Deductive

Reasoning
 Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning starts with a
general premise or assumption, and
then moves to a specific conclusion.
Most people would call deductive
reasoning formal logic.
 Deductive Reasoning
 is when you start from things
you assume to be true, and
draw conclusions that must be
true if your assumptions are
true.
 Example of Deductive Reasoning
The catalog states that all entering freshmen
must take a mathematics placement test.

You are an entering freshman.

Conclusion:
You will have to take a mathematics
placement test.
 Example of Deductive Reasoning
An auto mechanic knows that if a car has a dead
battery, the car will not start.A mechanic begins to
work on a car and finds the battery is dead.
What conclusion will she make?

Conclusion:
The mechanic can conclude that the car will
not start
 Example of Deductive Reasoning
If there is lightning, then it is not safe to be out in
the open. Marla sees lightning from the football
field.

Conclusion:
It is not safe for Marla to be out in the open.
 Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning moves the reverse way;

it proceeds from individual observations to
a more general conclusion. Induction has no
strict form.
 Inductive or Deductive Reasoning?
Geometry example…

x
Triangle sum property –
the sum of the angles of any
triangle is always 180 degrees.
Therefore, angle x = 30°
60◦

Deductive Reasoning – conclusion is based on a

property 2.4 Deductive Reasoning
 Inductive or Deductive Reasoning?
Geometry example…

What comes next?

Is there a rule? Colored triangle rotating 90° CW

in the corners of the square

Inductive Reasoning: Conclusion is based on a pattern

2.4 Deductive Reasoning
2.4 Deductive Reasoning
2.4 Deductive Reasoning
 How Can Deductive Reasoning Be
Applied In School?
Math
Scott has a case of soda in his house since there are 13
cans of soda left I deduce that Scott has drank 11 cans of
soda.
English
When I see ‘like’ in a sentence, I deduce that it is a simile.

2.4 Deductive Reasoning

Science
Using laws and rules to make assumptions
The law of gravity means everything that goes up must
come down
I threw a baseball in the air
That means the baseball must come down.
Social Studies
To be elected President you must obtain at least 270
electoral votes
George Bush won 287 electoral votes
Therefore George Bush is the President.

2.4 Deductive Reasoning

 Law of Syllogism:

You can use this law to state a

conclusion from two true conditional
statement.
2.4 Deductive Reasoning
 Syllogism
 The basic form of a deductive argument.
 A syllogism is a three-step argument
consisting of a major premise which is
usually a general statement; a minor premise,
which is related but more specific statement;
and a conclusion, which has to be drawn from
those premises.
 Classic Syllogism Example

 Major premise: All men are mortal.

 Minor premise: Socrates is a man.
 Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
A Generic Syllogism Example

 Major premise: All CIF track

finalists are fast.
 Minor premise: Natalie is a CIF
finalist in the 400.
 Conclusion: Therefore Natalie is
fast.
 Validity
When a conclusion follows logically from the
major and minor premises, then the argument
is said to be valid.
 Valid?
Major premise: All rectangles are
parallelograms.
Minor premise: All squares are
parallelograms.
Conclusion: Therefore, all rectangles are
squares.
Although both rectangles and squares are
parallelograms, squares are not included in the major
premise of the syllogism. Thus, the form of the
syllogism is defective, and the argument is invalid.
 Truth in Syllogisms
Even if the syllogism is valid, its conclusion will not
necessarily be true. For example:
Major premise: All Asians are math geniuses.
Minor premise: Bartholomew is Asian.
Conclusion: Therefore, Bartholomew is a math
genius.
Bartholomew is an artist who struggles in math. The
conclusion is false because the major premise is false:
ethnicity does not automatically determine academic
success in a particular area.
 Untrue Premises and Prejudice
Prejudice is frequently directly tied to untrue
premises.
Major premise: All Asians are bad drivers.
Minor premise: Sally is Asian.
Conclusion: Sally is a bad driver.