Reasoning and Problem Solving

Libeeth B. Guevarra
Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Reasoning and Problem Solving 1

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning is the act of thinking about something in

a logical and sensible way.

Inductive Reasoning is a type of reasoning that

forms a conclusion based on the examination of
specific examples. The conclusion drawn is called a
conjecture.

Deductive Reasoning is the process of using facts,

rules, definitions, or properties to reach a valid
conclusion.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 2

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Example
Identify the figure that completes the pattern.

By inductive reasoning, answer is (2).

Reasoning and Problem Solving 3

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Example

By inductive reasoning, the answer is C.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 4

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Example
Pick a number. Multiply it by 6, add 8 to the product,
divide the sum by 2, and then subtract 4. Cite 2
examples and use inductive reasoning to make a
conjecture. Use deductive reasoning to establish the
conjecture.
Conjecture: The series of operations will triple the
original number. (verify)

Reasoning and Problem Solving 5

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

To verify the conjecture:

Let n be any number
Multiplying by 6 → 6n
Adding 8 to the
→ 6n + 8
product
Dividing the sum by 2 → 3n + 4
Subtracting 4 → 3n
The conjecture is true for whatever number you
picked. The series of operations will indeed triple the
original number.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 6

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Example
(These steps are using deductive√ reasoning).
Breven solved the equation 5 + x + 14 = x + 7 using the
steps.
√
Subtract 5 from both sides x + 14 = x + 2
Squaring both sides of the
x + 14 = (x + 2)2
equation
perform binomial
x + 14 = x 2 + 4x + 4
expansion
Subtract x + 14 from both
0 = x 2 + 3x − 10
sides of the equation
Factor the right side of the
0 = (x + 5)(x − 2)
equation
Zero property, x = −5 or
x + 5 = 0 or x − 2 = 0
x =2
Reasoning and Problem Solving 7
 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Checking √ −5 we have
if x =
5 + √−5 + 14 = −5 + 7
5+ 9=2
5 + 3 = 2 is false.
if x =
√ 2 we have
5 + √2 + 14 = 2 + 7
5 + 16 = 9
5 + 4 = 9 is true.

Thus, x = 2 is the only solution to the given equation.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 8

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Sequence is an ordered succession of numbers and

formed according to a definite rule.
Example
S1. Find the next three terms in the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, . . .
Answer: 11, 13, and 15

Example
S2. What is the nth number of the sequence 10, 15, 20, 25, . . .?
Answer: 5n + 5

Example
S3. What is the nth number of the sequence 5, 8, 13, 20, 29, . . .?
Answer: n2 + 4

Reasoning and Problem Solving 9

 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Counterexample is a specific case in which a

statement is false. One counterexample is enough to
prove that a statement is false.
Example
1 If you are a student of CIT University, then you are from
Cebu.
Maria is a student of CIT University but she is from Leyte.
2 If AB ≥ 0, then A and B are positive.
A = -6 and B = -4
√
3 x2 − 4 = x − 2
x = −5

Reasoning and Problem Solving 10

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Polya’s Problem - Solving Tecnique

Steps of Polya’s Problem Solving Technique

(George Polya)
1
Understand the problem
2
Devise a plan
3
Carry out the plan
4
Review the Solution

Reasoning and Problem Solving 11

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

1. Understanding the Problem

You must have a clear understanding of the problem.

Can you state the problem in your own words?

What is being asked or the goal?
What are the given information or data?
Is there information that, if known, would allow
you to solve the problem?
Is there extraneous information that is not
needed to solve the problem?

Reasoning and Problem Solving 12

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

2. Devise a Plan
Successful problem solvers use a variety of
techniques when they attempt to solve a problem.
Make a list of the known information.
Draw a diagram.
Make a table or chart.
Try to solve a similar but simpler problem.
Look for pattern.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 13

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Guess at a solution and then check your result.

Perform an experiment.
Write an equation. If necessary, define what
each variable represents.
Work backwards.
Use an indirect reasoning.
Make an organized list that shows all the
possibilities.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 14

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

3. Carry out the plan

Implement the strategy or strategies.
Work carefully, give yourself time, get ideas from
others.
Keep an accurate and neat record of all your
attempts.
Realize that some of your initial plans will not
work and that you may have to devise another
plan or modify your existing plan.
Do not be afraid of starting over.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 15

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

4. Review the solution

Ensure that the solution is consistent with the

facts of the problem.
Interpret the solution in the context of the
problem.
Can you solve other related or more general
problem?

