UNIT 3: PROBLEM-

SOLVING AND
REASONING
LESSON 1: REASONING
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students are expected
to:
1. Identify the difference between
deductive and inductive reasoning;
2. Write clear and logical proofs; and
3. Apply the different types of reasoning to
justify statements and arguments made
about mathematics and mathematical
concepts.
LESSON 1: REASONING
Mathematics is not just about numbers. Much of
it is problem-solving and reasoning – inductive and
deductive. This is the skill needed to exemplify critical
thinking and problem-solving ability. Logic and
reasoning are very useful tools in decision-making.

Reasoning is the practice of stating ideas clearly

and precisely to conclude. There are two main types
of reasoning, Inductive Reasoning and Deductive
Reasoning.
INDUCTIVE REASONING
Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching
a general conclusion by examining specific
examples. The conclusion formed by using
inductive reasoning is a conjecture.
INDUCTIVE REASONING
Examples:
1.) 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ______.

Solution:
3×2=6
3×3=9
3 × 4 = 12
3 × 5 = 15
3 × 6 = 18
INDUCTIVE REASONING
Examples:
2.) 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, _____.

Solution:
1+2=3
3+3=6
6 + 4 = 10
10 + 5 = 15
15 + 6 = 21
INDUCTIVE REASONING
Examples:
3.) Use inductive reasoning to make conjecture. Complete the
following procedure for several different numbers.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number
by 8, add 6 to the product, d.ivide the sum by 2, and subtract by 3.
Solution:
If I pick 2, following the procedure above,
2 × 8 = 16
16 + 6 = 22
22 ÷ 2 = 11
11 − 3 = 8.
 INDUCTIVE REASONING

“The number picked will be multiplied

by 4 to get 8.”
or
“The number picked will be added by 6
to get 8.”
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
To verify our conjectures, we have to
pick another number, say 5, then
5 × 8 = 40
40 + 6 = 46
46 ÷ 2 = 23
23 − 3 = 20
 INDUCTIVE REASONING

“The number picked will be multiplied

by 4 to get 20.”
or
“The number picked will be added by 6
to get 20.”
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
Let’s have another number to really assure that the
conjecture is correct. Take note, that the more example,
the more we can verify the conjecture as correct. If I
picked −2, then
−2 × 8 =− 16
−16 + 6 = −10
−10 ÷ 2 = −5
−5 − 3 = − 8
INDUCTIVE REASONING

NUMBER PICKED RESULT

2 8

5 20

-2 -8
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
You can pick more numbers of your choice.
Nevertheless, we now have verified the conjecture
and have this general conclusion.

“The number picked will be multiplied by 4 to get

the resulting number.”
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
Try this:
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.
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
Here is another example of inductive reasoning.
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.”
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
The following table shows some results obtained for
pendulums of various lengths. For the sake of
convenience, 10 inches in length = 1 unit.

Length of pendulum Period of pendulum

(in units) (in heartbeats)
1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
25 5
36 6
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
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?
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
a.) If a pendulum has a length of 49 units. What is
its period?
Length of pendulum Period of pendulum
(in units) (in heartbeats)
1 1
4 2 Answer:
7 heartbeats
9 3
16 4
25 5
36 6
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
b.) If the length of a pendulum is quadrupled,
what happens to its period?

Length of pendulum Period of pendulum

(in units) (in heartbeats)
1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
25 5
36 6
Answer:
If the length is quadrupled, the period is
doubled.
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
Try this one:
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 feet per second) (in feet)
6 4
9 9
12 16
15 25
18 36
21 49
 INDUCTIVE REASONING
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?
 ASSIGNMENT:
 Make a 300-word essay where you were able to
apply the inductive reasoning in one of your life
experiences.

 Guidelines for submission:

• Encoded (Convert it into PDF)
• Font size - 12
• Font Style - Calibri
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
A statement is a true statement provided that it
is true in all cases. Counterexample is a case
that makes a statement false.
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by finding
a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
a.) |x| > 0
It is the absolute value, where any number will become
positive, except for 0, since 0 is neither positive nor
||
negative.

If x = 0, then
|0|> 0 Therefore, x = 0 is a
counterexample of |x| > 0.
0>0
False
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by
finding a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
b.) > x

If x = 2, then
>2 Therefore, x = 2 is NOT a
counterexample of > x.
4>2
True
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by
finding a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
b.) > x

If x = 1, then
>1 Therefore, x = 1 is a
1>1 counterexample of > x.

False
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by
finding a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
b.) > x

If x = 0, then
>0 Therefore, x = 0 is also a
0>0 counterexample of > x.

False
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by
finding a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
c.) = x

If x = 4, then
=4 Therefore, x = 4 is NOT a
=4 counterexample of = x.

4=4
True
COUNTEREXAMPLE:
Examples:
Verify that each of the following statements is false by
finding a counterexample. For all real numbers x:
c.) = x

If x = -3, then
= -3 Therefore, x = -3 is a
= -3 counterexample of = x.

3 = -3
False
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Deductive reasoning is the process of
reaching a conclusion by applying general
assumptions, procedures, or principles.
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Examples:
1.) Use deductive reasoning to establish 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 by 3.
Solution:
Let n be the number I picked.

n x 8 = 8n
Therefore, if the number we picked is 5,
8n + 6 = 8n + 6 that is n = 5, then 4(5) = 20.
We have verified that the number picked
= 4n + 3 will be multiplied by 4, the same
4n + 3 – 3 = 4n conclusion in the first example for
inductive reasoning.
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Examples:
2.) Use deductive reasoning to establish a conjecture.
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.
Solution:
Let n be the number I picked.

n x 9 = 9n
Therefore, if the number we picked is 2,
9n + 15 = 9n + 15 that is n = 2, then 3(2) = 6.
We have verified that the number picked
= 3n + 5 will be multiplied by 3, the same
3n + 5 – 5 = 3n conclusion in the second example for
inductive reasoning.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:

INDUCTIVE DEDUCTIVE
REASONING: REASONING:

Specific to General to
General Specific
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

Determine whether each of the following

arguments is an example of inductive reasoning
or deductive reasoning.
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

1. 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.

INDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

2. All home improvements cost more than the

estimate. The contractor estimated that my
home improvement will cost P1,500,000. Thus,
my home improvement will cost more than
P1,500,000.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

3. All Gillian Flynn novels are worth reading. The

novel Gone Girl is a Gillian Flynn novel. Thus,
Gone Girl is worth reading.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

4. 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.

INDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

5. All amoeba multiply by dividing. I have

named the amoeba shown in my microscope
Amelia. Therefore, Amelia multiplies by dividing.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

6. My mother is Irish. She has blond hair.

Therefore, everyone from Ireland has blond hair.

INDUCTIVE REASONING
INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

7. The first lipstick I pulled from my bag is red.

All lipsticks in my bag are red. Therefore, the
second lipstick I pull from my bag will be red,
too.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING