Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D.

Dedase

Lesson: 6
Topics: Inductive and deductive reasoning
Polygonal numbers
Learning objectives:
1.) Solve problems using inductive and deductive reasoning
2.) Discuss the Polya’s four steps in problem solving

Lesson proper:

INDUCTIVE AND DEDUCTIVE REASONING

Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general conclusion by examining specific examples.
Example: Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the following 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 3 larger than 15, which is 18.
b. 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 5, we predict that the next number in the list will be 6
larger than 15, which is 21.

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 Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D. Dedase

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.

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

There appears to be a pattern. Each additional dot seems to double the number of regions. Guess
the maximum number of regions with six dots. How about if it has 10 dots?

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

procedures, or principles.

Example:
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

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 Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D. Dedase

We started with n and ended with 4n. The procedure given in this example produces a number that
is four times the original number.
Answer: 1

LET’S TRY THIS! INDUCTIVE VS DEDUCTIVE

Determine whether each of the following arguments is an example of deductive reasoning or

inductive reasoning.
a.) During the past 10 years, a tree has produced plums every other year. Last year, tree did not
produce plums, so this year the tree will produce plums.
b.) All home improvements costs 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:
a.) This argument reaches a conclusion based on specific examples; so, it is an example of
inductive reasoning.
b.) Because the conclusion is a specific case of a general assumption, this argument is an
example of deductive reasoning.

Logic Puzzles
Logic puzzles, can be solved by using deductive reasoning and a chart that enables us to display the
given information in a visual manner.

Example:
Each of four neighbors, Sean, Maria, Sarah, and Brian, has a different occupation (editor, banker,
chef, or dentist). From the following clues, determine the occupation of each neighbor.

1. Maria gets home from work after the banker but before the dentist.
2. Sarah, who is the last to get home from work, is not the editor.
3. The dentist and Sarah leave for work at the same time.
4. The banker lives next door to Brian.

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 Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D. Dedase

Answer: Sean is the banker, Maria is the editor, Sarah is the chef, and Brian is the dentist.

SUDOKU
The modern version of Sudoku was invented in 1979 by Howard Garns in USA (where it
was called `Number Place'). It became really popular in Japan in the 1980s and in the UK since late
2004. It is now quickly spreading worldwide. The word Sudoku is an abbreviation of a phrase
which means “the digits must occur only once”.
The aim of a Sudoku puzzle is to fill in the grid so that each row, each column and each box
contains all the numbers from 1 to 9. Usually the grid is 9 by 9, using the numbers from 1 to 9, but
the easier grids are smaller, using numbers from 1 to 4 or 1 to 6.
There are several levels of difficulty for you to try:
1. Easy. A 4 by 4 grid to start off, leading to a 6 by 6 grid.
2. Medium. 9 by 9 grids, but with plenty of numbers already in place and some helpful clues.
3. Hard. The hard puzzles have less numbers already in place and require more strategies to be
used.

KENKEN
Kenken is an arithmetic-based logic puzzle that was invented by the Japanese mathematics teacher
Tetsuya Miyamoto in 2004. The noun “ken” has “knowledge” and “awareness” as synonyms. Hence,
kenken translates as knowledge squared, or awareness squared.
Mechanics:
Fill the grid with digits so as not to repeat a digit in any row or column, and so the digits within each
heavily outlined box or boxes (called a cage) will produce the target number shown in that cage by

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 Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D. Dedase

using the operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) shown by the symbol after
the numeral.
For single box cages, simply enter the number that is shown in the corner.

So, for example, the notation 6+ means that the numerals in the cage should add up to 6, and the
notation 48x means that by multiplying the numbers in the cage you will get 48.
A 4x4 grid will use the digits 1-4. A 5x5 grid will use 1-5. A 6x6 grid will use 1-6, and so on.

2 1 3
3 2 1

1 3 2

4 3 2 1
1 4 3 2
3 2 1 4
2 1 4 3

Polygonal Numbers
The ancient Greek mathematician were interested in the geometric shapes associated with
numbers. For instance, they noticed that triangles can be constructed using 1, 3, 6, 10, or 15 dots as
shown in the figure below. They called the numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, … triangular numbers. The
Greeks called the numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … square numbers and the numbers 1, 5, 12, 22, 35, …
pentagonal numbers.

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 Inductive and deductive reasoning | Ana Leizel D. Dedase

where n is the nth triangular number

𝑛(𝑛+1) 3(3+1) 3(4) 12

Example: In finding the 3rd number, n=3, so = = = =6
2 2 2 2

Where n is the nth square number

Example: In finding the 4th square number, n=4, then 𝑛2 = 42 = 16

where n is the nth pentagonal number

𝑛(3𝑛−1) 5[3(5)−1] 5(14) 70

Example: In finding the 5th pentagonal number, n=5, then = = = = 35
2 2 2 2

REFERENCE/S:
Aufman, R. et. al. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Rex Book Store, Inc., Sampaloc, Manila,
Philippines

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