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.
 Inductive Reasoning :

 isa method of reasoning from particular to

general.
 Theprocess of reaching a general conclusion by
examining specific examples .
 Is sometimes called the bottom –up approach. it is
all about arriving at a conclusion on patterns .
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

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 and Deductive Reasoning

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.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Note:
When you use inductive reasoning, you have no guarantee
that your conclusion is correct.
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

2. Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a

conclusion by applying general assumptions, procedure or
principles.
3. is based on the concordance of multiple premises
generally assumed true or by evidence ,debate .
4. arguments are evaluated in terms of their validity and
soundness ,arguments are valid.
 Deductive Reasoning :

 Is a method of reasoning from general to particular .

 Implies logical certainty .If the premises are true and
the logic of the argument is valid. Then the conclusion
is certainly true.
 Issaid to be valid if the conclusion is certainly
true .and said to be valid if the conclusion logically
follows from the premises or equivalently .it is
impossible for the premises to be true and the
conclusion is false .
Is said to be Invalid :

 Ifthe conclusion does not logically follow from

the premises or equivalently ,it is possible that all
of its premises are true . and yet the conclusion is
false .
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

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.
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, …
Example : Aristotle’s syllogisms

 All men are mortal - premise

 Socrates is a man - premise
 Therefore ,Socrates is mortal - conclusion

 All actors are robots

 Chris Hemsworth is an actor
 Therefore,Chris Hemsworth is a robot
 These are examples of valid argument .
Example of Invalid arguments :

 All cows are mammals

 Bessie is a mammal
 Therefore ,Bessie is a cow .
Let x be Bessie .

-Notice that in this example .

The conclusion “Bessie is a cow ,does not directly
followed from the premises .If x is inside the cow’s
region ,the argument would appear to be
valid .However ,if x is placed outside cows region ,the
Venn diagram supports the premises but the diagram
does not support the conclusion ,Hence,we cannot
logically deduce the conclusion.”Bessie is a cow
implying that the argument is invalid .
Example #2

 Some mushrooms are edible

 Deadly Dapperling is mushroom .
 Therefore,Deadly Dapperling is edible.
The difference between the inductive and deductive
reasoning is that they are opposite to each other.

 The approach of inductive reasoning is from

bottom to up while the deductive reasoning is
from top to bottom .
 Inductive reasoning is based on patterns or trends
while Deductive reasoning is based on
facts ,truths and rules .
 Inductive reasoning may or may not be strong in
terms of argument while Deductive reasoning may
or may not be valid.
 Inductive reasoning talks about certainty while
deductive reasoning talks about the probability
when it comes to drawing conclusions .
Polya’s Problem-Solving Strategies :

George Polya (1887-1985) was born in Hungary and moved to

US in 1940. was a mathematics educator who strongly believed
that the skill of problem solving can be taught. He developed a
framework known as Polya’s Four –Steps in Problem
Solving .This process addressed the difficulty of students in
problem solving .He firmly believed that the most efficient way
of learning mathematical concepts is through problem solving
and students and teachers become a better problem solver.
The Polya’s Four Step in Problem Solving
are :
 Step1: Understand the problem
 Step2: Devise the plan
 Step3: Carry out plan
 Step4: Look back
Step1: Understanding the Problem

 Sometimes the problem lies in understanding the

problem.To help us understand the problem ,we
might consider the following,
 What is the goal?
 What is being ask?
 What is the condition?
 What is known or unkwown?
 Is there enough information?
Step2: Devise the Plan

 Devisinga plan(translating) is away to solve the

problem by picturing how we are going to attack the
problem.
 Eliminate possibilities
 Be systematic
 Perform an experiment
 Draw a picture /diagram
 Make a list or table /chart
Step2:

 Use a variable ,such as x

 Look for a formula /formulas
 Write an equation (or model)
 Look for a pattern or patterns
 Use direct or indirect reasoning
 Solve a simple version of the problem
 Guess and check your answer (trial and error)
Step #3 Carry Out the Plan

 In
carrying out the plan (solve ) ,we need to
execute the equation we came up in step2 .The
main key is to be patient and careful ,even if
we have necessary skills .
 Be patient
 Work carefully
 Modify the plan or try a new plan
 Keep trying until something works
Suggestion:

