide
Teacher Resource
Operation Detective • 5th Grade Whole Number Operations (Cases 01–03)
Standards Target CCSS 5.NBT.5 & 5.NBT.6
Case 01 Quick Ans Multiplication (×) • 3,848 bolts
Case 02 Quick Ans Division (÷) • 216 pounds
Case 03 Quick Ans Subtraction (−) • 26,365 pounds
Case 01: Solar Racer Workshop
Addition (+) Subtraction (−) ✓ Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
Clue Words: "Each car kit requires", "altogether", equal groups of 148. Watch: place-holder zero when multiplying by 20
Standard Algorithm Steps:
1 4 8
× 2 6
-------
8 8 8 ← (148 × 6 ones)
+ 2 9 6 0 ← (148 × 2 tens)
-------
3,8 4 8
Target Answer 3,848 bolts
Case 02: Orchard Harvest Crates
Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) ✓ Division (÷)
Clue Words: "Pack evenly into 16 crates", "in each crate", sharing into equal groups. Watch: remainder check at each stage
Long Division Steps (3,456 ÷ 16):
16 × 200 = 3,200 (Remainder: 256)
16 × 10 = 160 (Remainder: 96)
16 × 6 = 96 (Remainder: 0)
Quotient: 200 + 10 + 6 = 216
Target Answer 216 pounds per crate
Case 03: River Barge Cargo
Addition (+) ✓ Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
Clue Words: "Maximum capacity", "how many more pounds", finding the difference. Watch: regrouping across multiple consecutive zeros
Vertical Subtraction:
7 5,0 0 0 → (regroup: 74,990 + 10)
- 4 8,6 3 5
-----------
2 6,3 6 5
Target Answer 26,365 pounds
Teacher Reference Key • Cases 01–03 Page 1 of 2
Answer Key & Guide: Part 2
Cases 04–05 Solutions and Detective Challenge Assessment Rubric
Full Solutions Key
Case 04 Quick Ans Addition (+) • 11,250 runners
Case 05 Quick Ans Division (÷) • 76 cartons
Case 04: Three-Day Charity Run
✓ Addition (+) Subtraction (−) Multiplication (×) Division (÷)
Clue Words: "Combined total", "over all three days", joining three quantities. Watch: column alignment and carried tens/hundreds
Column Addition:
2 1 1
2,8 4 5 (Friday)
4,6 8 0 (Saturday)
+ 3,7 2 5 (Sunday)
-----------
1 1,2 5 0
Target Answer 11,250 finishers / runners