Problem Solving and

Reasoning
What is problem?
A problem is a question that
motivates a person to search for
an answer.

What is problem solving?

It is finding solutions and not just
answers to problems.

SOLUTION = METHOD +
ANSWER
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

1. Inductive reasoning is the process of

reaching a general conclusion by
examining specific examples.

A conclusion based on inductive reasoning

is called a conjecture. A conjecture may or
may not be correct.
Examples of inductive Reasoning

1. Example: Use inductive reasoning to

predict the next number in each of the
following lists:

a. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15,…
b. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15,…
c. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,…
Inductive Reasoning

2. Example: Consider the following procedure:

Choose a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6
to the product, divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.

Complete the above procedure for several

different numbers. Use inductive reasoning to
make a conjecture about the relationship between
the size of the resulting number and the size of the
original number.
3(8) 2(8) 4(8)
24 +6 16 +6 32 +6
30/2 22/2 38/2
15-3=12 11-3 =8 19- 3 =16
Use the data in the table, and by inductive
reasoning answer the questions below
Earthquak Max.
e tsunami 1.If the magnitude is 8.5,
Magnitude height in how high can the tsunami
meters be?
2.Can a tsunami occur when
7.5 5 the earthquake magnitude
7.6 9 is less than 7? Explain.

7.7 13
7.8 17
7.9 21
8.0 25
8.1 29
8.2 33
8.3 37
Inductive and Deductive
Reasoning

2. Deductive reasoning is the

process of reaching a
conclusion by applying
general assumptions,
procedure or principles.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Deductive
Example:
Consider the following procedure: Choose a number. Multiply
the number by 8, add 6 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 3.
Complete the above procedure for several different
numbers. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following
procedure produces a number that is four times the original
number.
n
8n
8n + 6
(8n + 6)/2
[(8n+6)/2] - 3 = 4n +3 -3 = 4n
Inductive and Deductive reasoning
 Example: Use deductive reasoning:
 Pick a number
 Multiply the number by 10
 Add 8 to the product
 Divide the sum by 2
 Subtract 4

 Solution: Let n be the number

 Multiply n by 10 : 10n
 Add 8 to the product : 10n + 8
 Divide the sum by 2: (10n + 8) / 2 = 5n +4
 Subtract the quotient by 4: 5n + 4 – 4 = 5n
 we started with n and ended up with 5n which means
the procedure produces a number which is 5 times the
original number.
Examples:
Deductive reasoning

 The sum of two odd integers is an even number

Let m and n as odd integers
Therefore, m + n is even

Inductive Reasoning :

3+5 =8
7 + 11 = 18
9 + 21 = 30
Then the sum of two odd integers is even
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
Example: Logic puzzles.
Each of four neighbors, Sean, Maria, Sarah, and
Brian, has a different occupation (editor, banker,
chef, or dentist). From the following clues,
determine the occupation of each neighbor.
1) Maria gets home from work after the banker but
before the dentist.
2) Sarah, who is the last to get home from work, is
not the editor.
3) The dentist and Sarah leave for work at the same
time.
4) The banker lives next door to Brian.
Problem Solving with Patterns

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers.

Each number in a sequence is called a term of
the sequence.

One solution to find the next term of the

sequence is by using the difference table – a
table which shows the differences between
successive terms of the sequence.
Problem Solving with Patterns

Example: Use a difference table to predict

the next term in the sequence.

a.) 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, …

b.) 5, 14, 27, 44, 65, …
c.) 2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, …
d.) 1, 14, 51, 124, 245, 426, …
Part 2
Problem-Solving Strategies

Polya’s Problem-Solving Strategy

George Polya (1887-1985) was born in
Hungary and moved to US in 1940. The basic
problem solving strategy that he advocated
consisted of the following four steps:
1. Understand the problem
2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Review the solutions
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy
Example: Apply Polya’s Strategy
The product of the ages, in years, of three
teenagers is 4590. None of the teens are the
same age. What are the ages of the
teenagers?
1. Understand the problem
2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Review the solutions
1. Understand the problem
 We need to determine three distinct counting
numbers from the list 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, and
19 that have aproduct of 4590
2. Devise a plan
If we represent the ages by x, y, and z, then
xyz= 4590. We cannot solve this equation because
it is only one. But 4590 ends in 0, hence 4590 has
a factor of 2 and a factor of 5, which means that
at least one of the factors is an even number and
one of them must have 5 as a factor. The only
factor in the list which has 5 as a factor is 15 and
the other factor is an even number.
3. Carry out the plan
 15 x 16 x 18 = 4320
 15 x 16 x 19 = 4560
 15 x 17 x 18 = 4590

4. Review the solution

 Because 15 x 17 x 18 = 4590 and each of the
ages represents the age of teenagers, we know our
solution is correct
Logic Puzzle
 An agency charged 15,000 for a 3-
day and 2 night tour in Macau and
20,000 pesos for the same tour with a
side trip to Hong Kong. Ten persons
joined which enable them to collect
170,000. How many tourist made a side
trip to Hong Kong ?
References:

• Auffmann et al, Mathematical Excursions (2018)

• Rodriguez, MJ., Powerpoint – St. Louis College
(2017)
• Sollano, A., Powerpoint – University of San Jose -
Recolletos