GE 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World: Author: Rose Lyn M. Rapsing
GE 1 - Mathematics in The Modern World: Author: Rose Lyn M. Rapsing
Module 5
Author: Rose Lyn M. Rapsing Section 1: The Nature of Mathematics
1.3 Problem Solving and Reasoning
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Overview
There are different types of reasoning most of which are explained in
psychology books and texts. This module discusses two types of reasoning –
deductive and inductive reasoning.
Inductive reasoning (“bottom-up logic”) is distinct from deductive reasoning
(“top-down logic). While the conclusion of a deductive argument is certain, the truth
of the conclusion of an inductive argument is probable, based upon the evidence
given. Also in deductive reasoning, a conclusion is reached reductively by applying
general rules while in inductive reasoning, the conclusion is reached by generalizing
or extrapolating from specific cases to general rules.
The module is divided into three parts. The first part is an introduction to
inductive and deductive reasoning. Lessons include inductive VS deductive
arguments. Second part is the lessons on inductive reasoning. Whereas, lessons on
the operations on modular arithmetic is discussed in the third part.
Learning Outcomes
Activities To Do
1. Imagine that you ate a dish of strawberries and soon afterward your lips swelled.
Now imagine that a few weeks later you ate strawberries and soon afterwards your
lips again became swollen. The following month, you ate yet another dish of
strawberries, and you had the same reaction as formerly. You are aware that
swollen lips can be a sign of an allergy to strawberries. Using the given data, what
can you conclude?
2. Consider the following list of natural numbers: 5,10,15,20. What is the next number
of this list?
Questions To Ponder
The given activity simply ask for your
In making conclusions, what do you need to consider?
If you are asked to find the 50th term of the same series of numbers, will you still use
the method or technique you used in the activity? How effective your method will
be?
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/engcomp1-wmopen/chapter/text-inductive-reasoning/
2. The chair in the living room is red. The chair in the dining room is red. The chair in the
bedroom is red. Therefore, all the chairs in the house are red.
3. All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. The number 35 ends with a 5, so it must
be divisible by 5.
4. Samantha got an A on each of her first four math tests, so she will get an A on the next
math test.
5. The first lipstick I pulled from my bag is red. The second lipstick I pulled from my bag is
red. Therefore, all lipsticks in my bag are red.
Solution
1. The conclusion is a specific case of a general assumption. Thus, this argument is an
example of deductive reasoning.
2. The argument is from specific examples to general conclusion, so the argument is an
example of inductive reasoning.
3. The argument is from general assumption to specific conclusion, so the argument is
an example of deductive reasoning.
4. The argument reaches a conclusion based on specific examples, so it is an example
of inductive reasoning.
5. The argument reaches a conclusion based on specific examples, so it is an example
of inductive reasoning.
Self-Assessment Activity 1
Determine whether each of the following arguments is an example of inductive or deductive
reasoning.
1. We had rain each day for the last five days, so it will rain today.
2. Acute angles are less than 90 degrees. This angle is 40 degrees, so it must be an acute
angle.
3. If a figure is a rectangle, then it is a parallelogram. Figure A is a rectangle. Therefore,
Figure A is a parallelogram.
4. Every time you eat peanuts, you start to cough. You are allergic to peanuts.
5. All birds have feathers. All robins are birds. Therefore, robins have feathers.
reasoning.
Because the argument is from general assumption to specific conclusion. This argument is an example of deductive 5.
The argument reaches a conclusion based on specific examples, so it is an example of inductive reasoning. 4.
reasoning.
Because the argument is from general assumption to specific conclusion, so the argument is an example of deductive 3.
2.
Because the conclusion is a specific case of a general assumption, this argument is an example of deductive reasoning.
The argument reaches a conclusion based on specific examples, so it is an example of Inductive Reasoning. 1.
Answers to SAA 1
Inductive Reasoning
We have been employing inductive reasoning for a very long time. Inductive reasoning is
based on our ability to recognize meaningful patterns and connections. By taking into account
both examples and our understanding of how the world works, induction allows us to conclude
that something is likely to be true. By using induction, we move from specific data to a
generalization that tries to capture what the data “means”.
