Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Problem Solving
GEC 14
Mathematics in the Modern World
Department of Mathematics
College of Science
Bicol University
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving with Patterns
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a
general conclusion by examining specific examples.
specific =⇒ general
Note: The conclusion formed by using inductive
reasoning is a conjecture, since it may or may not
be correct.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 1
Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number
in the following lists.
a. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15,
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.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 1
b. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15,
3−1=2
6−3=3
10 − 6 = 4
15 − 10 = 5
x − 15 = 6 ?
We want to find the value of the number x such that the
difference between the number x and 15 is equal to 6. That
is, the next number in the list will be 21.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 2
Consider the following procedure:
Pick a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6 to
the product, divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.
Complete the above procedure for several different numbers.
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture about the
relationship between the size of the resulting number and the
size of the original number.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 2
Suppose we pick 5 as our original number.
Original number: 5 6
Multiply by 8: 8 × 5 = 40 8 × 6 = 48
Add 6: 40 + 6 = 46 48 + 6 = 54
Divide by 2: 46 ÷ 2 = 23 54 ÷ 2 = 27
Subtract 3: 23 − 3 = 20 27 − 3 = 24
We started with 5 and followed the procedure to produce 20.
Starting with 6 produces 24. Starting with 100 produces a final
result of 400. In each of these cases the resulting number is four
times the original number. We conjecture that following the
given procedure produces a number that is four times the
original number.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 3
Consider the circles shown below.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 3
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. Based on this pattern, we may
guess that the maximum number of regions for a circle with six
dots is equal to 32.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 3
• The line segments
connecting six dots on a
circle yield a maximum of
31 regions, not 32 as we
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.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Counterexamples
A statement is a true statement provided that it is true for 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.
Examples:
For all numbers x,
1. |x| > 0
False. Let x = 0. Then, |x| = |0| = 0.
2. x 2 > x
False. For x = 1. Then, x 2 = 12 = 1.
√
3. x2 = x
False.√With x√= −2, x 2 = (−2)2 = 4.
Thus, x 2 = 4 = 2 6= −2.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a
conclusion by applying general assumptions,
procedures, or principles.
general =⇒ specific
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 4
Pick a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6 to the
product, divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.
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.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 5
Examples of deductive reasoning
X All pentagons have exactly five sides. Figure A is
a pentagon. Therefore, Figure A has exactly five
sides.
X All books written by J. K. Rowling make the
best-seller list. The book Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows is a J. K. Rowling book.
Therefore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
made the bestseller list.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 6
Determine whether each of the following arguments is an
example of inductive reasoning or deductive reasoning.
a. During the past 10 years, a tree has produced plums
every other year. Last year the tree did not produce
plums, so this year the tree will produce plums.
Solution:
This argument reached a conclusion based on specific
examples, so it is an example of inductive reasoning.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example 6
b. All home improvements cost more than the estimate.
The contractor estimated that my home improvement
will cost $35,000. Thus my home improvement will cost
more than $35,000.
Solution:
Because the conclusion is a specific case of a general
assumption, this argument is an example of deductive
reasoning.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Sequence and Terms
a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, ..., an
a1 represents the first term of a sequence
a2 represents the second term of a sequence
a3 represents the third term of a sequence
.
.
.
an represents the nth term of a sequence
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Terms of a Sequence
Example: Consider the following sequence.
2, 6, 12, 20, 30,..., n2 + n,...
Here, we have
a1 = 2, a2 = 6, a3 = 12, a4 = 20, a5 = 30, and
an = n 2 + n
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Difference Table
When we examine a sequence, it is natural to ask:
X What is the next term?
X What formula or rule can be used to generate
the terms?
Difference Table
- shows the difference between successive terms of
the sequence
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
First Differences
For example, we have this sequence
2, 5, 8, 11, 14,...
Using the above difference table, we can predict
that the next term of the sequence is 14 + 3 = 17 .
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Second Differences
Consider the following sequence.
5, 14, 27, 44, 65,...
Observe that the first differences in this table are
not all the same as shown in row (1). Computing
the differences of the first differences, we obtain the
second differences.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
If the pattern continues, then a 4 would also be the
next second difference, and we can extend the table
to the right as follows.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
We add 4 to the first difference 21 to produce the
next first difference, 25. Then, we add this
difference to the fifth term, 65, to predict that 90
is the next term in the sequence.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Example
You may study the following difference table to
predict the next term of the following sequence.
2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, ...
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
nth-Term Formula for a Sequence
In some cases, we can use patterns to predict a
formula, called an nth-term formula, that
generates the terms of a sequence.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
nth-Term Formula for a Sequence
Example: Consider the formula an = 3n2 + n.
Using this formula, we obtain
a1 = 3(12 ) + 1 = 4,
a2 = 3(22 ) + 2 = 14,
a3 = 3(32 ) + 3 = 30,
a4 = 3(42 ) + 4 = 52,
a5 = 3(52 ) + 5 = 80,
a6 = 3(62 ) + 6 = 114.
If we want to find the 40th term, we replace each n with 40.
Thus, we have
a40 = 3(402 ) + 40 = 4840 .
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
The Fibonacci Sequence
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144,...
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Exercises
In 1-3, determine whether each of the following arguments is
an example of inductive reasoning or deductive reasoning.
1. All medical Kdramas are worth watching. The Kdrama
Romantic Doctor is a medical Kdrama. Thus, Romantic
Doctor is worth watching.
2. Celina passed each of her first four math tests, so she will
also pass on the next math test.
3. All first year students of Bicol University are honest.
Kierran is a first year student in BU. Therefore, Kierran is
honest.
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
Exercises
4. Find a counterexample to show that this conjecture is false.
Conjecture: For all numbers x, x 4 > x.
5. Use a difference table to predict the next term of each
sequence.
a. −2, 2, 12, 28, 50, 78
b. −4, −1, 14, 47, 104, 191, 314
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Problem Solving with Patterns
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