Inductive reasoning is the complement of
deductive reasoning. For other article subjects named induction, see
Induction. Induction or inductive reasoning, sometimes called inductive logic, is the process of
reasoning in which the premises of an argument are believed to support the conclusion but do not ensure it. It is used to ascribe
properties or relations to
types based on
tokens (i.e., on one or a small number of observations or experiences); or to formulate
laws based on limited observations of recurring
phenomenal patterns. Induction is employed, for example, in using specific propositions such as: This ice is cold.A billiard ball moves when struck with a cue. ...to infer general propositions such as:All ice is cold.All billiard balls struck with a cue move.
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Whereas deductive logic  reasons only with ideas (or premises), induction reasons with observations.  Inductive logic has the general form, "I have observed many cases like this in situation A so  I conclude that this is what happens in situation A." Contrast inductive logic with
deductive logic.