When we examine a list of numbers and predict the next number in the list according to
some pattern we have observed, we are using inductive reasoning.
2 Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the following lists.
1. 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, ?
Example
2. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ?
3. 3, 5, 9, 15, 23, 33, ?
Solution
1. Each successive number is 4 larger than the preceding number. Thus, we predict
that the next number in the list is 4 larger than 24, which is 28.
2. It appears here that in order to obtain each number after the first, we must double
the previous number. Therefore, the most probable next number is 16x2= 32.
3. The first two numbers differ by 2. The second and the third numbers differ by 4. It
appears that the difference between any two numbers is always 2 more than the
preceding difference. Since 23 and 33 differ by 10, we predict that the next number
in the list will be 12 larger than 33, which is 45.
When you are making a general conclusion of something through examining specific
examples then we are using inductive reasoning. The conclusion that is formed using inductive
reasoning is called a conjecture. This conjecture is an idea that may or may not be correct.
Inductive reasoning is not used just to predict the next number in a list. It is also used to
make a conjecture about an arithmetic procedure. In the following examples we must pick at least
3 different numbers to compare the size of the original numbers and the resulting numbers, and
then we make a conjecture about it.
3 Complete the procedure below 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 original number.
1. Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 12. Add
Example
12 to the product. Divide the sum by 4, and subtract 3 from the quotient.
2. Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 6 and
add 8. Divide the sum by 2, subtract twice the original number, and subtract 4.
Solution
1. Suppose we pick 3 as our original number. Then the procedure would produce the
following results:
Original number: 3
Multiply by 12: 12 x 3 = 36
Add 12: 36 + 12 = 48
Divide by 4: 48 ÷ 4 = 12
Subtract 3: 12 - 3 = 9
In each of these cases the resulting number is three times the original number.
We conjecture that following the given procedure produces a number that is three
times the original number.
(5 ∙ 6)+8
2. If the original number is 5, then 2
– (5 ∙ 2) – 4 = 5, which is equal to the
original number.
(7 ∙ 6)+8
If the original number is 7, then 2
– (7 ∙ 2) – 4 = 7, which is equal to the
original number.
(10 ∙6)+8
If the original number is 10, then 2
– (10 ∙ 2) – 4 = 10, which is equal to the
original number.
It appears, by inductive reasoning, that the procedure produces a number that
is equal to the original number.
Self-Assessment Activity 2
A. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each series
1. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ?
2. 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, ?
3. 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, 35, ?
4. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, ?
5. 1, 5, 12, 22, 35, ?
B. Use inductive reasoning to decide whether each statement is correct.
1. Pick any counting number. Multiply the number by 8. Subtract 4 from the product. Divide
the difference by 2. Add 2 to the quotient. The resulting number is four times the original
number.
2. Pick a number. Add 4 to the number and multiply the sum by 3. Subtract 7 and then
decrease this difference by the triple of the original number. The following procedure
always produces the number 5.
A. Make a conjecture.
Pick any counting number. Multiply the number by 6. Add 8 to the product. Divide the sum
by 2. Subtract 4 from the quotient.
To show that a conjecture is false, you have to find only one example in which the
conjecture is not true. This case is called a counterexample.
1 Counterexamples
Definition
A statement is a true statement provided that it is true in all cases. If you can find one case
for which a statement is not true, called a counterexample, then the statement is a false
statement.
In the following example, we will verify that each statement is false by finding a
counterexample for each.
𝑥
1
2. For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥 > .
𝑥
3. For all numbers 𝑥, |𝑥| > 0.
Solution
0 0
1. Let 𝑥 = 0. Then, 0
= 0. Because 0
is not equal to 1, we have found a
𝑥
counterexample. Thus, “For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥 = 1.” is a false statement.
1
2. For 𝑥 = 1 we have 1 > 1. Since 1 is not greater than 1, we have found a
1
counterexample. Thus “For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥 > 𝑥.” is a false statement.
3. Consider 𝑥 = 0. Then |0| = 0. Because 0 is not greater than 0, we have found a
counterexample. Thus “for all numbers 𝑥, |𝑥| > 0.” is a false statement.
Self-Assessment Activity 3
Verify that each of the following statements is a false statement by finding a counterexample.
