Clue Game Activity
Objective:
Students will practice solving systems of linear equations. Students will use
clues to solve a murder mystery (who, where, why, and with what weapon).
Grade Level:
Algebra I, Math Models, Algebra II
Time:
20-45 minutes (depending on how many sets each student completes)
Teacher Instructions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cut out the Murder Scenario. Tape onto the front of a paper lunch bag.
Cut out each murder clue. Place in the paper lunch bag.
Repeat for each Murder Scenario set.
Students (in pairs or groups) will get one bag and will take out clues to
solve murder mystery. Students may complete work on provided chart
or on their own paper.
5. Suggested Tip: Assign each student group to complete 2-3 sets. Having
students complete all 6 sets will be time consuming and tiring.
6. Teacher will check murder mystery solutions to assess mastery of solving
systems of linear equations.
Cut out and tape to bag!
Murder Scenario 1
On a normal Friday night, Jay Z was murdered! Use the following
clues to find out who did it, where, why, and with what weapon.
This person was seen outside the restaurant at the time of the murder.
x  y  3
2 x  y  3
a)
b)
c)
d)
(2, 1) ……………………………………….…….. J. Lo
(2, -1) ……………………………………..…….. P. Diddy
(-2, 1)…………………………………….…….... Snoop Dogg
(-2, -1) …………………………………………… Eminem
Cut out and put clues in
bag!
The murdered use the following weapon to commit the crime.
2x  5 y  3
 x  3 y  7
a)
b)
c)
d)
(4, -1) ..……………………………………………………. knife
No Solution ……..……………………………….……. fork
(2, 3) …………..………………………………………….. spatula
(3, 2) ….…………………………………………………… chop sticks
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
y  x 1
x y 3
a)
b)
c)
d)
(2, 2) ……………………. …..Jay Z stole the murder’s ‘bling bling’
(2, 1) ………………………… Jay Z stole the murder’s gold teeth
(1, 4) …………………………. Jay Z stole the murder’s lyrics
(4, 1) ……………………….… Jay Z stole the murder’s girlfriend
This is where the crime was committed.
 x  y 1
x  y  11
a)
b)
c)
d)
(5, 6)…………..………………………………….. Chili’s
(3, 4) ……………………………………………... Friday’s
(0, 0) ……..……………………………………… Bennigan’s
(1, 2) ………………………………………………. Olive Garden
Murder Scenario 2
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Dr. 90210 of plastic surgery was
murdered! Use the following clues to find out who did it, where,
why and with what weapon.
This person was seen walking out of the office right after the murder.
3 x  4 y  19
3 x  6 y  33
a)
b)
c)
d)
(3, 10) …………………………………………….. Joan Rivers
(-3, 7) …………………………………………….. Ashlee Simpson
(7, 3) ….………………………………………….. Dolly Parton
(2, 10) ……………….…………………………… Pamela Anderson
The murderer used the following weapon to commit the crime.
5 x  y  6
x y 2
a) No Solution ……………………………………………. Botox
b) Infinite Solution …………………………………….. Laser Beam
c) (1, -1) …………………………………………..………….. Scalpel
d) (-1, 1) ……………………………………………….……… Excess Fat
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
2x  5 y  3
 x  3 y  7
a) (4, 1) ……………… The murder was mad that he or she received
a botched nose job.
b) (4, -1) …………… Dr. 90210 would not make the murderer look more
like her sister
c) (2, 1) …………… Dr. 90210 accidentally performed a face lift
instead of a nose job.
d) (2, 0) ……………. Dr. 90210 sold pre-surgery photos to the
paprazzi
This is where the crime was committed.
y  4x
x y 5
a)
b)
c)
d)
(1, 4) ……………………………………….. Dallas
(3, 1) ………………………………………... Miami
(4, 1) ………………………………………… New York
(4, 0) ……………………………………….. Los Angeles
Murder Scenario 3
On a bright and cheery Monday morning, Brad Pitt was
murdered on the way to the movie set to work on his new
film! Use the following clues to find out who did it, where,
why, and with what weapon.
This person was on the way to the movie set after the time of the murder.
x  4y  8
2 x  5 y  29
a)
b)
c)
d)
(-1, 12) …………………………………………….. Tom Cruise
(12, -1) …………………………………………….. Jamie Foxx
(1, 12) ………………………………………….….. Will Smith
(12, 1) ……………………………………………… Courtney Cox
The murdered use the following weapon to commit the crime.
x  14 y  84
2 x  7 y  7
a)
b)
c)
d)
(5, 14) ……………………………………………. Spot Light
No Solution ………………………………….. Camera
(14, 5) ………………………………………..….. Electrical Wire
Infinite Solution …………………………… Scene Marker
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
5 x  3 y  10
3 x  5 y  6
a) (0, 2) …………….. Brad Pitt got the part the murderer was going for
b) (0, -2) …………… Brad Pitt forgot his lines and messed up the scene
c) (2, 0) …………….. Brad Pitt broke up with the murderer’s best friend
d) (-2, 0) ……………. Brad Pitt trashed the murderer’s trailer
This is where the crime was committed.
