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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning in Math

The document discusses problem solving and reasoning in mathematics. It covers inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves looking for patterns in specific examples and forming a conjecture. Deductive reasoning involves applying general principles or assumptions to arrive at a logical conclusion. The document provides examples of using both inductive and deductive reasoning to solve problems and make predictions. It emphasizes using inductive reasoning to form conjectures and deductive reasoning to logically justify conclusions.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
91 views8 pages

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning in Math

The document discusses problem solving and reasoning in mathematics. It covers inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves looking for patterns in specific examples and forming a conjecture. Deductive reasoning involves applying general principles or assumptions to arrive at a logical conclusion. The document provides examples of using both inductive and deductive reasoning to solve problems and make predictions. It emphasizes using inductive reasoning to form conjectures and deductive reasoning to logically justify conclusions.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MATHEMATICS IN THE

MODERN WORLD

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CHAPTER 3

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PROBLEM SOLVING AND REASONING
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Learning Outcomes
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At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

 State different types of reasoning to justify statement and arguments made


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about mathematics and mathematical concept.

 Write clear and logical proofs.


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 Solve problems involving patterns and recreational problems;

 Organize ones methods and approaches for proving and solving problems.

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PROBLEM SOLVING AND
REASONING

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LESSON 1

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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
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Learning Outcomes
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At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

 Define inductive and deductive reasoning.


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 Differentiate inductive reasoning from deductive reasoning.

 Demonstrate the correct way in using the two kinds of reasoning.


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 Apply the concept of patterns in mathematics to solve problems in inductive


and deductive reasoning which lead into correct conjecture by creating their
own reasoning.

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Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

The type of reasoning that forms a conclusion based on the examination of specific
examples is called inductive reasoning. The conclusion formed by using inductive
reasoning is often called a conjecture, since it may or may not be corrector in other
words; it is a concluding statement that is reached using inductive reasoning.

Inductive reasoning uses a set of specific observations to reach an overarching


conclusion or it is the process of recognizing or observing patterns and drawing a conclusion.

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 is the process of reaching a general conclusion by examining specific
examples.

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Take note that inductive reasoning does not guarantee a true result, it only provides
a means of making a conjecture.

Based on the given definition above, we could illustrate this by means of a diagram.
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Observe and look Analyze what is really
happening in the pattern Make a conjecture
for a pattern
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In inductive reasoning, we use the “then” and “now” approach. The “then” idea is to
use the data to find pattern and make a prediction and the “now” idea is to make a
conjecture base on the inductive reasoning or find a counter-example.
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Example:

1. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the


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following lists.

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ?

Solution

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.

2. Write a conjecture that describes the pattern 2, 4, 12, 48, 240. Then use the conjecture
to find the next item in the sequence.

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Step 1: Look for a pattern

2 4 12 48 240 …?

Step 2: Analyze what is happening in the given pattern

The numbers are multiplied by 2, then 3, then 4, then 5. The next


number will be the product of 240 times 6 or 1,140.

Step 3: Make a conjecture

Now, the answer is 1,140

3. Write a conjecture that describes the pattern shown below. How many

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segments could be formed on the fifth figure?

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Step 1: Look for a pattern
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3-segments 9-segments 18-segments

Step 2: Analyze what is happening in the given pattern.


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This could be written in a form of:

(3)(2) (3)(3) (3)(4) (3)(5)

The figure will increase by the next multiple of 3. If we add 15, the next or the fifth
figure is made of 45 segments.

Step 3: Make a conjecture.

Hence the fifth figure will have 45 segments.

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Application of Inductive Reasoning (Using inductive reasoning to solve a problem)

Inductive reasoning is very essential to solve some practical problems that


you may encounter. With the use of inductive reasoning we can easily predict a
solution or an answer of a certain problem.

Here, we can see an illustrative example on how to solve a certain problem


using inductive reasoning.

Example 1:

Use the data below and with the use of inductive reasoning to answer each of

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the following questions.

1. If a pendulum has a length of 49 units, what is

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its period?

2. If the length of a pendulum is quadrupled, what


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happens to its period?

NOTE: The period of a pendulum is the time it takes for the pendulum to swing from
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left to right and back to its original position.

Length of pendulum, Period of pendulum,


in units In heartbeats
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1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
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25 5
36 6

Solution:

a. In the table, each pendulum has a period that is the square root of its length.
Thus we conjecture that a pendulum with a length of 49 units will have a
period of 7 heartbeats.

b. In the table, a pendulum with a length of 4 units has a period that is twice that
of a pendulum with a length of 1 unit. A pendulum with a length of 16 units
has a period that is twice that of a pendulum with a length of 4 units. It
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appears that quadrupling the length of a pendulum doubles its period.

Example 2:

The diagram below shows a series of squares formed by small square tiles.
Complete the table below.

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Let us make a table.

