Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reasoning

Lesson 3.1 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math

Cebu Technological University,

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
M.J. Cuenco Ave. Cor. R. Palma St., Cebu City

October 27, 2020

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Course Learning Outcomes
Use different types of reasoning

Intended Learning Outcomes

Use different types of reasoning to justify statements and argu-
ments made about mathematics and mathematical concepts
Write clear and logical proofs;
Solve problems involving patterns and recreational problems fol-
lowing Polya’s four steps; and
Organize one’s methods and approaches for proving and solving
problems

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning
It is the process of going from observations to conclusions.

In this process, one observes that something is true many times then con-
cludes that it will be true in all instances.
This type of conclusion is sometimes called inference/hypothesis and is
always less certain than the evidence itself. In other words, the conclusion
is probable.
In this type of reasoning, examples and data are examined to reach a general
conclusion.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

The Process of Inductive Reasoning

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

The Structure

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Example 1
The chair in living room is blue.
The chair in the dining room is blue.
The chair in the bedroom is blue.
Therefore, all chairs in the house are blue.

Example 2
Alden, Daniel and James are boys.
They are all handsome.
Therefore all boys are handsome.

Example 3
December has been cold here in the Philippines.
Today is December 20 so it is going to be another cold day in the Philippines

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Example 4
The teacher uses PowerPoint in the last three classes.
Therefore the teacher will use PowerPoint tomorrow.

Example 5
The local branch of BDO was robbed yesterday. Ernesto needed money to pay off
his gambling debts. He just bought a gun two days ago, and I saw him hanging
around BDO yesterday morning. Today the bookie’s goons stopped looking for
Ernesto. So Ernesto robbed BDO yesterday.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning: Predicting a Number

Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number/s in each of the following
lists.
1, 3, 6, 10, 15,
2, 5, 10, 17, , 37,
1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 31, ,

Solution
Given:1, 3, 6, 10, 15,

The first two numbers differ by 2. The second and the 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 we predict that the next
number in the list will be 6 larger than 15, which is 21.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Solution
Given:2, 5, 10, 17, , 37,

The first two numbers differ by 3. The second and the third numbers differ by
5. The third and the fourth numbers differ by 7. It appears that the difference
between two numbers is an odd number. Thus we predict that the first missing
number in the list is 9 larger than 17, which is 26. We can also examine that 26
and 37 differ by 11. Hence, the second missing number in the list is 13 larger
than 37, which is 50.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Solution
Given:1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 9, 17, 31, ,

The sum of the first three numbers is 3 which is the fourth number in the list.
The sum of the second, third and fourth number in the list is the fifth number
which is 5. Thus, it appears that the next number is the sum of the three
previous numbers in the list. We predict that the first missing number in the list
is the sum of 9, 17 and 31, which is 57. Hence, we can also predict that the last
second missing number is the sum of 17, 31 and 57, which is 105.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning: Making a Conjecture

Inductive reasoning is not used just to predict the next number in a list.

It is also used to make a conjecture about an arithmetic procedure.

Conjecture
In mathematics, a conjecture is an opinion or conclusion which is suspected to
be true without proof or sufficient evidence.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Example
Use Inductive Reasoning to Make a Conjecture. Consider the following proce-
dure:
1 Pick a number
2 Multiply the number by 8
3 Add 6 to the product
4 Divide the sum by 2
5 Subtract 3

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Solution
Original Number 2 3 4 5
Multiply by 8 16 24 32 40
Add 6 22 30 38 46
Divide by 2 11 15 19 23
Subtract 3 8 12 16 20

Conjecture
The procedure produces a number that is four times the original number.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning may be Incorrect

Conclusions based on inductive reasoning may be incorrect. One can not be sure
about a conjecture until a general relationship has been proven.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Example
Consider the circles shown below. For each circle, all possible line segments have
been drawn to connect each dot on the circle with all the other dots on the
circle.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

For each circle, count the number of regions formed by the line segments that
connect the dots on the circle. Your results should agree with the results in the
following table.

Number of dots 1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum number of regions 1 2 4 8 16 ?

There appears to be a pattern. Each additional dot seems to double the number
of regions. Guess the maximum number of regions you expect for a circle with
six dots. Check your guess by counting the maximum number of regions formed
by the line segments that connect six dots on a large circle.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Your drawing will show that for six dots, the maximum number of regions is 31
, not 32 as you may have guessed. With seven dots the maximum number of
regions is 57.

Just because a pattern holds true for a few cases, it does not mean the pattern
will continue. When you use inductive reasoning, you have no guarantee that
your conclusion is correct.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Counterexample
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 counterex-
ample, then the statement is a false statement.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Example
Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by finding a
counterexample.

For all numbers x:

|x| > 0
x2 > x
√
x2 = x

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Solution
Given: |x| > 0

A statement may have many counterexamples, but we need only find one coun-
terexample to verify that the statement is false.

Let x = 0. Then |0| = 0 Because 0 is not greater than 0, we have found a

counterexample.
Thus ’‘for all numbers x, |x| > 0” is a false statement.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive Reasoning

Solution
Given: x 2 > x

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.

Solution
√ p √
Given: x 2 = x Consider x = −3. Then (−3)2 = 9 = 3. Since 3 is not
equal to −3, we have found a counterexample.
√
Thus ’‘for all numbers x, x 2 = x 00 is a false statement

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning
The process of reaching conclusions based on previously known facts, rule ,defi-
nitions or properties.

In this process, one applies general assumptions, procedures, or principles

to reach a conclusion
The conclusions reached by this type of reasoning are valid and can be
relied on.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Deductive Reasoning

The Process

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Deductive Reasoning

The Structure

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Deductive Reasoning

Deductive Syllogism
It is an argument arranged in three parts.
1 Major Premise: It is a statement that gives the general principle of the
argument.
2 Minor Premise: It is a statement that gives the specific instance of the
general principle.
3 Conclusion: It is a statement that follows logically from the premises.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Deductive Reasoning

Example 1
All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.
Socrates is mortal

All men are mortal.( Major Premise)

Socrates is a man. (Minor Premise)
Socrates is mortal. (Conclusion)

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso

Deductive Reasoning

Example 2
Stealing is a criminal act.
Shoplifting is stealing.
Shoplifting is a criminal act.

Example 3
All Filipinos eat rice.
James is a Filipino.
Therefore, James eats rice.

Example 3
All athletes work out in the gym .
Joy is an athlete.
Joy works out in the gym.

Wilson D. Castañeda Jr., MS Math Chapter 3 Problem Solving and Reaso