CHAPTER 3 : PROBLEM SOLVING AND REASONING

INDUCTIVE AND DEDUCTIVE REASONING

 INDUCTIVE REASONING
 From specific information to general conclusions
 Making generalizations out of particular instances
 Useful in statistical survey because in statistical survey we use other testing or statistical
test if the conclusion is valid.
 Example:
1. 1st Premise: My math teacher is good looking
2nd Premise: My last Math teacher was good looking.
Conclusion: Therefore, all Math teachers are good looking.
2. 1st Premise: I am a great swimmer.
2nd Premise: my family live near the sea.
Conclusion: Therefore, my son is also a good swimmer.
 DEDUCTIVE REASONING
 From general information to specific conclusion.
 Concluding a specific fact out of the general information.
 It is always true in deductive reasoning.
 Skills of reasoning used by detectives in collecting information to conclude what is
happening in a certain case.
 Example:
1. 1st Premise: All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5.
2nd Premise: The number 35 ends with 5.
Conclusion: Therefore, 35 is divisible by 5.
2. 1st Premise: All squares are rectangles.
2nd Premise: All rectangles have 4 sides.
Conclusion: Therefore, All square have 4 sides.

INTUITION, PROOF, AND CERTAINTY

 Intuition
 The ability to understand something instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning.
 When we encounter a problem, we already know what to do because instinct is working.
 This is achieved by having previous knowledge about the topic.
 Intuition only work if we already have a knowledge about the topic.
 Mathematical proof
 An argument which convinces other people that something is true, but there must be proof.
 Can be shown by writing solutions or stating the facts using any of these types of
reasoning.
 Certainty
 The conclusion or outcome beyond doubt.
 This is assured if the proofs have been verified to be undoubtedly true.
POLYA’S 4 STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
(George Polya - Father of Modern Problem Solving)
1. Preparation
 UNDERSTAND the problem
 WHAT IS BEING ASKED? Identify the Unknowns
 Gathering the GIVEN INFORMATIONS in the problem
2. Thinking Time
 Devise a Plan
 Create possible solutions using simple PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES:
1. Guess and Check - A classic technique. It requires a low level of effort because you
can always guess an answer to a question. Trial and Error.
2. Act-it-out - performing a specific task to solve a problem. It has very limited application.
Like grouping a class.
3. Draw - uses pictures, venn diagrams, sketches, maps and other representations to
solve mathematical problems.
4. Lists and Tables - helps discover hidden hints towards solutions of some problems and
also an efficient way to find number problems like the Fibonacci Sequence.
3. Insight
 Carry out the plan
 Keep on trying until one of your plan or approaches works for the problem.
4. Verification
 Look back.
 Did you answer the question?
 Did you double check?
 Is it applicable to similar problems?

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING PATTERNS

 Many mathematical problems has predictable pattern.
 A pattern is a regular, systematic representation and may be numerical, visual or sequential.
 Example: What is the total sum of the first 100 numbers?
 Solution: Listing in the numbers like this.
1,2,3,…..,49,50,51,52,…..,98,99,100
1 + 100=101
2 + 99= 101
3 + 98=101
49 + 52=101
50 + 51=101
There are 50 pairs that the sum is equal to 101
Therefore, 50 pairs x sum of 100 = 5050
RECREATIONAL PROBLEMS USING MATHEMATICS
 This type of mathematics is being used for leisure or recreational activity. These are called
mathematical games
 Rubics Cube
 Tangram Puzzle
 Sudoku
