Description
This activity gives a twist to just plain old worksheets by giving the students a mystery to solve along the way!
Students will calculate the solution to each quadratic equation by completing the square. Then they will look at the word bank on the right of the page to find their answer. Be careful: there are incorrect answers in the word bank along with the correct ones! Students will write the word that is associated with their correct answer on the blank and then move on to the next question.
When they have finished all 11 questions and filled in all the blanks, students should read the clues along with the extra words between the blanks. These are three clues which will help them discover the combination to Ms. Mann’s Briefcase. They will use these clues to solve the logic puzzle at the bottom of the page.
Though the logic puzzle at the bottom of the page is simple, this may be a new concept or game for your students. If so, the logic puzzle portion could be completed in small groups, as a class or even offered as extra credit for those ambitious enough to try it.
While this can be used as a stand-alone activity, it is also a continuation of an earlier mystery, Who Killed Mr Quad: Solving Quadratics by Factoring.
The mystery continues after this episode as well:
The Message in the Briefcase: Solving Quadratics with the Quadratic Formula
Where is Ms. Mann Hiding: Solving Quadratics by Graphing
All four of these great activities can also be purchased as a set at a discounted price!
