Asian Development Foundation College

Tacloban City

IN

GE 114

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN

WORLD
 MODULE FIVE

PROBLEM SOLVING AND REASONING

CORE IDEA
Module three is basically showing that mathematics is not just
about numbers but much of it is problem solving and reasoning.

Learning Outcome:

1. State different types of reasoning to justify statements and

arguments made about mathematics and mathematical concept.
2. Write clear and logical proofs.
3. Solve problems involving patterns and recreational problems
following Polya’s four steps.
4. Organize one’s methods and approaches for proving and
solving problems.

Lesson
3.1 Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Specific Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Define inductive and deductive reasoning.

2. Differentiate inductive reasoning from deductive
reasoning.
3. Demonstrate the correct way in using the two kinds
of reasoning.
Apply the concept of patterns in mathematics to
solve problems in inductive and deductive
reasoning which lead into correct conjecture by
creating their own reasoning.
 In mathematics, sometimes we need to use inductive and deductive reasoning
to be able to solve some practical problems that we may encounter in our daily lives.
During your senior high school, your teacher taught you on how to solve problems
in a most scientific way and there are steps to be followed in order to solve problems
in a particular math subject, specifically in Algebra. Some of these problems are the
number problem, age problem, coin problem, work problem, mixture problem, etc.
In this module, we will be studying on how to solve problems in a different
way. We will be using what we called an inductive and deductive reasoning way.
But before we give an example on how to use this method, let us define first what
inductive and deductive reasoning is.

A. Inductive Reasoning

The type of reasoning that forms a conclusion based on the examination of

specific examples is called inductive reasoning. The conclusion formed by using
inductive reasoning is often called a conjecture, since it may or may not be correct
or in other words, it is a concluding statement that is reached using inductive
reasoning.

Inductive reasoning uses a set of specific observations to reach an

overarching conclusion or it is the process of recognizing or observing patterns and
drawing a conclusion.

So in short, inductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general

conclusion by examining specific examples.

Take note that inductive reasoning does not guarantee a true result, it only
provides a means of making a conjecture.

Based on the given definition above, we could illustrate this by means of a

diagram.

Also, in inductive reasoning, we use the “then” and “now” approach. The “then”
idea is to use the data to find pattern and make a prediction and the “now” idea is
to make a conjecture base on the inductive reasoning or find a counter- example.
Definition for counter example will be discussed on the latter part of our lecture.
 Let us have some examples on how to deal with this kind of reasoning.

Examples:
1. Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the
following list
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ?
Explanation

The given sequence of number is clearly seen that each

successive number is three (3) larger than the preceding number,
which is if the first number is increased by 3 the result is 6. Now,
when this 6 is increased by 3 the next number would be 9. If we are
going to continue the process, if 15 is increased by 3 then the next
number would be 18. Hence the required number is 18.

2. Write a conjecture that describe the pattern 2, 4, 12, 48, 240. Then use
the conjecture to find the next item in the sequence.

Step 1. Look for a pattern

2 4 12 48 240 … ?

Step 2. Analyze what is happening in the given pattern.

The numbers are multiplied by 2, then 3, then 4, then 5. The
next number will be the product of 240 times 6 or 1,140.

Step 3: Make a conjecture

Now, the answer is 1,140
3. Write a conjecture that describes the pattern shown below. How
many segments could be formed on the fifth figure?

Step 1. Look for a pattern

3-segments 9-segments 18-segments
 Step 2. Analyze what is happening in the given pattern.

3 9 18 30 ?

+6 +9 +12 +15

This could be written in a form of:

(3)(2) (3)(3) (3)(4) (3)(5)

The figure will increase by the next multiple of 3. If we add 15, the next
or the fifth figure is made of 45 segments.

Step 3. Make a conjecture

Hence the fifth figure will have 45 segments.

Application of Inductive Reasoning (Using inductive reasoning to solve

a problem)

Inductive reasoning is very essential to solve some practical problems

that you may encounter. With the use of inductive reasoning, we can easily
predict a solution or an answer of a certain problem.

Here, we can see an illustrative examples on how to solve a certain

problem using inductive reasoning.

Example 1.

Use the data below and with the use of inductive reasoning, answer
each of the following questions:
1. If a pendulum has a length of 49 units, what is its period?
2. If the length of a pendulum is quadrupled, what happens to
its period?
Note: The period of a pendulum is the time it takes for the pendulum to swing
from left to right and back to its original position.

Length of Period of
Pendulum in Pendulum in
Units heartbeats
1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
25 5
36 6

Solution:

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

Example 2.

The diagram below shows a series of squares formed by small square

tiles. Complete the table below.

Let us make a table.

Figure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 10th 15th

Number of 4 8 12 16
Tiles
 Solution:

1. Based on the given figures from the first up to fourth, we need to

observe and analyse what is really happening in the said figures.

2. Next, take a look if there is a pattern. Is there any pattern that you
may observe? If so, what it is? For sure you could say that from the
first figure, each subsequent square increases by four (4) tiles. How?
Let us take a look at this.

Number of Tiles : 4 8 12 16

Patterm: +4 +4 +4

So, if each subsequent square increases by four, we could say that the 5th,
6th, 10th, and the 15th figure should have 20, 24, 40 and 60 squares respectively.
Hence, the complete table would be

Figure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 10th 15th

Number of 4 8 12 16 20 24 40 60
Tiles

Example 3.
Two stamps are to be torn from the sheet shown below. The four
stamps must be intact so that each stamp is joined to another stamp along
at least one edge.

Next is if we tear the two stamps on the lower right portion as shown below.
Then, the next possible pattern if we tear the lower rightmost and leftmost stamp
as shown below

Also, if we tear the upper rightmost and upper leftmost stamp could be another
possible pattern as shown below.

Next possible pattern is if we tear the two upper right most stamps as shown
below.

Then, it could be followed two stamps to be torn on the lower leftmost as shown
below.

Next is the two stamps at the upper rightmost as shown below.

 The eight possible pattern is if we tear one stamp at the upper leftmost and one
stamp at the lower rightmost as shown.

Lastly, if we tear one stamp at the upper rightmost and another one stamp on the
lower leftmost as shown.

Hence, below are the different possible pattern based on the given question above.

Note: The sequence of these pattern could be interchanged.

A. Deductive Reasoning

Another type of reasoning is called deductive reasoning. It is a basic form

of valid reasoning starts out with a general statement, or hypothesis, and
examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion. So, we could
say also that this kind of reasoning works from the more general to the more
specific.
 By definition, deductive reasoning is the process of reaching specific
conclusion by applying general ideas or assumptions, procedure or principle or it
is a process of reasoning logically from given statement to a conclusion.

The concept of deductive reasoning is often expressed visually using a

funnel that narrows a general idea into a specific conclusion.

GENERAL
IDEAS

First premise that fits within general

truth

Second premise that fits

within first

SPECIFIC CONCLUSION

Example 1.

First Premise: All positive counting numbers whose unit digit is

divisible by two are even numbers.

Second Premise: A positive counting number 1,236 has a unit digit of

6 which is divisible by two.
Conclusion: Therefore, 1,236 is an even number.
Example 2.
First Premise: If the Department of Education strictly observed health
conditions of the students due to Covid 19, then there is no face-to-face
teaching and learning activity in a classroom.
Second Premise: The Philippines is currently experiencing Covid 19
pandemic.
Conclusion: Therefore, there will be no face-to-face teaching and
learning style in a classroom.

Note: Not all arguments are valid! Can you make an example of a deductive
reasoning that could be considered as an invalid argument?