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Problem Solving and Reasoning

This document discusses inductive and deductive reasoning. It defines inductive reasoning as making general conclusions from specific examples by looking for patterns. Deductive reasoning is reaching conclusions by applying general rules or principles. Examples are given of using each type of reasoning to solve puzzles or logic problems. The document also introduces KenKen puzzles, which involve using arithmetic operations and logical deduction.

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119 views22 pages

Problem Solving and Reasoning

This document discusses inductive and deductive reasoning. It defines inductive reasoning as making general conclusions from specific examples by looking for patterns. Deductive reasoning is reaching conclusions by applying general rules or principles. Examples are given of using each type of reasoning to solve puzzles or logic problems. The document also introduces KenKen puzzles, which involve using arithmetic operations and logical deduction.

Uploaded by

proximus
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
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Problem Solving and Reasoning

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Gwendolyn Tadeo

Saint Louis University

August 30, 2019

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Reference: Mathematical Excursions
Edition: Third
Authors: Aufmann, Lockwood, Nation and Clegg

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and Reasoning
Inductive and Deductive reasoning are two fundamental forms of

reasoning for mathematicians.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Denition (Inductive Reasoning)

Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general


conclusion by examining specic examples.
It involves looking for patterns and making generalizations.
The conclusion formed by using inductive reasoning is often called a
conjecture, since it may or may not be correct.

When you examine a list of numbers and predict the next number
in the list according to some pattern you have observed, you are
using inductive reasoning.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
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,. . . ?
c. 3, 5, 9, 15, 23, 29, 35,. . . ?
1 2 3 4 5
d.
2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , . . .?
e. 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,. . . ?

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Example

Determine the gure that comes next in the following sequence.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Remark

Inductive reasoning is not used just to predict the next number or


gure in a list.
We use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture about an
arithmetic procedure.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and 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.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and Reasoning
Denition (Counterexamples)

A statement is a true statement provided that it is true in all cases.


If you can nd one case for which a statement is not true, called a
counterexample, then the statement is a false.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by
nding a counterexample.

Example

For all numbers x:


a. |x| > 0
b. x2 > x
√
c. x2 = x.
A statement may have many counterexamples, but we need only to
nd one counterexample to verify that the statement is false.

Exercise

a. xx = 1
x+3
b. √ x =x +1
c. x 2 + 16 = x + 4

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and 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.

Denition

Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by


applying general assumptions, procedures, or principles.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Example

Procedure:
1. Pick a number.
2. Multiply the number by 8.
3. Add 6 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Example

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.

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.

c. All Janet Evanovich novels are worth reading. The novel Twelve
Sharp is a Janet Evanovich novel. Thus Twelve Sharp is worth
reading.

d. I know I will win a jackpot on this slot machine in the next 10


tries, because it has not paid out any money during the last 45 tries.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Logic Puzzles
Logic puzzles , similar to the example below, 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


dierent 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.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Exercise

Brianna, Ryan, Tyler, and Ashley were recently elected as the new
class o cers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer) of the
sophomore class at Summit College. From the following clues,
determine which position each holds.
1. Ashley is younger than the president but older than the treasurer.
2. Brianna and the secretary are both the same age, and they are
the youngest members of the group.
3. Tyler and the secretary are next-door neighbors.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Kenken Puzzle

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.

Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University


Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and Reasoning
Gwendolyn Tadeo Saint Louis University
Problem Solving and Reasoning

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