Deductive Reasoning: Everyday Examples

Deductive Reasoning Examples
Deductive Reasoning: Everyday Examples

 In mathematics, If A = B and B = C, then A = C.
 Since all humans are mortal, and I am a human, then I am mortal.
 All dolphins are mammals, all mammals have kidneys; therefore all dolphins have
kidneys.
 Since all squares are rectangles, and all rectangles have four sides, so all squares
have four sides.
 If Dennis misses work and at work there is a party, then Dennis will miss the party.
 All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. The number 35 ends with a 5, so it is
divisible by 5.
 To earn a master’s degree, a student must have 32 credits. Tim has 40 credits, so
Tim will earn a master’s degree.
 All birds have feathers and robins are birds, so robins have feathers.
 It is dangerous to drive on icy streets. The streets are icy now so it is dangerous to
drive now.
 All cats have a keen sense of smell. Fluffy is a cat, so Fluffy has a keen sense of
smell.
 Snakes are reptiles and reptiles are cold-blooded; therefore, snakes are cold-
blooded.
 Cacti are plants and all plants perform photosynthesis; therefore, cacti perform
photosynthesis.
 Red meat has iron in it and beef is red meat, so beef has iron in it.
 Acute angles are less than 90 degrees and this angle is 40 degrees so this angle is
acute.
 All noble gases are stable and helium is a noble gas, so helium is stable.
 Magnolias are dicots and dicots have two embryonic leaves; therefore magnolias
have two embryonic leaves.
 Elephants have cells in their bodies and all cells have DNA, so elephants have DNA.
 All cars have at least two doors and a Ford Focus is a car, so the Ford Focus has at
least two doors.
 All horses have manes and the Arabian is a horse; therefore Arabians have manes.
Other Patterns of Deductive Reasoning

Some deductive reasoning does not follow the classic reasoning pattern of A = B and B = C,
then A = C. Some examples of other patterns are:
 Be careful around bees, they might sting you. (The reasoning is understood that all
bees might sting.)
 It takes me an hour to get to the mall. If I leave at five o’clock I will reach the mall by
six o’clock.
 That dog is growling so be careful or you might get bitten. (It is logical is the dog is
angry, he might bite.)
 The apple hit me on the head because of gravity.
 There are three people in my family. Each one is tall, so everyone in my family is tall.
Examples of Inductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning - refers to reasoning that takes specific information and makes
a broader generalization that is considered probable, allowing for the fact that the
conclusion may not be accurate.
Understanding Inductive Reasoning

There are varying degrees of strength and weakness in inductive reasoning, and various
types including statistical syllogism, arguments from example, causal inferences, simple
inductions, and inductive generalizations. They can have part to whole relations,
extrapolations, or predictions.
Some examples of inductive reasoning include:
 Jennifer leaves for school at 7:00 a.m. Jennifer is always on time. Jennifer assumes,
then, that she will always be on time if she leaves at 7:00 a.m.
 The cost of goods was $1.00. The cost of labor to manufacture the time was $.50.
The sales price of the item was $5.00; so, the item always provides a good profit.
 Every windstorm in this area comes from the north. I can see a big cloud of dust
caused by a windstorm in the distance; so, a new windstorm is coming from the north.
 Bob is showing a big diamond ring to his friend Larry. Bob has told Larry that he is
going to marry Joan. Bob has bought the diamond ring to give to Joan.
 The chair in the living room is red. The chair in the dining room is red. The chair in
the bedrrom is red. All chairs in the house are red.
 Every time you eat peanuts, your throat sweels up and you can't breath. So, you are
allergic to peanuts.
 All cats that you have observed purr. Therefore, every cat must purr.
 Two-thirds of the students at this college receive student aid. Therefore, two-thirds of
all college students receive student aid.
 All of the girls in the class were blond, therefore all girls in this neighborhood are
blond.
 Michael just moved here from Chicago. Michael has red hair, therefore people from
Chicago have red hair.
 The children in that house yell loudly when they play in their bedroom. I can hear
children yelling in that house, therefore the children must nbe playing in their bedroom.
 All chickens that we have seen have been brown; so, all chickens are brown.
 All cars in this town drive on the right side of the street. Therefore, all cars in all
towns drive on the right side of the street.
 John is an excellent swimmer. John's family has a swimming pool. John's sister
Mary must also be an excellent swimmer.
 All basketball players in your school are tall, so all basketball players must be tall.
 All brown dogs in the park are small dogs. Therefore, all small dogs are brown.
 All children in the day care center like to play with Legos. All children, therefore,
enjoy playing with Legos.
 Ray is a football player. All football players weigh more than 170 pounds. Ray
weighs more than 170 pounds.
 All observed houses on the South Street are falling apart. Sherry lives on South
Street. Her house is falling apart.

Deductive Reasoning: Everyday Examples

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Deductive Reasoning Examples

Deductive Reasoning: Everyday Examples

Other Patterns of Deductive Reasoning

Understanding Inductive Reasoning

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