1. For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥2 > 𝑥.
2. For all numbers 𝑥, √𝑥2 = 𝑥.
3. For all numbers 𝑥, – 𝑥 < 𝑥.
4. For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥3 ≥ 𝑥.
5. For all numbers 𝑥, 𝑥 + 𝑥 > 𝑥.
Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning is a logical process where conclusions are made from general cases.
General cases are studied after which conclusions are made as it applies to a certain case (Rips,
1994). Argument from analogy is one of the examples under deductive reasoning.
Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning are both used to create conjecture about an
arithmetic procedure. In inductive reasoning we create a conjecture by completing a certain
procedure for several different numbers (example 3). Whereas, in deductive reasoning we will
use 𝑛 to represent the number that we pick, where 𝑛 is a natural number.
12 to the product. Divide the sum by 4, and subtract 3 from the quotient.
2. Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 6 and
add 8. Divide the sum by 2, subtract twice the original number, and subtract 4.
Solution
1. Let 𝑛 represents the original number.
Multiply the number by 12: 𝑛 ∙12 = 12𝑛
Add 12 to the product: 12𝑛 + 12
12𝑛+12
Divide the sum by 4: 4 = 3𝑛 + 3
Subtract 5: (3𝑛+3) – 3 = 3𝑛
We started with 𝑛 and obtain 3𝒏. The procedure given in this example produces a
number that is three times the original number.
Self-Assessment Activity 4
A. Use deductive reasoning to create a conjecture on the following procedures:
1. Procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the number by 6, add 10 to the product, divide the
sum by 2, and subtract 5.
2. Pick any counting number. Multiply the number by 8. Subtract 4 from the product. Divide
the difference by 2. Add 2 to the quotient.
B. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following procedure always produces the
number 5. Procedure: Pick a number. Add 4 to the number and multiply the sum by 3.
Subtract 7 and then decrease this difference by the triple of the original number.
(Use 𝑛 to represent the original number.)
Logic puzzles can be solved by using deductive reasoning. A chart that enables us to display
the given information in a visual manner enables us to solve the following problems:
6
Each of four friends Donna, Sarah, Nikkie, and Xhanelle, had a different pet (fish, cat, dog,
Example
rabbit). From the following clues, determine the pet of each individual:
1. Sarah is older than her friend who owns the cat and younger than her friend
who owns the dog.
2. Nikkie and her friend who owns the rabbit are both of the same age and are
the youngest members of their group.
3. Donna is older than her friend who owns the fish.
Solution
fish cat dog rabbit
From clue 1, Sarah does not own Donna
a cat or a dog. In the chart (on Sarah 1 1
the right), write 1 (which Nikkie
stands for “ruled out by clue 1”) Xhanelle
in the cat and dog column for
Sarah.
Thus, Sarah owns the fish, Donna owns the dog, Xhanelle owns the rabbit, and Nikkie owns
the cat.
7
Colin, Maxwell, Eesh, Matthew and Nathan discovered that they have birthdays on the
Example
same day but during different months. Not one person is the same age. Their friends are
trying to guess their ages (7, 9, 10, 12, 14). From the following clues find out each person’s
age.
1. Eesh is older than Matthew.
2. Maxwell was seven 3 years ago.
3. Nathan’s age is not an odd number.
4. Matthew is ½ of Colin’s age.
5. Matthew and Eesh are 2 years apart.
Solution:
From clue 1, Eesh is older than 7 9 10 12 14
Matthew. It means that Eesh is not the Colin
youngest and Matthew is not the Maxwell
oldest. In the following chart, write Eesh 1
1(means rules out by Clue 1) in the Matthew 1
7 column for Eesh and 1 in the 14
Nathan
column for Matthew.
7 9 10 12 14
Clue 2, says Maxwell was 7, 3 years
Colin 2
ago. He must be 10 now. So, put a in
Maxwell 2 2 2 2
the 10 column for Maxwell. Then put
2 in the 10 column for all other Eesh 1 2
children, because they cannot be 10 if Matthew 2 1
Maxwell is. It also means that we can Nathan 2
put 2 in all other ages for Maxwell.
Thus, Colin is 14, Maxwell is 10, Eesh is 9, Matthew is 7, and Nathan is 12.
