Reasoning

Libeeth B. Guevarra
Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

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 Reasoning is the act of thinking about
something in a logical and sensible way.
Inductive Reasoning is a type of reasoning
that forms a conclusion based on the examination
of specific examples. The conclusion drawn is
called a conjecture.
Deductive Reasoning is the process of using
facts, rules, definitions, or properties to reach a
valid conclusion.

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 Example
Identify the figure that completes the pattern

By inductive reasoning, the answer is (2)

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 Example

By inductive reasoning, the answer is C.

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 Example
Pick a number. Multiply it by 6, add 8 to the product,
divide the sum by 2, and then subtract 4. Cite 2
examples and use inductive reasoning to make a
conjecture. Use deductive reasoning to establish the
conjecture.
Conjecture: The series of operations will triple the
original number. (verify)

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 To verify the conjecture:
Let n be any number

Multiply by 6 → 6n
Adding 8 to the product → 6n + 8
Dividing the sum by 2 → 3n + 4
Subtracting 4 → 3n

The conjecture is true for whatever number you picked.

The series of operations will indeed triple the original
number.

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 Example
(These steps are using deductive√reasoning).
Breven solved the equation 5 + x + 14 = x + 7
usingthe steps.
√
Subtract 5 from both sides x + 14 = x + 2
Squaring both sides of the x + 14 = (x + 2)2
equation
Perform Binomial Expan- x + 14 = x 2 + 4x + 4
sion
Subtract x + 14 from both 0 = x 2 + 3x − 10
sides of the equation
Factor the right side of the 0 = (x + 5)(x − 2)
equation
Zero property, x = −5 or x + 5 = 0 or x − 2 = 0
x =2

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 Checking √ −5 we have
if x =
5 + √−5 + 14 = −5 + 7
5+ 9=2
5 + 3 = 2 is false.
if x =
√ 2 we have
5 + √2 + 14 = 2 + 7
5 + 16 = 9
5 + 4 = 9 is true.

Thus, x = 2 is the only solution to the given equation.

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 Sequence is an ordered succession of numbers and formed
according to a definite rule.

Example
S1. Find the next three terms in the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, . . .
Answer: 11, 13, and 15

Example
S2. What is the nth number of the sequence 10, 15, 20, 25, . . .?
Answer: 5n + 5

Example
S3. What is the nth number of the sequence 5, 8, 13, 20, 29, . . .?
Answer: n2 + 4

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 Counterexample is a specific case in which a statement
is false. One counterexample is enough to prove that a
statement is false.
Example
1 If you are a student of CIT University, then you are
from Cebu.
Maria is a student of CIT University but she is from
Leyte.
2 If AB ≥ 0, then A and B are positive.
A = −6 and B = −4
√
3 x2 − 4 = x − 2
x = −5

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