🚀
MATH BLAST
YEAR 5
The Space Arc · Issue 1 · Year 5
MATH BLAST
🚀 THE MISSING QUARTER
YEAR 5
Jake arrives at Kepler Station — and the fuel readings use different denominators!
🎙️ Narrated · Year 5 Edition
Narrated by George · Jake voiced by Andrew · Fuel Officer Priya & The Phantom voiced by River
Chapter 1 of 5
⭐ 0 / 10
🚀 Chapter 1 — Docking Bay Drama
The Gauges Are Reading Fractions — What Do They Mean?
Press ▶ to hear the story
The Interstellar Fuel Network kept every ship in the galaxy moving. Hundreds of stations, thousands of tanks — all tracked, all measured. Until now.
Jake Nova, Junior Fuel Inspector, docked at Kepler Station — a busy depot orbiting a red dwarf star at the edge of the sector. "Alright, alright — I've got this," he told himself. "First solo assignment. Let's see what we're dealing with."
Fuel Officer Priya met him at the airlock, arms crossed. "Inspector Nova. Our fuel gauges are showing fractions with different denominators. One tank reads halves, another reads quarters. My crew can't combine them without a common denominator."
Jake pulled out his notebook. "Different denominators — I need to find the lowest common one before I can add these fractions together."
Jake Nova, Junior Fuel Inspector, docked at Kepler Station — a busy depot orbiting a red dwarf star at the edge of the sector. "Alright, alright — I've got this," he told himself. "First solo assignment. Let's see what we're dealing with."
Fuel Officer Priya met him at the airlock, arms crossed. "Inspector Nova. Our fuel gauges are showing fractions with different denominators. One tank reads halves, another reads quarters. My crew can't combine them without a common denominator."
Jake pulled out his notebook. "Different denominators — I need to find the lowest common one before I can add these fractions together."
🔒 Listen to the story first to unlock your mission!
Question 1 — Common Denominator
Jake's fuel gauge shows two readings: one tank is 1/2 full and another is 1/4 full. Before he can add them, he needs a common denominator.
What is the lowest common denominator of 2 and 4?
What is the lowest common denominator of 2 and 4?
⚡ Speed Challenge!
Answer fast — the fuel tanks won't wait!
What is 2/3 + 1/6?
Time remaining8s
⛽ Chapter 2 — Reading the Gauges
Three Tanks — Three Different Fractions!
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Priya led Jake to the main tank bay — a vast hangar lined with enormous cylindrical tanks, each showing a glowing fraction display. Three ships blinked orange at the docking clamps, waiting.
"Tank A shows one half full. Tank B shows one quarter," Priya said. "I need to know the total fuel across both tanks. Can you add them?"
Jake studied the displays. "One half plus one quarter — different denominators. I'll need to convert them first."
"Tank A shows one half full. Tank B shows one quarter," Priya said. "I need to know the total fuel across both tanks. Can you add them?"
Jake studied the displays. "One half plus one quarter — different denominators. I'll need to convert them first."
🔒 Listen to the story to unlock this challenge!
Question 2 — Adding Unlike Fractions
Tank A has 1/2 of fuel. Tank B has 1/4 of fuel.
How much fuel is there altogether?
How much fuel is there altogether?
⚡ Speed Challenge!
Priya is watching — think fast!
What is 5/8 − 1/4?
Time remaining8s
👻 Chapter 3 — The Phantom Clue
Someone Stole Exactly One Quarter From Every Tank!
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Priya had been checking the station logs. She called Jake over, her expression grim.
"Look at this. Tank C had three quarters of fuel yesterday. Overnight, someone transferred one eighth to an unknown location."
Jake stared at the screen. "Three quarters minus one eighth — different denominators again. Let me work out how much is left."
"Look at this. Tank C had three quarters of fuel yesterday. Overnight, someone transferred one eighth to an unknown location."
Jake stared at the screen. "Three quarters minus one eighth — different denominators again. Let me work out how much is left."