 Implement the strategy and strategies in Step.2

 Try another strategy if the first isn’t working
 Keep a complete and accurate record of your
work
 Bedetermined and don’t get discouraged if the
plan does not work immediately
Step #4 Look Back

 This step helps in identifying if there is a mistake

in the solution .It is time to reflect and look back
at what is done, what worked and what didn’t.
Look for an easier solution
Does the answer make sense ?
Check the results in the original problem
Interpret the solution with the facts of the problem
Continuation:

 Recheck any computation involved in the solution

 Canthe solution be extended to a more general
case ?
 Ensure
that all conditions related to the problem
are met
 Determine whether there is another method of
finding the solution
 Ensurethe consistency of the solution in the
context of the problem
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example: Apply Polya’s Strategy

Two times the sum of a number and 3 is equal to thrice the
number plus 4 .Find the number.
Solution:
Step1: Understand the Problem
We need to make sure that we have read the question
carefully several times .Since we are looking for a
number ,we will Let x be a number.
Step2: Devise a Plan

 We will translate the problem

mathematically.Two times the sum of a number
and 3 is equal to thrice the number plus 4.

 2(x+3) = 3x +4
Step3:Carry out the Plan

 We solve for the value of x ,algebraically.

 2(x+3) = 3x +4
 2x+6 = 3x +4
 3x -2x = 6 -4
X =2
Step4: Look back

 Ifwe take two times the sum of 2 and 3 ,that is

the same as thrice the number 2 plus 4 which is
10,so this does check.Thus ,the number is 2.

2(x+3) = 3x +4
2(2+3) = 3(2) +4
10 = 10
The Tower of Hanoi

The Tower of Hanoi is a puzzle invented by Edouard Lucas in

1883. The puzzle consists of three pegs and a number of disks
of distinct diameters stacked on one of the pegs such that the
largest disk is on the bottom, the next largest is placed on the
largest disk and so on.
The objective of the puzzle is to transfer the tower to one of
the other pegs. The rules require that only one disk be moved
at a time and that a larger disk may not be placed on a smaller
disk. All pegs may be used.
The Tower of Hanoi

Determine the minimum number of moves required to

transfer all of the disks to another peg for each of the
following situations.
a. You start with only one disk.
b. You start with two disks.
c. You start with three disks.
d. You start with four disks.
e. You start with five disks.
In Inductive Reasoning :Some
Application
 Highlights in your job search
 Putor provide an example of successfully
using inductive reasoning in your cover
letter or resume summary
 Inductivereasoning skills should appear
during the interview.
 Be Star :

S – situation
T – task
A – action
R - result
 STAR :

 Situation- ( where you were working ), what project were

you working on .
 Task- what was your responsibility, what problem did you
solve .and what observations into a solution or action.
 Action – it explain the action you took ,what solution did
you implement.
 - how did you translate your observations into a solution
or action.
 Result – how did your action help the problem or help the
company.
Continuation;

 Will show that you are a problem solver

 That you have inductive reasoning skill and
critical thinking
 Refersto the ability to analyze information
objectively and make a reasoned judgment.
Assignment:
Watch the video clip and complete the statements
that follow :

 Using the Scientific Method in Everyday Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyJisgoeg
1. Three things that i significantly learned from the
video clip._______________________________
2. Three things that are still unclear to me
________________________________
3. I used to think that _______________________
Quiz : Identify if the statement is Inductive
Reasoning or Deductive Reasoning :

 1._________is a logical process in which

multiple promises all believed to be true or
found the most of the time are combined to
obtained to a specific conclusion.
 2._________involve prediction for casting on
behavior .
 3._________processof recognizing or observing
patterns and drawing a conclusion.
Continuation:

 4.______it is use of critical thinking and with

scientific method a approach.
 5.______isa logical process in which a conclusion
is6. based on the concordance of multiple premises
generally assumed true or by
evidence ,argumentation ,debate.
 6.
______refers to the ability to analyze information
objectively and make a reasoned judgment.
Continuation:

 7. _______involves the evaluation of sources such

as data ,facts, observable ,phenomenon and
research findings.
 8._______arguments are evaluated in terms of
their validity and soundness ,arguments are valid.
 9._______star person is what ?
 10._______ a problem solver ,critical
thinker ,output base.
References:

• Auffmann et al, Mathematical Excursions (2018)

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