Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning example

1. The flamingos here are all pink. ----> SPECIFIC STATEMENT

2. All flamingos I’ve ever seen are pink.

3. All flamingos must be pink. -----> GENERAL THEORY/IDEA

Inductive Reasoning example

1. It's July, and I saw fireflies in my back yard tonight. (SPECIFIC STATEMENT)

2. I see fireflies in my yard every summer.

3. Fireflies always appear during the summer. (GENERAL THEORY/IDEA)

Deductive Reasoning Example
General to specific thoughts

• All dogs have ears.

• Golden retrievers are dogs.

• Golden Retrievers have ears.

Deductive Reasoning Example
General to specific details

• Christmas is always Dec. 25th.

• Today is Dec. 25th.

• Therefore, it's Christmas today.

Your turn to practice!
Are you ready?

Multiple Choice

All dolphins are mammals.

Mammals have kidneys.

Dolphins have kidneys.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

All cats have a tail.

Minka is a cat.

Minka has a tail.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

I ate strawberries and my lips swelled.

I ate strawberries again, and my lips swelled.

Swollen lips are a sign of an allergy.

I am probably allergic to strawberries.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

• All racing cars must go over 80MPH.

• The Dodge Charger is a racing car.

• The Dodge Charger can go over 80MPH.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

Bella is an orange cat, and she purrs loudly.

Every orange cat I've met purrs loudly.

All orange cats purr loudly

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

• All birds have feathers.

• All robins are birds.

• Therefore, robins have feathers.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

• Red meat has iron in it.

• Beef is red meat.

• Therefore, beef has iron in it.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

• All horses have manes.

• The Arabian is a horse.

• Therefore, Arabians have manes.

• Inductive

• Deductive

Multiple Choice

The 3rd grade class loved their pizza party.

All 3rd graders must love pizza.

• Inductive

• Deductive