Reasoning and Problem Solving 16

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P1. Determine the 76th number after the decimal point of the
5
decimal representation of .
7

5
1 = 0.7142857143 . . . (rounded off value)
7
2 Look for pattern in the decimal expansion.
5
3 = 0.714285 . . . Six numbers, 714285, repeats in the
7
expansion. Since 76 = 6(12) + 4, the 76th number in the
expansion is the same as the 4th in 714285, which is 2.
4 Checking/counting the digits in the decimal expansion.

Reasoning and Problem Solving 17

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P2. Determine the units digit of 4300
Solution
1 4300 = 4 × 4 × 4 × · · · × 4
2 Look for pattern in the expansion.
3 41 = 4 ; 42 = 16 ; 43 = 64; 44 = 256
observe from the expansion that the units digit is either 4
or 6.
Furthermore, it can be observed that if the exponent is
odd, the units digit is 4 and if it is even, the units digit is 6.
Since 300 is even, 4300 has 6 as its units digit.
4 Checking: The units digit varies from 464646 . . .
300 = 2(150)

Reasoning and Problem Solving 18

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P3. Blaise has a number of 5 centavos and 10 centavos
amounting to P3.05. There are 19 more 5 - centavo coins than
10- centavo coins. How many pieces of each coin are there?
Solution
1 Given: Total money = 3.05 : and the number of 5-cents is
more than the 10-cents by 19.
Problem: The number of 5-cents and 10-cents
2 Solve by trial and error
Trial # 10-cents # 5-cents Amount
3 Trial 1 1 20 1.10
Trial 2 14 33 3.05
4 33-14= 19; and 14(0.10) + 33(0.05) = 3.05
Reasoning and Problem Solving 19
 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P4. Each one- Ann, Enya, Alvin, and Johnny have different
favorite color among red, blue, green and orange, No person’s
name contains the same number of letters as his/her favorite
color. Alvin and the boy who likes blue live in different parts of
town. Red is the favorite color of one of the girls. What is each
person’s favorite color?

Answer:
Ann → green
Enya → red
Alvin → orange
Johnny → blue

Reasoning and Problem Solving 20

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P5. Coleen celebrated her Birthday party in a private
home’s poolside garden. It was attended by 30
persons. If each person shook hands with each
other exactly once, then how many handshakes took
place?
Answer: 435

Reasoning and Problem Solving 21

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P6. The first few lines of the Christmas song 12 Days of
Christmas says:
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a
partridge in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas by
true love sent to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear
tree. On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me,
three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear
tree, and so on.
In all, how many gifts were sent by the True Love to his Lover
from the first day to the twelfth day of Christmas?

Answer: 364

Reasoning and Problem Solving 22

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P7. The number of ducks and pigs in a field totals 35. The total
number of legs among them is 98. Assuming each duck has
exactly two legs and each pig has exactly four legs, determine
how many ducks and how many pigs are in the field.

Answer:
ducks = 21
pigs = 14

Reasoning and Problem Solving 23

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P8. In the World Math Competition in UK, the contestants were
given ten items to be solved in four hours. Five points were
given for each correct answer and two points were deducted for
each wrong answer. Albert did all questions and scored 29,
how many correct answers did he have?

Answer: 7

Reasoning and Problem Solving 24

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P9. I am thinking of a two - digit number.
It is odd
Its tens digit is even.
It is prime.
The sum of its digits is 11.
The product of its digits is 24.
What number am I thinking of?

Answer: 83

Reasoning and Problem Solving 25

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P10. There are 82 people collecting signatures to protest the
destruction of the rain forests. If there are 47 males and 28
teenagers, 13 of whom are girls, then how many females are
collecting signatures.

Answer: 35

Reasoning and Problem Solving 26

 Polya’s Problem-Solving Technique

Example
P11. A survey of young adults was taken to determine which of
the various media they use regularly to obtain the news. The
follwing information was obtained:

Of the 36 people who read the newspaper, 13 use only

the newspaper to learn the news.
Of the 48 people who listen to the radio, 11 use only the
radio to learn news
23 people use all three to learn the news.

How many people use both the radio and television regularly to
learn the news. Answer: 37

Reasoning and Problem Solving 27