The Nature of Mathematical

Reasoning
Lesson 1
Dr. Ofelia B. Chua
 Inductive Reasoning
• the process of reasoning that arrives at a
general conclusion based on the observation
of specific examples.

Example 1 : The last four congressional

representatives from this district were all
Republicans. I don’t know why the Democratic
candidate is even bothering to run this year.
 Inductive Reasoning
• the process of reasoning that arrives at a
general conclusion based on the observation
of specific examples.

Example 2: For the first three games this year,

the parking lot was packed with tailgaters, so we
will have to leave extra early to find a spot this
week.
 Deductive Reasoning
• process of reasoning that arrives on a
conclusion based on previously accepted
general statements. It is based on overall
rules, not specific examples.

Example 1 : If the class is canceled, I go to the

beach with my friends. I didn’t go to the beach
with my friends yesterday; so class wasn’t
canceled.
 Deductive Reasoning
• process of reasoning that arrives on a conclusion
based on previously accepted general
statements. It is based on over all rules, not
specific examples.

Example 2 : Experts say that opening e-mail

attachments that come from unknown senders is
the easiest way to get a virus on your computer.
Shauna constantly opens attachments from people
she doesn’t know, so she’ll probably end up with a
virus on her system.
 Computational Example
(Fibonacci Sequence)
• Use inductive reasoning to find a pattern, and
then make a reasonable conjecture for the next
number or item in the sequence:

1 2 4 7 11 16 22 29 __ 37 __
+1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 +11

Solution: 1 is added with 1 to make it 2, then the 2 isadded with 2

to make it 4, then the 4 is added with 3 to make it 7, then the 7 is
added with 4 to make it11, then the 11 is added with 5to make it16,
then the 16 is added with 6 to make it 22, then the 22 is added with 7
tomake it29,then the29is added with8 tomakeit 37.
 Estimation and Interpreting Graphs
• Estimation is Steps:
the process of 1. Locate the place-value digit of
finding an
approximate
the number that is being
answer to a rounded.
Math problem 1.1 If the digit to the right of the place-
value digit is 0 through 4, don’t change the
place-value digit.
• Rounding
Numbers
 Examples
• Examples
Round the number to the place-value
given:
1.1 2,861(hundreds)
Answer: 2,900
1.2 732.6498 (thousandths)
Answer: 732.6500
 Problem-Solving Strategies

Step 1. Understand the problem.

Step 2. Device a plan to solve the problem.
Step 3. Carry out your plan to solve the problem.
Step 4. Check your Answer.
 Example 1
• One number is 6 more than another number, and their
sum is 22. Find the numbers.
Solution: Let x = a number
x+6 = another number
x + (x+6) = 22 Ans. 8 and 14
2x = 22 – 6
2x = 16
x = 16/2
x=8
x + 6 = 8 + 6 = 14
 Example 2
• If 24 is added to a number, it will be 3 times as
large as it was originally. Find the number.
Solution: Let x = a number
x + 24 = 3x Ans. 12
x-3x = -24
-2x = -24
x = -24/-2
x = 12
 Seatwork 1
1. Fill in the blank:
10 20 11 18 12 16 13 14 14 12 15 ___
2. Determine whether the type of reasoning
used is inductive or deductive reasoning.
Since Josie ate a diet of mostly foods high
in saturated fat, she was not surprised when her
doctor said her cholesterol levels were too high.