2x  y  0
5x  3 y  2
e)
f)
g)
h)
(-2, 4) ……………………………………….. Hollywood
(4, 2)……………………………..…………... Los Angeles
(-4, 2) ………………………………..……… New York
(2, -4) ………………………………….……. Hawaii
Murder Scenario 4
Late Saturday night, as Britney Spears was leaving her concert, she
was murdered! Use the following clues to find out who did it, why,
where, and with what weapon.
This person was seen leaving the concert after the time of the murder.
x  y  3
2 x  y  3
a)
b)
c)
d)
(1, 2) …………………………………………….. Christina Aguilera
(-2, -1) ………………………………………….. Lindsay Lohan
(2, 1) …………………………………………….. Justin Timberlake
(-1, -1) …………………………………………… Kevin Federline
The murdered use the following weapon to commit the crime.
4 x  2 y  6
2 x  y  3
a)
b)
c)
d)
(2, 6) ….………………………………………………. Microphone
(1, 3) …………………………………………….…….. Camera
Infinite Solutions ……………………………….. Speaker
No Solution …..…………………………………… Snake
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
x  4y  8
2 x  5 y  29
a) (12, 1) …………… The murderer was tired of being upstaged by
Britney
b) (1, 12) …………… The murder was upset he didn’t get to marry
Britney
c) (-1, 12) …………. The murderer was upset his association to Britney
wasn’t making his career take off as much as he
had hoped
d) (12, -1) ………….. The murderer was jealous she wasn’t as pretty as
Britney
This is where the crime was committed.
2x  y  0
5x  3 y  2
a)
b)
c)
d)
(-2, 4)……………………………….…….. Dallas
(4, 2)……………………………………….. Louisiana
(5, 3)………………………………………… New York
(2, 0)……………………………….………. Florida
Murder Scenario 5
After a Monday Night Football game, Peyton Manning was
murdered! Use the following clues to find out who did it,
why, where, and with what weapon.
This person was seen leaving the game after the time of the murder.
2x  5 y  3
 x  3 y  7
a)
b)
c)
d)
(3, 4) …………………………………………….. Tom Brady
No Solution ………………………………….. Tony Romo
(10, -2) ………………………………………….. Daunte Culpepper
(4, -1) ……………………………….………… … Brett Favre
The murdered use the following weapon to commit the crime.
y  x 1
x y 3
a)
b)
c)
d)
(2, 1) …………………………………………. Goal Post
(-2, 1) ……………….……………………….. Football
(3, 5) …………………..…………………….. Football Helmet
(0, 0) ………………………………………… First Down Marker
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
 x  y 1
x  y  11
a)
b)
c)
d)
(2, 3) …………………. Peyton threw for more yards
(5, 6) ………………… Peyton was making more money
(0, 1) ………………….. Peyton was better looking
No Solution …….… Peyton threw more touchdowns
This is where the crime was committed.
2x  y  0
5x  3 y  2
a)
b)
c)
d)
(-2, 4)……………………………………….. Massachusetts
(3, 6)…………….…………………………... California
(-4, 2)……………..………………………… Minnesota
(1, 2)………………….………………………. Wisconsin
Murder Scenario 6
When leaving his basketball game on Tuesday night, Lebron
James was murdered! Use the following clues to find out
who did it, why, where, and with what weapon.
This person was seen leaving the arena at the time of the murder.
x  4y  8
2 x  5 y  29
a)
b)
c)
d)
(12, 1) …………………………………………….. Steve Nash
(12, -1) ………………………..………………….. Kobe Bryant
No Solution ………………………………….. Carmelo Anthony
Infinite Solution …………….……………… Tim Duncan
The murdered use the following weapon to commit the crime.
5 x  y  6
x y 2
a) (1, 1) ……………………………………………. Sneakers
b) (-1, -1) ………………………………………….. Basketball Hoop
c) (1, 0) …………………..……………………….. Chair
d) (-1, 1) …………………….……………………… Score Board
This was the reason why the murder was committed.
5 x  3 y  10
3 x  5 y  6
a)
b)
c)
d)
(0, -2) …………… Lebron scored more points than the murderer
(2, 0) ……………. Lebron made more money than the murderer
(-2, 0) …………… Lebron had more endorsements
No Solution .….The murderer thought Lebron was too young
to play with the old folks
This is where the crime was committed.
2x  5 y  3
 x  3 y  7
a)
b)
c)
d)
No Solution ………………………………….. Phoenix
(2, 5) ……………………………………………... Los Angeles
(7, 3) ……………………………………………… Denver
(4, -1) ………………………………………………. San Antonio
Answers:
Set One:
Eminem with a knife, at Chili’s and because Jay Z stole
his gold teeth.
Set Two:
Ashlee Simpson with excess fat, in Dallas, because the
Dr. wouldn’t make her look more like her sister.
Set Three:
Jamie Foxx with electrical wire, in Hollywood, because
Brad trashed his trailor.
Set Four:
Lindsay Lohan with a speaker in Dallas, because she
wasn’t as a pretty as Britney.
Set Five:
Brett Favre, with a goal post, in Massachusetts because
Peyton was making more money.
Set Six:
Kobe Bryant, in San Antonio, with a scoreboard,
because James had more endorsements.