Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning
The type of reasoning that form a conclusion based on the examination of specific examples is
called inductive reasoning. The conclusion formed by using inductive reasoning is a conjucture, since it
may or may not correct.
Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general conclusion by examining specific
examples.
Example 1: Use Inductive Reasoning to predict Number
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 is 3 larger than 15, which is 18.

b. The first two numbers differ by 2. The second and the third number differ by 3. It appears that the
difference between any two numbers ia always 1 more than the preceding difference. Since 10 and 15
differ by 5, we predict that the next number is the list will be 6 larger than 15, which is 21.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 1

Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the following lists.
a. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ? b. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?

Example 2: Use Inductive Reasoning to Make a Conjecture

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 conjuncture about the relationship between the size of the resulting number and the size of the
original number.

Solution
Suppose we pick 5 as our original number. Then the procedure would produce the following results:
Original Number: 5
Multiply by 8: 8 x 5 = 40
Add 6: 40 + 6 = 46
Divide by 2: 46 2 = 23
Subtract 3: 23 – 3 = 20

We started with 5 and followed the procedure to produce 20. Starting with 6 as our original number
produces 24. Starting with 10 produces a final result of 40. Starting with 100 produces a final result of
400. In each of this cases the resulting number is four times the original number. We conjecture that
following the given procedure a number that is four times the original number.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 2

Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 9, Add 15 to the product, divide the sum
by 3 and subtract 5.

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 resulting number
and the size of the original number.

Scientists often use inductive reasoning. For instance, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) used inductive
reasoning to discover that the time required for a pendulum to complete one swing, called the period of the
pendulum, depends on the length of the pendulum. Galileo did not have a clock, so he measured the periods of
pendulums in “heartbeats.” The following table shows some results obtained for pendulums of various lengths. For
the sake of convenience, a length of 10 inches has been designated as 1 unit.

Length of pendulum, Period of pendulum, in

in units heartbeats
1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
25 5
36 6

Example 3: Use Inductive Reasoning to Solve an Application

Use the data in the above table and inductive reasoning to answer each of the following questions.
a. If a pendulum has a length of 49 units, what is its period?
b. If the length of a pendulum is quadrupled, what happens to its period?

Solution
a. In the table, each pendulum has a period that is the square root of its length. Thus we conjecture that
a pendulum with a length of 49 units will have a period of 7 heartbeats.

b. In the table, a pendulum with a length of 4 units has a period that is twice that of a pendulum with a
length of 1 unit. A pendulum with a length of 16 units has a period that is twice that of a pendulum with
a length of 4 units. It appears that quadrupling the length of a pendulum doubles its period.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 3

A tsunami is a sea wave produced by an underwater earthquake. The height of a tsunami as
it approaches land depends on the velocity of the tsunami. Use the table below and inductive reasoning
to answer each of the following questions:

Velocity of Tsunami, Height of Tsunami, in

in feet per second feet
6 4
9 9
12 16
15 25
18 36
21 49
24 64

a. What happens to the height of a tsunami when its velocity is doubled?

b. What should be the height of a tsunami if its velocity is 30 feet per second?

Deductive Reasoning

Another type of reasoning is called deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning is distinguished from
inductive reasoning in that is the process of reaching a conclusion by applying general principles and
procedures.

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

procedures, or principles.

Example 4: Use Deductive Reasoning to Establish a Conjecture

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 represent the original number.

Multiply the number by 8:

Add 6 to the product:

Divide the sum by 2: = +3

Subtract 3: +3–3=

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

Answer : One (1)

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 4

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 6, add 10 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 5.Hint: Let represent the original number.

Inductive Reasoning vs. Deductive Reasoning

In example 5 we analyze arguments to determine whether they use inductive or deductive reasoning.

Example 5: Determine Types of Reasoning

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 P2, 100,000. Thus my home improvement will cost more than P2,100,000.

Solution

a. The 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 general assumption, this argument is an example of
deductive reasoning.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 5

Determine whether each of the following arguments is an example of inductive reasoning or deductive
reasoning.
a. All Gillian Flynn novels are worth reading. The novel Gone Girl is a Gillian Flynn novel. Thus Gone Girl is
worth reading.
b. 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, because it has not paid out any money during the last 45 tries.

Logic Puzzles
Logic puzzles, similar to the one in Example 6, can be solved by using deductive reasoning and a chart
that enables us to display the given information in a visual manner.
Example 6: Solve a Logic Puzzle
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.

Solution
From clue 1, Maria is not the banker or the dentist. In the following chart, write X1 (which stands for
“ruled out by clue 1”) in the Banker and the Dentist columns of Maria’s row.

Editor Banker Chef Dentist

Sean
Maria X1 X1
Sarah
Brian

From clue 2, Sarah is not the editor. Write X2 ( ruled out by clue 2) in the Editor column of Sarah’srow.
We know from clue 1 that the banker is not the last to get home, and we know from clue 2 that Sarah is
the last to get home; therefore, Sarah is not the banker. Write X@ in the banker column of Sarah’s row.

Editor Banker Chef Dentist

Sean
Maria X1 X1
Sarah X2 X2
Brian

From clue 3, Sarah is not the dentist. Write X3 for this condition. There are now Xs for three of the four
occupations in Sarah’s row; therefore, Sarah must be the chef. Place Y in that box. Since Sarah is the
chef, none of the three people can be the chef. Write X3 for these conditions. There are now Xs for
three of the four occupations in Maria’s row; therefore, Maria must be the editor. Insert Y to indicate
that Maria is the editor, and write X3 twice to indicate that neither Sean nor Brian is the editor.

Editor Banker Chef Dentist

Sean X3 X3
Maria Y X1 X3 X1
Sarah X2 X2 Y X3
Brian X3 X3

From clue 4, Brian is not the banker. Write X4 for this condition. See the following table. Since there are
three Xs in the Banker column, Sean must be the banker. Place a Y in that box. Thus Sean cannot be the
dentist. Write X4 in that box. Since there are three Xs in the Dentist column, Brian must be the dentist.
Place Y in that box.

Editor Banker Chef Dentist

Sean X3 Y X3 X4
Maria Y X1 X3 X1
Sarah X2 X2 Y X3
Brian X3 X4 X3 Y

Sean is the banker, Maria is the editor, Sarah is the chef, and Brian is the dentist.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 6
Brianna, Ryan, Tyler and Ashley were recently elected as the new class officers (president, vice
president, secretary, treasurer) of the sophomore class at the 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.