1.

4 Deductive Reasoning (or logical reasoning)

How can the conjecture: All teenagers like music be supported by
inductive reasoning?
How can it be disproved?
Inductive reasoning cannot be used to prove a conjecture true.
Deductive reasoning is used to draw a specic conclusion through
logical reasoning starting with general assumptions that are known to
be valid.
!"ample
#r. $urgess likes superheroes. %uperman is a superhero. &hus' #r.
$urgess likes %uperman.
&ry to make conclusions (rom these observations:
). %*%% is a high school. +onnie is a student at %*%%.
,. All whole numbers are integers. - is a whole number.
.&he above are e"amples o( something called the//////////////////
property. 0$asically' i( a1b and b1c then a1c.2
What is wrong with this example? All 3uarterbacks eat steak.
*oug is the school 3uarterback. &hus' *oug eats steak.
A proof is a mathematical argument showing that a statement is valid
in all cases' or that no countere"ample can be (ound. &his may lead to
a theorem.
4roo(s using generali5ation
A. &he sum o( any three consecutive even numbers is divisible by 6.
$. 7onsider this conjecture (rom lesson ).,: &he di8erence
between consecutive per(ect s3uares is always an odd number
). %how this again with inductive reasoning.
,. 4rove this by generali5ing the conjecture using deductive
reasoning.
4roo( using 9enn diagrams
:iven: All gorillas are primates. All primates are mammals.
7onsider: :rodd is a gorilla.
;hat else can be deduced about :rodd?
4roo( using columns
&ry this number trick
&ake any number < =>
#ultiply by 6 ?<
Add ), 6@
*ivide by A ,@
%ubtract twice the original
number
?
;hich o( the columns above represent inductive reasoning? *eductive
reasoning?