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Figure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 10th 15th
Number 4 8 12 16
of Tiles
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Solution:

a. Base on the given figures from the first up to fourth, we need to observe and
analyze what is really happening in the said figures.
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b. Next, take a look if there is a pattern. Is there any pattern that you may
observe? If so, what it is? You could say that from the first figure, each
subsequent square increases by four (4) tiles. How? Let us take a look at this;
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Number of tiles:

Pattern:
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So, if each subsequent square increases by four, we could sat that the 5th ,
6th , 10th , and the 15th figure should have 20, 24, 40 and 60 squares respectively.

Hence, the complete table would be;

Figure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 10th 15th


Number 4 8 12 16 20 24 40 60
of Tiles

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Deductive Reasoning

Another type of reasoning is called deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is


distinguished from inductive reasoning in that it is the process of reaching a
conclusion by applying general principles and procedures.

Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by applying general


assumptions, procedures, or principles. It is a process of reasoning logically from
given statement to a conclusion.

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The concept of deductive reasoning is often expressed visually using a funnel that
narrows a general idea into a specific conclusion.

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GENERAL IDEAS
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First premise that fits within
general truth
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Second premise that fits within
First premise
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SPECIFIC CONCLUSION

Example 1:
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First Premise: All positive counting numbers whose unit digit is divisible by two are
even numbers.

Second Premise: A positive counting number 1,236 has a unit digit of 6 which is
divisible by two.

Conclusion: Therefore, 1,236 is an even number.

Example 2:

First Premise: If the Department of Education strictly observed health conditions of


the students due to Covid 19, then there is no face-to-face teaching and learning

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activity in a classroom.

Second Premise: The Philippines is currently experiencing Covid 1 pandemic.

Conclusion: Therefore, there will be no face-to-face teaching and learning style in a


classroom.

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Common questions

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Inductive reasoning involves forming general conclusions based on specific examples or patterns. It does not guarantee true results, as conclusions are derived from observed patterns, which may not always hold. For instance, in a sequence of numbers, patterns can be identified to predict the next number using inductive reasoning . On the other hand, deductive reasoning involves reaching a conclusion by applying general principles or assumptions, ensuring the conclusion is definitive if the premises are true. For example, deducing that a number is even if its last digit is divisible by two is a use of deductive reasoning .

Based on inductive reasoning derived from the observed data, quadrupling the length of a pendulum doubles its period. This observation is derived from the pattern where a pendulum's period becomes the square root of its length. Thus, when the length of the pendulum is quadrupled, the period doubles because the square root relationship leads to a doubling effect .

A logical proof in mathematics is structured as a series of deductive steps that connect premises to a conclusion using established principles, axioms, or previously proven statements. This structure involves a clear and logical progression where each statement follows logically from preceding ones. Proofs are integral to deductive reasoning as they provide incontrovertible evidence that the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises, ensuring the validity of mathematical arguments .

Inductive reasoning is used by observing that each number in the sequence is obtained by adding 3 to the previous number. Starting from 3, the sequence increases by 3 consecutively, which means the next number after 15 is 18, as it continues the pattern of adding 3 .

Observing health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies deductive reasoning by starting with a general premise related to health safety measures followed by specific contextual circumstances, leading to a conclusive action. For example, the premise that strict observation of health conditions precludes face-to-face teaching leads to the conclusion that due to ongoing COVID-19 conditions, in-person education is halted. This logical chain demonstrates applying general health protocols to specific situations .

Pattern recognition in inductive reasoning can be applied by analyzing the pattern of increase in the number of segments as the figures progress. For example, if each subsequent figure increases by a set pattern, such as multiplying by subsequent numbers (2, 3, 4, etc.), this can be applied to predict subsequent figures. In the example of segments increasing by multiples of 3, by recognizing this rule, one can predict that the fifth figure has 45 segments following the established pattern .

In deductive reasoning, the validity of a conclusion is ensured by the logical progression from general principles or premises to a specific conclusion. This process is visualized conceptually as a funnel, where general ideas narrow down to a specific conclusion. As long as the premises are true and the reasoning process is logically sound, the conclusion is necessarily valid .

Differentiating between inductive and deductive reasoning is crucial for effectively solving mathematical problems because each approach is suitable for different types of problems and derives conclusions in distinct ways. Inductive reasoning is useful for forming hypotheses or discovering patterns from data sets, while deductive reasoning is employed to prove theorems or establish incontrovertible truths based on established facts. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing appropriate methods, improving problem-solving efficiency, and ensuring correct logical application .

A conjecture in inductive reasoning serves as the conclusion or prediction formed from observing specific examples and patterns. It is an educated guess that proposes a general rule. This conjecture is tested by applying it to additional cases to see if it holds true. In mathematics, for instance, by observing multiple specific numerical sequences or geometric patterns and predicting upcoming terms or configurations, the validity of the conjecture can be assessed .

Creating and organizing methods for proving and solving problems in mathematics is crucial because it allows for systematic approaches to handling various mathematical concepts and problems. This organization aids in clarity, ensuring logical progression from premises to conclusions, and facilitates understanding, communication, and verification of results. It is foundational for developing logical proofs and solving complex problems, fostering a deeper comprehension of mathematical relationships and principles .

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