Examples: Inductive or Deductive Reasoning?

Front

The Giants have lost their last seven games. The Giants play the Rockies tonight. They will probably lose.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

If you brush and floss your teeth daily then you will have fewer cavities. Marie brushes and flosses her teeth daily. Thus, she will have fewer cavities.

Back

Deductive reasoning

Front

4 out of 5 times I beat Corey at pool and I'm going to play him tomorrow. So, I'll very likely win.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

A scientist notices that many butterflies visit red flowers but not yellow flowers in the same garden. The scientist predicts that butterflies are more attracted to red flowers.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

It has been observed that earthquakes precede the eruption of volcanoes. Thus, earthquakes cause volcanoes to erupt.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

To graduate from school, a student must earn twenty credits. Sal will graduate next month. Therefore, Sal must have earned twenty credits.

Back

Deductive reasoning

Front

At Rockville park, all the birds I observed were near the water. Birds prefer to live near the water.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

All biologist have better senses of humor than chemists. Ann is a biologist and Maria is a chemist. Ann is funnier than Maria.

Back

Deductive reasoning

Front

Earth, Mars, and Jupiter travel about the sun in elliptical orbits; therefore, all planets travel about the sun in elliptical orbits.

Back

Inductive reasoning

Front

All dogs are mammals. All mammals give birth to live young. Dogs must give birth to puppies.

Back

Deductive reasoning