Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning?
A)If a banana is not ripe,then an ape will not eat it.
B)Numerous different species live in sunny parts of an ecosystem;therefore,they are all photosynthetic.
C)Hundreds of cultures of a unicellular alga are incubated in the presence of light,and in all of the samples the cells congregate on the side of the culture toward the light.Therefore,the alga is phototactic (attracted to light).
D)If two species are members of the same genus,then they are more similar to each other than they are to members of a different genus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific observations. In choice C, the observation of algal behavior in hundreds of cultures leads to the general conclusion that the alga is phototactic, exemplifying inductive reasoning.

Which of the Following Is an Example of Inductive Reasoning