Deductive and Non-deductive reasoning

Which type of argument claims that the truth of the premises guarantees the truth of the conclusion?

• Deductive argument
• Non-deductive argument
• Abductive argument
• Analogical argument

Answer explanation

Deductive arguments are structured so that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

What term refers to statements or propositions that provide support for the conclusion of an argument?

• Conclusions
• Proofs
• Premises
• Inferences

Answer explanation

Premises are the statements or propositions that are used as evidence or reasons to support a conclusion.

What is the main characteristic of a non-deductive argument?

• The premises guarantee the conclusion.
• The premises contradict the conclusion.
• The premises offer probable support for the conclusion.
• The premises are necessarily false.

Answer explanation

Non-deductive arguments provide support that is probable rather than certain, meaning the conclusion is likely but not guaranteed.

In logical reasoning, what is a conclusion?

• An unrelated proposition
• A type of premise
• A deductive argument
• A statement that follows from premises

Answer explanation

The conclusion is the statement that the premises are intended to support or prove.

Which of the following is true of a deductive argument?

• The conclusion is always probably true.
• If the argument is valid and the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
• The conclusion is based on empirical evidence.
• The premises and the conclusion are both propositions.

Answer explanation

In a valid deductive argument, true premises ensure that the conclusion is also true, which is why such arguments are considered logically certain.

Which term refers to the process of demonstrating the truth of a conclusion through logical reasoning?

• Deductive argument
• Proof
• Premise
• Proposition

Answer explanation

A proof is a logical process that demonstrates the truth of a conclusion by following a series of valid inferences from true premises.

If an argument's premises are true and the argument is valid, what can we say about the conclusion?

• It is sound.
• It is necessarily true.
• It is proof.
• It is cogent.

Answer explanation

In a valid deductive argument with true premises, the conclusion must also be true; this is a defining feature of such arguments.

What is the difference between a proposition and a premise?

• A proposition is a statement, while a premise provides support.
• A premise is always true, but a proposition is not.
• A proposition is the conclusion, and a premise is an assumption.
• They are the same in deductive arguments.

Answer explanation

A proposition is any declarative statement, while a premise is a proposition that is used as evidence in an argument.

Which type of argument is most likely to be used in mathematical proofs?

• Non-deductive argument
• Deductive argument
• Inductive argument
• Analogical argument

Answer explanation

Mathematical proofs rely on deductive reasoning, where the truth of the premises ensures the truth of the conclusion.

What does it mean if an argument is described as "sound"?

• It is an inductive argument with a strong conclusion.
• It has premises that are true, but the conclusion is false.
• It is a non-deductive argument with probable support.
• It is a deductive argument with true premises and a true conclusion.

Answer explanation

A sound argument is a valid deductive argument with all true premises, meaning the conclusion must also be true.