Problem
Solving
Chapter 4
Problem Solving
Chapter 4
Section 4.1: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Section 4.2: Problem Solving with Patterns
Section 4.3: Problem Solving Strategies
Inductive
Reasoning
INDUCTIVE
REASONING
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Inductive Reasoning is the process of reaching a general
conclusion by examining specific examples.
The conclusion formed by using inductive
reasoning is a conjecture, since it may or may not be
correct.
Example 1: Use Inductive Reasoning to Predict a
Number
Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the following lists:
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ?
1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ?
Solution 1: Use Inductive Reasoning to Predict a
Number (#1)
Answers:
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.
Solution 1: Use Inductive Reasoning to Predict a
Number (#2)
Answers:
The first two numbers differ by 2. The second and the third
numbers differ by 3. It appears that the difference between
any two numbers is always 1 more than the preceding
difference. Since 10 and 15 differ by 5, we predict that the next
number in the list will be 6 larger than 15, which is 21.
More Examples:
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.
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture about the relationship
between the size of the resulting number and the size of the original
number.
Solution 2:
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 a final result of 24. Starting with 10 produces a final
result of 40. Starting with 100 produces a final result of 400. In each of these
cases the resulting number is four times the original number. We conjecture that
following the given procedure produces a number that is four times the
original number.
More Example:
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.
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture about the relationship
between the size of the resulting number and the size of the original
number.
Example 3: Use Inductive Reasoning to Solve an
Application
Use the data on the table and inductive reasoning to answer each of the following questions:
If a pendulum has a length of 49 units, what is its period?
If the length of a pendulum is quadrupled, what happens to its
period?
Solution 3: Use Inductive Reasoning to Solve an
Application (#1)
Answers:
In the table, each pendulum has a period that is the square of
its length. Thus, we conjecture that a pendulum with a length of
49 units will have a period of 7 heartbeats.
Solution 3: Use Inductive Reasoning to Solve an
Application (#2)
Answers:
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.
More Examples:
Counterexamples
COUNTER-
EXAMPLES
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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.
Example 4: Find a Counterexample
Verify that each statement is a false statement by finding a counterexample for each.
|x| > 0
x² > x
Solution 4: Find a Counterexample (#1)
Answers:
Let 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.
Solution 4: Find a Counterexample (#2)
Answers:
For x = 1, we have 1² = 1. Since 1 is not greater than 1, we have
found a counterexample. Thus “for all numbers x, x² > x” is a
false statement.
More Examples:
Deductive
Reasoning
DEDUCTIVE
REASONING
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Deductive Reasoning is distinguished from inductive
reasoning in that it is the process of reaching a
conclusion by applying general assumptions, principles
and procedures.
Example 5: Use Deductive 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.
Use deductive reasoning to show that the procedure above
produces a number that is four times the original number.
Solution 5: Use Deductive Reasoning to Make a
Conjecture
Let n represent the original number.
Pick a number:
Multiply the number by 8:
Add 6 to the product:
Divide the sum by 2:
and Subtract 3:
We started with n and ended with 4n. The procedure given
in this example produces a number that is four times the
original number.
More Examples:
Inductive
Reasoning
vs.
Deductive
Reasoning
Example 6: Determine Types of Reasoning
Determine whether each of the following arguments is an inductive or deductive reasoning.
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.
All home improvements cost more than the estimate. The
contractor estimated that my home improvement will cost
$35,000. Thus my home improvement will cost more than
$35,000.
Solution 6: Determine Types of Reasoning
Answers:
This argument reaches a conclusion based on specific
examples, so it is an example of inductive reasoning.
Because the conclusion is a specific case of a general
assumption, this argument is an example of deductive
reasoning.
More Examples:
Logic Puzzles
LOGIC
PUZZLES
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Logic puzzles, similar to the next example, can be solved
by using deductive reasoning and a chart that enables us
to display the given information in a visual manner.
Example 5: 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 5: Solve a Logic Puzzle
1. Maria gets home from work after the banker but before
the dentist.
Solution 5: Solve a Logic Puzzle
2. Sarah, who is the last to get home from work, is not the
editor.
Solution 5: Solve a Logic Puzzle
3. The dentist and Sarah leave for work at the same time.
Solution 5: Solve a Logic Puzzle
4. The banker lives next door to Brian.
Solution 5: Solve a Logic Puzzle
Answer:
Sean is the banker, Maria is the editor, Sarah is the chef, and Brian
is the dentist.
More Example:
KenKen Puzzles
KenKen is an arithmetic-based
logic puzzle that was invented
by the Japanese mathematics
teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto in
2004. The noun "ken" has
"knowledge" and "awareness"
as synonyms. Hence, KenKen
translates as knowledge
squared or awareness squared.
