Math Reasoning

Mathematical Reasoning and
Logic
Inductive Reasoning
• Inductive reasoning is a logical process in
which multiple premises, all believed true or
found true most of the time, are combined to
obtain a specific conclusion.
• Inductive reasoning is often used in
applications that involve prediction,
forecasting, or behavior.
Inductive Reasoning
• Process of forming a conclusion based on a set
of observations
• It allows us to form ideas about groups of
things
• Refers to reasoning that takes specific
information and makes a broader
generalization that's considered probable,
while still remaining open to the fact that the
conclusion may not be 100% guaranteed.
Inductive Reasoning
• You're making an educated or informed guess
based on the information or data that you
have.
• It might sound right, but that doesn't mean it
is right.
• It does not suffice to be a valid method of
proof.
Examples of Inductive Reasoning
• Jennifer always leaves for school at 7:00 a.m. Jennifer is
always on time. Jennifer assumes, then, that she if she
leaves at 7:00 a.m. for school today, she will be on time.
• The cost of goods was $1.00. The cost of labor to

manufacture the item was $0.50. The sales price of the
item was $5.00. So, the item always provides a good profit
for the stores selling it.
• Every windstorm in this area comes from the north. I can

see a big cloud of dust in the distance. A new windstorm is
coming from the north.
• Bob is showing a big diamond ring to his friend
Larry. Bob has told Larry that he is planning to
marry Joan. Bob must be surprising Joan with the
diamond ring tonight.
• The chair in the living room is red. The chair in

the dining room is red. The chair in the bedroom
is red. All the chairs in the house are red.
• Every time you eat peanuts, you start to cough.

You are allergic to peanuts.
• Every cat that you've observed purrs. Therefore,
all cats must purr.
• Michael just moved here from Chicago. Michael

has red hair. Therefore, all people from Chicago
have red hair.
• The children in that house yell loudly when they

play in their bedroom. I can hear children yelling
in that house. Therefore, the children must be
playing in their bedroom.
Deductive Reasoning
• Deductive reasoning is when you move from a
general statement to a more specific
statement through a logical thought process.
• Deductive reasoning is the foundation of the
scientific method. In the scientific method,
one starts with a general theory or belief, and
then observes specific things in order to test
the general theory or belief.
Examples of Deductive Reasoning
• All men or mortal. Socrates is a man.
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
• Jenna is in Mrs. Jones' class. Mrs. Jones' class
is in the library. Jenna will be in the library.
• All apples are fruits. The Granny Smith is a
type of apple. The Granny Smith is a fruit.
• All cows are mammals. Bessie is a cow. Bessie
is a mammal.
• All of the women in my family have college
degrees. My Aunt Joan is visiting today. Aunt
Joan has a college degree.
• All dolphins are mammals, all mammals have
kidneys; therefore all dolphins have kidneys.
• 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.
• All birds have feathers and all robins are birds.
Therefore, robins have feathers.
• It's dangerous to drive on icy streets. The
streets are icy now, so it would be dangerous
to drive.
Inductive Reasoning vs. Deductive
Reasoning
• Inductive reasoning is akin to deductive reasoning. The
main difference is that, with inductive reasoning, the
premises provide some evidence for the validity of the
conclusion, but not all.
• With inductive reasoning, the conclusion might be true,

and it has some support, but it may nonetheless be false.
However, your educated guess can become a hypothesis
you could consider fleshing out through research and an
abundance of outside sources.
• With deductive reasoning, the conclusion is necessarily

true if the premises are true.
Reasoning Examples
• Inductive Reasoning: The first lipstick I pulled
from my bag is red. The second lipstick I pulled
from my bag is red. Therefore, all the lipsticks
in my bag are red.
• Deductive Reasoning: 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.
Reasoning Examples
• Inductive Reasoning: My mother is Irish. She
has blond hair. Therefore, everyone from
Ireland has blond hair.
• Deductive Reasoning: My mother is Irish.

Everyone from Ireland has blond hair.
Therefore, my mother has blond hair.
Reasoning Examples
• Inductive Reasoning: Most of our snowstorms
come from the north. It's starting to snow.
This snowstorm must be coming from the
north.
• Deductive Reasoning: All of our snowstorms

come from the north. It's starting to snow.
Therefore, the storm is coming from the
north.
Reasoning Examples
• Inductive Reasoning: Maximilian is a shelter
dog. He is happy. All shelter dogs are happy.
• Deductive Reasoning: Maximillian is a shelter

dog. All shelter dogs are happy. Therefore, he
is happy.
Exercise: Inductive Reasoning vs.
Deductive Reasoning
• Every chicken we've seen has been brown. All
chickens in this area must be brown.
• John is an excellent swimmer. His family has a

swimming pool. John's sister Mary must also be
an excellent swimmer.
• Cacti are plants and all plants perform

photosynthesis; therefore, cacti perform
photosynthesis.
Deductive Reasoning
• All cats have a keen sense of smell. Fluffy is a
cat, so Fluffy has a keen sense of smell.
• Red meat has iron in it and beef is red meat.

Therefore, beef has iron in it.
• All brown dogs in the park today are small

dogs. Therefore, all small dogs must be brown.
Deductive Reasoning
• All the children in this daycare center like to play
with Legos. All children must like to play with
Legos.
• Elephants have cells in their bodies and all cells

have DNA. Therefore, elephants have DNA.
• Practically every house on South Street is falling

apart. Sherry lives on South Street. Her house is
probably falling apart.
Deductive Reasoning
• Acute angles are less than 90 degrees. This angle
is 40 degrees, so it must be acute.
• Ray is a football player. All the other football

players on the high school team weigh more than
170 pounds. Therefore, Ray must weigh more
than 170 pounds.
• All horses have manes. The Arabian is a horse;

therefore, Arabians have manes.

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Mathematical Reasoning and

• The cost of goods was $1.00. The cost of labor to

• Every windstorm in this area comes from the north. I can

• The chair in the living room is red. The chair in

• Every time you eat peanuts, you start to cough.

• Michael just moved here from Chicago. Michael

• The children in that house yell loudly when they

• With inductive reasoning, the conclusion might be true,

• With deductive reasoning, the conclusion is necessarily

• Deductive Reasoning: My mother is Irish.

• Deductive Reasoning: All of our snowstorms

• Deductive Reasoning: Maximillian is a shelter

• John is an excellent swimmer. His family has a

• Cacti are plants and all plants perform

• Red meat has iron in it and beef is red meat.

• All brown dogs in the park today are small

• Elephants have cells in their bodies and all cells

• Practically every house on South Street is falling

• Ray is a football player. All the other football

• All horses have manes. The Arabian is a horse;

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