Math Reviewer

LESSON 1: INDUCTIVE AND DEDUCTIVE REASONING

Inductive reasoning is the process making generalizations or conjectures based on observed patterns in a set
of data. This means that in inductive reasoning, you need to observe and recognize patterns in a given set of
data before making generalizations.
SPECIFIC STATEMENTS – GENERAL STATEMENTS
Illustrative examples:
1. What are the next two terms in the sequence?
A. 0, -1.5, -3, -4.5, …
Solution: The number in the sequence have an interval of -1.5
Generalization: The next two numbers in the sequence should be -6 and -7.5 respectively.

B. 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, …

Solution: The numbers in the sequence have an interval of 10.
Generalization: The next two numbers in the sequence are 55 and 65 respectively.

To deduce means “to reason from known facts.” Hence, Deductive reasoning is the process of showing that
certain statements follow logically from agreed upon assumptions or proven facts.
GENERAL STATEMENTS – SPECIFIC STATEMENTS
Illustrative examples:
1. What can be concluded from the argument?
Right angles are congruent
Angles A and B are right angles
Solution:
Right angles are congruent. (The general statement)
Angles A and B are right angles. (particular statement)
Conclusion: Angle A and B are congruent.
2. What can be deduced from the following premises?
Major premise: Anyone who plays basketball is sporty.
Minor premise: Marco plays basketball.

Conclusion: Marco is sporty.

Statement Conclusion

All students who passed Donnie is enrolled in Geometry

Algebra are class.

enrolled in Geometry class.

Donnie passed Algebra.

All men are mortal. Marc Tracy is mortal.

Marc Tracy is a man.

LESSON 2: MATHEMATICAL SYSTEM

What is a triangle?
A Triangle is a polygon with three sides.
What is a polygon?
A polygon is a closed figure composed of line segments.
What is a line segment?
A line segment is the part of a line between two endpoints and including the endpoints.
What is line?
Line is a figure extending infinitely in both directions and having no thickness nor width.
(Notice that in the above sequence of statements, a triangle was defined in terms of a polygon, a polygon in terms of a line
segment, and line segment in terms of a line. Line, Triangle, polygon, and line segment are parts of a mathematical
system)
A MATHEMATICAL SYSTEM is a set of structures composed of undefined terms, defined terms, definitions,
postulates and theorems.
Generally, there are two elements that compose a mathematical system, Vocabulary and principles.
Vocabulary – Undefined terms and Defined terms
Principles – Axioms or postulates and theorems

UNDEFINED TERMS
- are terms that are left undefined in the system. Instead of providing a definition for them, we resort to a description,
illustration or demonstration. The undefined terms are point, line and plane.
Point
- a point is the basic unit of geometry. It has no dimension (length, width or thickness), even though we represent a
point with a dot. It is names using capital letters. The points below are name point E and point G.
.E .G
Collinear Points – points that lie on the same line
Example: Point M and Point G lie on the same line.

Coplanar Points – when points and/or lines lie on the same plane.
Example: Pont A, point B and point C are coplanar points.

Line
- is a series of points that extends without end in two directions. It has no thickness but its length extends in one
dimension and goes on forever in both directions.

The line above can be named as:

Line SY, Line YS, or Line n
The symbol for line SY is SY
Points that lie on the same line are called collinear.
Plane
- has no thickness nut extends indefinitely in all directions. It is usually represented by a shapes that looks like a table top
or wall. For any three non-collinear points, there is only one plane that contains all three points. A plane can be named by
using the three non-collinear points of the plane. The plane below is named ABC.

Defined Terms
- are terms defined using undefined terms and other defined terms.
Examples:
A line segment is a part of a line between two endpoints and including the endpoints. (Line segment is defined using the
undefined term “line”)
Ray is a part of a line that has a fixed starting point but no end point. It can extend infinitely in one direction. (Ray is
defined using the undefined terms “line” and “point”)
Definitions
- are statements that distinguish one term from all other terms.
Example: Triangle is a with three-sided polygon.
defined term definition
Square is a four-sided polygon.
defined term definition
Characteristics of a Good Definition
A good definition must have certain characteristics.
1. It names the term being defined.
2. It places the term into a set or category.
3. It distinguishes itself from other terms in that category.
4. It is reversible.
Example:
Definition: A midpoint of a segment is defined as a point M that divides a segment into two segments of equal length.
How can we prove that a point M is the midpoint of the segment?
We must appeal to the reverse of the definition of a midpoint. A point that divides a segment into two segments of
equal length is the midpoint of the segment. In other words, we must show that AM MB.
Once that is accomplished, we can then conclude that point M is the midpoint of segment AB.
Definition: An angle is the figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint. Reverse: The figure formed by two
rays sharing a common endpoint is a called angle.
Postulates
- are statements that are considered true without proof or validation. These statements help us to state simple facts; in
this case referring to lines. Postulates help us draw conclusions about complex problems. Sometimes they describe
relationships between geometric figures.
Examples:
Postulate 1: A line contains at least two points.
Postulate 2: A plane contains at least three non collinear points.
Postulate 3: Through any two points, there is exactly one line.
Postulate 4: Through any three non collinear points, there is exactly one plane. Postulate 5: If two points lie in a plane,
then the line joining them lies in that plane. Postulate 6: If two planes intersect, then their intersection is a line.
Theorem
- are statements proven to be true using postulates, definitions, other established theorems and logic.
Examples:
Theorem 1: If two lines intersect, then they intersect in exactly one point.
Theorem 2: If a point lies outside a line, then exactly one plane contains both the line and the point. |
Theorem 3: If two lines intersect, then exactly one plane contains both lines.