Immaculate Conception - I College of Arts and Technology

MATHEMATICS FOR THE MODERN WORLD

LESSON 4 Week 5

Topic: Mathematical Reasoning

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

 discuss the concepts of mathematical reasoning;
 distinguish inductive from deductive reasoning;
 classify the reasoning employed on arguments as inductive or deductive; and
 translate arguments into logical symbols then choose rules of inference appropriate for
the arguments.

Mathematical Reasoning
 refers to the ability of a person to analyze problem situations and construct logical arguments
to create both conceptual foundations and connections to be able to process the available
information and solve problems
 requires more than simply memorizing facts but thinking beyond rules and procedures to form
one’s own questions and conjectures.
 “People who can reason and think analytically tend to note patterns, structure, or regularities in
both real world situations and symbolic objects; ask if those patterns are accidental or if they
occur for a reason; and conjecture and prove.”

Diagnostic: Learning Checkpoint

Instruction: Classify the reasoning employed in the following arguments as INDUCTIVE or
DEDUCTIVE.
______________1. All numbers ending in “0” or “5” are divisible by 5. The number 35 ends with a
“5”, so it is divisible by 5.
______________2. The Gin Kings have lost their last seven games. Thus, they will probably lose
their next game.
______________3. To earn a master’s degree, a student must have 32 credits. Tim has 40 credits,
so Tim will earn a master’s degree.
______________4. All dogs are mammals. All mammals have kidneys. Therefore, all dogs have
kidneys.
______________ 5. My daddy has curly hair. My brother has curly hair. Therefore, everyone I am
related to has curly hair.

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 Immaculate Conception - I College of Arts and Technology
MATHEMATICS FOR THE MODERN WORLD

WHAT METHODS CAN BE USED TO CONSTRUCT EFFECTIVE MATHEMATICAL REASONING?

1. INDUCTIVE REASONING – is the process of making general conclusions based on specific

examples.
EXAMPLES:
a) Every object that I release from my hand falls to the ground. Therefore, the next object I
release from my hand will fall to the ground.
b) Every crow I have ever seen is black. Therefore all crows are black.
c) Based on available data, the Earth has revolved around the sun following an elliptical path
for millions of years. Therefore, the Earth will continue to revolve around the sun in the
same manner next year.

2. DEDUCTIVE REASONING – is the process of making specific conclusions based on general

principles.
EXAMPLES:
a) All men are mortal. I am a man. Therefore, I am mortal.
(General principle: If p implies q and p holds, then q must follow.)
b) Given two supplementary angles with one of them measuring 120 0, the measure of the
other angle is 600.
(General principle: Supplementary angles add up to 180 0.)
c) If 6x = 12, then x = 2.
(General principle: If a, b, and c are real numbers and a = b, then ac = bc.)

 Deductive and inductive reasoning are methods of making inferences, used heavily when
making statements about some mathematical concepts or phenomena. Consider the following
arguments:
Argument 1: The sum of two odd integers is an even number.
m and n are odd integers.
Therefore, m + n is even.

Argument 2: 3 + 5 = 8, 7 + 11 = 18, and 9 + 21 = 30.

Then the sum of two odd integers is even.
Which is inductive? Which is deductive?

 Deductive reasoning makes use of undefined terms, formally defined terms, axioms,
theorems, and rules of inference.

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 Immaculate Conception - I College of Arts and Technology
MATHEMATICS FOR THE MODERN WORLD

 A THEOREM is a statement that can be shown to be true. It is formulated by using a

sequence of statements that form an argument, called a PROOF. The statements used in a
proof may include AXIOMS, which are underlying assumptions about mathematical structures,
the hypothesis of the theorem to be proved, and previously proved theorems. The RULES OF
INFERENCE tie together the steps of a proof.

EXAMPLES:
What rule of inference is used in each of the following arguments?
a) Anna is a human resource management major. Therefore, Anna is either a human resource
management major or a computer application major.
b) Ben is a game designer and a game developer. Therefore, Ben is a game designer.
c) If it rains today, the college will be closed. The college is not closed today. Therefore, it did
not rain today.
d) If it is rainy, then the oval will be closed. It is rainy. Therefore, the oval is closed.
e) If I go swimming, then I will stay in the sun too long. If I stay in the sun too long, then I will get
burned. Therefore, if I go swimming, then I will get burned.

 An argument constructed using the rules of inference is said to be VALID.

 TAUTOLOGY – compound proposition that is always true ( p  p )
Example: It is raining or it is not raining.
 CONTRADICTION – compound proposition that is always false ( p  p )
Example: It is not raining and it is raining.
 CONTINGENCY – is neither a tautology nor a contradiction ( p  p )
Example: If it is raining then it is not raining.
 FALLACIES – are incorrect reasonings which appear to follow the rules of inference but are
based on contingencies rather than tautologies.
Examples:
Global warming doesn’t exist because the earth is not getting warmer.
If silent movies are black and white and pandas are black and white, then pandas must be
silent movies.
Romeo wears elegant clothes. Therefore, he looks handsome and wealthy.