Study Guide for Unit Three Lesson 1
Mathematical Reasoning: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Overview and Preliminaries
Reasoning is associated with problem solving and critical thinking. If we are
faced with a problem, puzzle, or dilemma, we attempt to reason through it in hopes
of arriving at a solution. In problem solving, one must understand the question,
gather all pertinent facts, organize and analyse these information, or compare the
problem with previous problems and come to some method for solving it, perhaps
use pictures or formulas to solve it. The two major types of reasoning, deductive
and inductive, refer to the process by which someone creates a conclusion as well
as how they believe their conclusion to be true.
Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students must have used different types of
reasoning to justify statements and arguments made about mathematics and
mathematical concepts.
Focus Questions
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to give precise and thorough
answers to each of the following questions. You should keep these questions in
mind to focus your thoughts as you complete your study guide of this lesson.
1. What is reasoning? How is reasoning associated with problem solving and
critical thinking?
2. What is inductive reasoning? Can you demonstrate how to use inductive
reasoning in problem solving?
3. What is a conjecture? When does one make a conjecture? What is the value
of a conjecture in solving a problem?
4. What is deductive reasoning? Can you demonstrate how to use deductive
reasoning in problem solving?
Activities for Learning
1. As a beginning Activity perform the Monty Hall Problem. (See pdf in google
classroom)
2. Study Section 1.1 of the textbook. While studying the section, complete each
check your progress exercise and consult the answers on page S1 beforer
proceeding further in the section. (Aufmann, R., et. al. (2013) Mathematical
Excursions. 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning (Chapter 1)
3. View and study the content in the following videos.
a. Inductive Reasoning vs Deductive Reasoning:
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/deductive-reasoning-1
b. Inductive Reasoning:
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/inductive-reasoning-2
c. Inductive Reasoning (Example 2):
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/inductive-reasoning-3
d. Using Inductive Reasoning:
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/u12-l1-t3-we1-
inductive-reasoning-1
e. Using Inductive Reasoning (Example 2):
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/u03-l1-t1-we2-
inductive-patterns
f. Deductive Reasoning:
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/deductive-reasoning-2
g. Using Deductive Reasoning:
[Link]
induction/alg-deductive-and-inductive-reasoning/v/deductive-reasoning-3
4. Do the following Exercises:
1. Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by finding
a counterexample for each.
For all numbers x:
x
a.
x
=1 c. √ x 2+16=x +4
x+3
b. = x+1
3
2. Determine whether each of the following arguments is an example of
inductive reasoning or deductive reasoning.
a. Emma enjoyed reading the novel Under the Dome by Stephen King, so
she will enjoy reading his next novel.
b. All pentagons have exactly five sides. Figure A is a pentagon.
Therefore, Figure A has exactly five sides.
c. Every English setter likes to hunt. Duke is an English setter, so Duke
likes to hunt.
d. Cats don’t eat tomatoes. Tigger is a cat. Therefore, Tigger does not eat
tomatoes.
e. A number is a neat number if the sum of the cubes of its digits equals
the number. Therefore, 153 is a neat number.
3. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each list. (See
Aufmann, et al. p. 11, Exercise 1.1 nos. 4, 6, 8)
4. Exercise 1.1 Nos. 43 and 44 ((See Aufmann, et al. p. 14).
5. Match Students with Their Major
Michael, Clarissa, Reggie, and Ellen are attending West Visayas State
University (WVSU). One student is a computer science major, one is a
chemistry major, one is a business major, and one is a biology major.
From the following clues, determine which major each student is pursuing.
a. Michael and the computer science major are next-door neighbors.
b. Clarissa and the chemistry major have attended WVSU for 2 years.
Reggie has attended WVSU for 3 years, and the biology major has
attended WVSU for 4 years.
c. Ellen has attended WVSSU for fewer years than Michael.
d. The business major has attended WVSU for 2 years .
Pepared by:
FRANCIS O. PANTINO
West Visayas State University (Main Campus)-Iloilo City