Question

Inductive and deductive reasoning differ in which way?

Conclusions drawn using deductive reasoning are always false, while conclusions drawn using inductive reasoning are always true.

Conclusions drawn using inductive reasoning are always valid, while conclusions drawn using deductive reasoning may or may not be valid.

Conclusions drawn using inductive reasoning are always false, while conclusions drawn using deductive reasoning are always true.

Conclusions drawn using deductive reasoning are always valid, while conclusions drawn using inductive reasoning may or may not be valid.

Answer 1

Inductive reasoning creates generalizations from specific observations but cannot guarantee their truth. Deductive reasoning, on the other hand, reaches conclusions that are valid if the premises are true. The differences lie in the certainty and direction of reasoning between the specific and the general.

Step-by-step explanation:

Inductive and deductive reasoning differ primarily in the strength and nature of the conclusions that they provide. Inductive reasoning involves making broad generalizations from specific observations. While it is widely used and can be quite reliable, the conclusions drawn from inductive reasoning may not always be correct, because they are based on probabilities and trends observed in the evidence. For example, you might observe several fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges all grow on trees and conclude that all fruits grow on trees, which is not true for fruits like strawberries and blueberries.

In contrast, deductive reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a logical conclusion. Deductive reasoning provides conclusions that are definitely true if the premises are true. For example, if we have the general statement that 'All living things require energy to survive' and we know 'Ducks are living things', we can deduce that 'Ducks require energy to survive.'

Answer 2

The biggest difference between deductive and inductive reasoning is that deductive reasoning starts with a statement or hypothesis and then tests to see if it's true through observation, where inductive reasoning starts with observations and moves backward towards generalizations and theories.