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Reasoning
Objectives
Familiarize you with the deductive reasoning
process
Learn the relationship between inductive and
deductive reasoning
Problem Solving
Logic The science of correct reasoning.
Reasoning The drawing of inferences or
conclusions from known or assumed facts.
When solving a problem,
one must understand the question,
gather all pertinent facts, analyze the problem
i.e. compare with previous problems
(note similarities and differences),
perhaps use pictures or formulas to solve the
problem.
Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning
The difference:
inductive reasoning uses patterns to arrive at a
conclusion (conjecture)
x
Triangle sum property
the sum of the angles of any
triangle is always 180 degrees.
Therefore, angle x = 30
60
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning Is
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.
For Example
All dogs have a tail.
Buddy is a dog.
Therefore Buddy has a tail.
Who is known for
using Deductive
Reasoning?
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes would use deductive reasoning to
help solve crimes.
Example:
Sherlock Holmes could help solve a
mystery by making inferences.
If Holmes saw a pack of cigarettes by
a victim (the victim did not smoke),
Holmes can make the assumption
that the killer is a smoker.
Sherlock Holmes
Andrew Ault
However
Deductive reasoning may not be the most accurate way
of solving a problem, because we all know that
assumptions can be wrong.
Monty Python
Other faults of deductive
reasoning
All Graduates of M.I.T. are Engineers
George is not from M.I.T.
Therefore George is not an Engineer
English
When I see like in a sentence, I deduce that it is a simile.
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.
What professions do you think
commonly use Deductive
Reasoning?
Why?
These professions tend to ask a lot of questions to
try to solve problems or to prove a point.
Often they would have to make assumptions to
solve problems.
They would use rules and widely accepted beliefs to
prove their argument.
For example:
An attorney states that his client is innocent because the
crime victim was hit by a car. Since his client does not have a
license. He can deduce that his client is innocent.
An auto mechanic knows that if a car
has a dead battery, the car will not
start. A mechanic begins work on a
car and finds the battery is dead.
What conclusion will she make?
VALID OR INVALID?????