Math 3 - Kinds of Reasoning

This will help you understand the four (4) kinds of reasoning: Deductive, Inductive, Analogical, and Intuitive

Deductive Reasoning

A kind of reasoning that uses general statements to form a specific conclusion.

Example:

All students study Science.

John is a student.

Therefore, John studies Science.

Inductive Reasoning

A kind of reasoning that uses specific statements to form a general conclusion.

Example:

A square has four (4) sides.

A rectangle also has four (4) sides.

Therefore, all quadrilaterals have four (4) sides.

Analogical Reasoning

A special type of inductive reasoning that also starts with specific statements, but it concludes with a comparison.

Example:

Daniel, Noah, and Junji are boys that are classmates.

Ian is also a boy.

Therefore, Ian is classmates with the three (3) of them.

Intuitive Reasoning

A “gut feel” type of reasoning. This reasoning is usually based on decision and instinct.

Example:

I think that Eron is nice.

I feel that Italy is a nice place.

I am pretty sure that the square root of 4 is 2.

Siel is an engineer.

Naya is also an engineer.

Therefore, all girls are engineers.

What kind of reasoning is this?

Inductive Reasoning

The sentence “Siel is an engineer.” is a specific statement.

The sentence “Naya is also an engineer.” is another specific statement.

“Therefore, all girls are engineers.” is a general statement.

Inductive reasoning starts from specific statements to make a general conclusion. Therefore, the answer is inductive reasoning.

All integers are rational numbers.

8 is an integer.

Therefore, 8 is a rational number.

What kind of reasoning is this?

Deductive Reasoning

The first two statements are general.

The last one is specific.

Since deductive reasoning uses general statements to form a specific conclusion, we can say that the kind of reasoning used is deductive reasoning.

Kron is a Filipino basketball player.

Enrique is Filipino.

Therefore, Enrique is a basketball player.

What kind of reasoning is this?

Analogical Reasoning

The first two statements are specific.

The last one is a general comparison.

Analogical reasoning is like Inductive Reasoning, only that it concludes with a comparison.

I think that 1 + 1 = 2.

What kind of reasoning is this?

Intuitive Reasoning

It is based on your instincts. The key phrase “I think that” suggests an intuitive reasoning, since it taps on to your instincts.