Hi, there--

Inductive reasoning starts with specific examples or observations, then we generalize about
the rules or patterns that lie behind them. This is reasoning that a detective uses to sift 
through clues in order to find the criminal. Here is a link to some good examples of inductive 
reasoning:

http://www.basic-mathematics.com/examples-of-inductive-reasoning.html


Deductive reasoning, on the other hand, starts with the rules, and determines what the 
consequences will be. This is what we do in most of math, using definitions, axioms, and 
theorems to logically prove that other, more complicated, facts are true. 

Here is a link to simple explanations and examples of both types of reasoning:

http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/previewtest?Y/Z/L/T/14841329498191

Best,
~Ms.Figgy
math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com