🔒 Listen to the story to unlock this challenge!
Question 4 — Subtracting Unlike Fractions
Tank C had 3/4 of fuel. The Phantom took 1/8.
How much fuel is left?
How much fuel is left?
⚡ Speed Challenge!
The Phantom is watching — answer before time runs out!
What is 1/3 + 1/6?
Time remaining8s
🛸 Chapter 4 — Enough to Launch?
Can the Waiting Ships Get Their Fuel?
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The Phantom had left a message in the station logs — a taunting note claiming it had been "fair" in its thefts.
"It says here the Phantom took five sixths of a tank, then gave back one third as a goodwill gesture," Priya read aloud. "How generous."
Jake frowned. "Five sixths minus one third — let me calculate how much it actually kept."
"It says here the Phantom took five sixths of a tank, then gave back one third as a goodwill gesture," Priya read aloud. "How generous."
Jake frowned. "Five sixths minus one third — let me calculate how much it actually kept."
🔒 Listen to the story to unlock this challenge!
Question 6 — Subtracting Unlike Fractions
The Phantom claims it only took a small amount. It took 5/6 of a tank and gave back 1/3.
How much fuel did it keep?
How much fuel did it keep?
⚡ Speed Challenge!
Two ships need fuel — think fast!
What is 1 − 3/4?
Time remaining8s
👾 Chapter 5 — The First Clue
The Missing Fuel Went Somewhere — and Something Left a Message!
Press ▶ to hear the story
The ships were fuelled and the immediate crisis was managed. But Jake had one more puzzle to solve before the day was done.
"My own ship started with half a tank," he said, checking his gauges. "I collected three eighths more from the depot, but then I used one quarter to make the flight here."
He tapped his notebook. "How much fuel do I have left?"
"My own ship started with half a tank," he said, checking his gauges. "I collected three eighths more from the depot, but then I used one quarter to make the flight here."
He tapped his notebook. "How much fuel do I have left?"
🔒 Listen to the story to unlock this challenge!
Question 9 — Multi-Step: Add then Subtract
Jake starts with 1/2 tank of fuel. He collects 3/8 more from a depot, then uses 1/4 to reach the next station.
How much fuel does he have now?
How much fuel does he have now?
⚡ Final Speed Challenge!
The Phantom is watching. This is your last test!
What is 1/2 + 1/3?
Time remaining8s
Press ▶ to hear what happens next
Jake was staring at the printout when the communications panel crackled. A holographic figure flickered to life — translucent blue, made entirely of shifting fraction bars and glowing number lines. It spoke in a calm, precise voice.
"I have only been fair. Every station received exactly what they needed. Every fraction was calculated precisely."
Then it vanished. Jake stared at the empty panel for a long moment. The Fraction Phantom had made contact.
"I have only been fair. Every station received exactly what they needed. Every fraction was calculated precisely."
Then it vanished. Jake stared at the empty panel for a long moment. The Fraction Phantom had made contact.
🏆
MISSION COMPLETE!
You scored 10 / 10 on the first try!
⭐⭐⭐
⚡ Total Score (questions + speed challenges)
0 pts
Max possible: 250 pts
Jake cracked the fuel mystery at Kepler Station — and the Fraction Phantom has made contact. The mystery of the missing fractions has only just begun.
What You Mastered Today 🧠
- ✅ Common denominators — LCD of 2 and 4 (Year 5)
- ✅ Adding unlike fractions — 1/2 + 1/4 = 3/4 (Year 5)
- ✅ Adding unlike fractions — 1/3 + 1/6 = 1/2 (Year 5)
- ✅ Subtracting unlike fractions — 3/4 − 1/8 = 5/8 (Year 5)
- ✅ Boss: Three unlike fractions — 1/4 + 1/3 + 1/6 = 3/4 (Year 5)
Join us for Issue #2 — when Jake tracks the stolen fuel into the Fog Nebula! 🌌
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