Self-Assessment Activity 5
Use deductive reasoning to solve the following logic puzzles.
A. Match Students with Their Major: Michael, Clarissa, Reggie, and Ellen are attending
University of Eastern Philippines (UEP). One student is an information technology major,
one is a chemistry major, one is a math major, and one is a biology major. From the
following clues, determine which major each student is pursuing.
1. Michael and the information technology major are next door neighbors.
2. Clarissa and the chemistry major have attended UEP for 2 years. Reggie has
attended UEP for 3 years, and the biology major has attended UEP for 4 years.
3. Ellen has attended UEP for fewer years than Michael.
4. The math major has attended UEP for 2 years.
B. Little League Baseball: Each of the Little League teams in a small rural community is
sponsored by a different local business. The names of the teams are the Dodgers, the
Pirates, the Tigers, and the Giants. The businesses that sponsor the teams are the bank,
the supermarket, the service station, and the drugstore. From the following clues,
determine which business sponsors each team.
1. The Tigers and the team sponsored by the service station have winning records
this season.
2. The Pirates and the team sponsored by the bank are coached by parents of the
players, whereas the Giants and the team sponsored by the drugstore are coached
by the director of the community center.
3. Jake is the pitcher for the team sponsored by the supermarket and coached by his
father.
4. The game between the Tigers and the team sponsored by the drugstore was
rained out yesterday.
KenKen and KenDoKu are trademark names for a style of arithmetic and logic puzzle
invented in 2004 by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto, who intended the puzzle to be an
instruction-free method of training the brain.
As in Sudoku, the goal of each puzzle is to fill the grid with digits (1 through 4 for a 4x4
grid, 1 through 5 for a 5x5 grid, 1 through 6 for a 6x6 grid, etc. ) so that no digits appears more
than one in any row or any column. Grids ranges from 3x3 to 9x9. Additionally, KenKen grids are
divided into heavily outlined groups of cells(often called “cages”) and the numbers in the c ells of
each cage must produce a certain “target” number when combined using a specified mathematical
operation (one of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division)
KenKen’s rules:
1. Fill in each square cell in the puzzle with a number between 1 and the size of the
grid. For example, in a 4×4 grid, use the numbers 1, 2, 3, & 4.
2. Use each number exactly once in each row and each column.
3. The numbers in each “Cage” (indicated by the heavy lines) must combine — in any
order — to produce the cage’s target number using the indicated math
operation. Numbers may be repeated within a cage as long as rule 2 isn’t violated.
4. No guessing is required. Each puzzle can be solved completely using only logical
deduction. Harder puzzles require more complex deductions.
http://www.puzzazz.com/how-to/kenken
8
Solution:
Example
We can now tell that the two empty cells in the third
column (in the 4× cage) contain 1 & 2, but we don’t
know the order. However, given that information, we
can place a 2 in the lower right cell to make the cage’s
product be 4:
Now we can place the 2 and then the 1 in the top row:
Finally, we wrap up the puzzle by placing the last two numbers in the fourth column:
Note that this is just one way to solve this puzzle. Because this is an easy puzzle, there is more than one
deductive path for solving. With harder puzzles, this is not always the case.
See: http://www.puzzazz.com/how-to/kenken
Self-Assessment Activity 6
Solve the following KenKen Puzzles:
8x 4+ 2- 2÷ 1-
3 2÷ 1 1 2- 9+
2- 6+ 6x 4 3+
3- 15x
5+ 1-
9+ 1-
Magic Square
A magic square of square of order n is a square grid (where n is the number of cells on each
side) filled with distinct positive integers in the range such that each cell contains a different
integer and the sum of the integers in each row, column, and diagonal is equal. The sum is called
the magic constant or magic sum of the magic square. A square grid with n cells on each side is
said to have order n.
A magic square of order 3:
9 Use deductive reasoning to determine the missing numbers in each magic square.
2 16
Example
11 10
7 12
14 1 15
Solution
We have a magic square of order 4:
The sum of the numbers in horizontal way is 34.
2 16
11 10
7 12
14 1 15
34
So, the sum of the numbers in each row, column, and diagonal must be 34.
