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Problem Solving Lecture Series 1 1

Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, put the Cry in Bahay Toro in Quezon City on 24 August 1896Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, put the

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36 views2 pages

Problem Solving Lecture Series 1 1

Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, put the Cry in Bahay Toro in Quezon City on 24 August 1896Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, put the

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lovryantadenaamilingacads
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Mathematics in the Modern World – Problem Solving 1

Part III. Problem Solving

Most occupations require good problem-solving skills. For instance, architects and engineers must
solve many complicated problems as they design and construct modern buildings that are aesthetically
pleasing, functional, and that meet stringent safety requirements. It is hoped that this chapter will help
you become a better problem solver and to demonstrate that problem solving can be an enjoyable
experience.

1. Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning is the process of reaching a general conclusion by examining specific


examples. When you examine a list of numbers and predict the next number in the list according to some
pattern you have observed, you are using inductive reasoning.

Example 1. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in the lists. a. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ? b. 1, 3, 6,
10, 15, ?

Solution: a. Each successive number is 3 larger than the preceding number. Thus we predict that the next
number in the list is 3 larger than 15, which is 18.

b. The first two number differ by 2. The second and third numbers differ by 3. It appears that the difference
between any two numbers is always 1 more than the preceding difference. Since 10 and 15 differ by 5,
we predict that the next number in the list will be 6 larger than 15, which is 21.

Exercise A. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the following lists.
1. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, _?
2. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, _ ?

Deductive Reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by applying general assumptions,


procedures, or principles.

Example 2. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following procedure produces a number that is four
times the original number. Procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6 to the product,
divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.

Solution:
Let 𝑛 represent the original number.
Multiply the number by 8: 8𝑛
Add 6 to the product: 8𝑛 + 6
8𝑛 + 6
Divide the sum by 2: = 4𝑛 + 3
2
Subtract 3: 4𝑛 + 3 − 3 = 4𝑛

We started with 𝑛 and ended with 4𝑛. The procedure given in this example produces a number that is
four times the original number.

Exercise B. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following procedure produces a number that is three
times the original number. Procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 6, add 10 to the product,
divide the sum by 2, and subtract 5. Hint: Let n represent the original number.

Exercise C. Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning. Use these reasoning to answer the logic puzzle.
1. Each of four neighbours, Sean, Maria, and Brian, has different occupation (editor, banker, chef, or
dentist). From the following clues determine the occupation of each neighbour.
a. Maria gets home from work after the banker but before the dentist.
b. Sarah, who is the last to get home from work, is not the editor.
c. The dentist and Sarah leave for work at the same time.

Ciriaco T. Ragual, 2nd Semester, AY 2018-2019


Mathematics in the Modern World – Problem Solving 2

d. The banker lives next door to Brian.


2. Brianna, Ryan, Tyler, and Ashley were recently elected as the new class officers (president, vice
president, secretary, treasurer) of the sophomore class at Summit College. From the following
clues, determine which position each holds.
a. Ashley is younger than the president but older than the treasurer.
b. Brianna and the secretary are both the same age, and they are the youngest members of
the group.
c. Tyler and the secretary are next-door neighbours.

Counterexamples. A statement is a true statement provided that it is true in all cases. If you can
find one case for which a statement is not true, called a counterexample, then the statement is a false
statement.

Example 3. Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by finding a counterexample.
For all numbers 𝑥,
a. |𝑥 | > 0 b. 𝑥 2 > 𝑥 c. √𝑥 2 = 𝑥

Solution: A statement may have many counterexamples, but we need only one counterexample to verify
that the statement is false.
a. Let 𝑥 = 0. Then |0| = 0 . Because 0 is not greater than 0, we found a counterexample. Thus “for
all numbers 𝑥, |𝑥 | > 0” is a false statement.
b. For 𝑥 = 1 we have 12 = 1. Since 1 is not greater than 1, we have found a counterexample. Thus
“for all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥 2 > 𝑥” is a false statement.
c. Consider 𝑥 = −3. Then √(−3)2 = √9 = 3. Since 3 is not equal to −3, we have found a
counterexample. Thus “for all number 𝑥, √𝑥 2 = 𝑥” is a false statement.

Exercises D. Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by finding a counterexample
for each.
𝑥
1. =1
𝑥
𝑥+3
2. = 𝑥+1
3
3. √𝑥 2 + 16 = 𝑥 + 4

Problem Set

A. Use deductive reasoning to predict the number in the list.


1. 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, ?
2. 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, ?
3. 1, 5, 12, 22, 35, ?

B. Magic Squares. A magic square of order n is an arrangement of numbers in a square such that the sum
of the n numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is the same number. Use deductive reasoning to
determine the missing numbers in each magic square.
4. a. 4. b.
2 2 13
3 5 10 11
1 6 6 12
4 15 1

5. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following procedure always produces a number that is
equal to the original number. Procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 6 and add 8.
Divide the sum by 2, subtract twice the original number, and subtract 4.

2. Problem Solving with Patterns

To follow soon.
Ciriaco T. Ragual, 2nd Semester, AY 2018-2019

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