Thus, we have
2 16 13 3
11 5 8 10
7 9 12 6
14 4 1 15
Self-Assessment Activity 7
Use deductive reasoning to determine the missing numbers in each magic square.
1 16 21
15 18 11
17 13
20 8 19 12 6
5 3 22 25
Summary
Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general conclusion by examining specific
examples. A conclusion based on inductive r easoning is called a conjecture. A conjecture may or
may not be correct.
Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by applying general
assumptions, procedures, or principles.
A statement is a true statement provided it is true in all cases. If you can find one case in
which a statement is not true, called a counterexample, then the statement is a false statement.
A statement may have many counterexamples, but we need only find one counterexample
to verify that the statement is false.
Responses To Consider
After working with this module, were you able to grasp the concept of using inductive and
deductive reasoning in making conclusions, predicting possible outcomes and finding
counterexamples?
The lesson on logic puzzles and KenKen puzzle requires critical thinking skills. Did you
encounter problems while solving these puzzles?
As you go along this module, what lesson/s did you feel the most difficult for you? Try to list
them down and give time to consult your teacher for further discussion.
References
Aufmann, R., Lockwood, J., et.al, Mathematics in the Modern World, Rex Bookstore, Inc.,
2018.
Gonzales, J.O. , et.al. (2015). Essential Statistics. Manila: MaxCor Publishing House, Inc.
Nocon, R., Nocon, E., Essential Mathematics for the Modern World, C & E Publishing, Inc.
2018.
Other Materials
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-47829-6_1045-1
https://ivypanda.com/essays/deductive-and-inductive-reasoning-essay/#conclusion
http://www.puzzazz.com/how-to/kenken
Note To Students
Deadline of submission of Worksheet and Reflection Paper to the Municipal Link:
____________________________
Student’s Information:
Student Number: Last Name, First Name M.I.: Course – Year:
1. The left-handed people I know use left-handed scissors; therefore, all left-handed
people use left-handed scissors.
2. Elephants have cells in their bodies, and all cells have DNA. Therefore, elephants
have DNA.
3. Every year we get a thunderstorm in May. Since it is May, we will get a
thunderstorm.
4. Jennifer always leaves for school at 7:00 a.m. Jennifer is always on time. Jennifer
assumes, then, that if she leaves at 7:00 a.m. for school today, she will be on time.
5. Every chicken we've seen has been brown. All chickens in this area must be brown.
6. All noble gases are stable. Helium is a noble gas, so helium is stable.
7. Every cat that you've observed purrs. Therefore, all cats must purr.
8. All cats have a keen sense of smell. Fluffy is a cat, so Fluffy has a keen sense of smell.
9. All horses have manes. The Arabian is a horse; therefore, Arabians have manes.
10. Cats don’t eat tomatoes. Tiger is a cat. Therefore, Tiger does not eat tomatoes.
II. Use Inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each list.
1. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ?
2. 5, 7, 11, 17, 25, 35, ?
3. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ?
4. 0, 3, 8, 15, 24, 35, ?
1 2 3 4 5 6
5. , , , , ,
2 3 4 5 6 7
,?
IV. Verify that each of the following statement is a false statement by finding a
counterexample.
1. Four kids went to an unusual pet store. Each child picked out a different animal to
take home. Can you match the child with their new friend?
Clues:
1. No child has a pet that starts with the same letter as their name.
2. Dave does not have a pet that lives in the water.
3. Molly is allergy to smoke.
4. Wendy loves to fly.
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Five pirates buried their secret treasures on an island. Each treasure is buried near
a different landmark. Where did each pirate bury his or her treasure?
Clues:
1. There are no tall trees near Bart or Bonnie's treasure.
2. Jean and Bonnie did not bury their treasure near the rock.
3. Sam buried his treasure near water.
4. Bart did not bury his treasure near the hill.
5. The water near Roger’s treasure is calm and quiet.
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________________
10+ 10x
10+
2. 11+ 2÷ 20x 6x
3- 3÷
240x 6x
6x 7+ 30x
6x 9+
8+ 2÷
VII. Use deductive reasoning to determine the missing numbers in each magic square.
13 18 27 20
31 4 36 2
21 14 16 25
30 3 5 32
17 26 15 24
8 35 1 6 33