IPA IP 2026 Question 84
A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問84, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
A certain reasoning system can perform reasoning such as deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, and hypothesis formation. Among the descriptions concerning the input to this reasoning system and the output obtained, which of the following is an appropriate example of performing deductive reasoning?
Explanation
From “all storage devices have storage capacity” and “an HDD is a storage device”, conclude “an HDD has storage capacity” — deduction applies a general rule to a particular case.
Deductive reasoning derives a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true: all M are P, S is an M, so S is P (a syllogism). Option (d) is exactly that form, with storage device as M, storage capacity as P and HDD as S.
Answer (d)
Why not others:
- •(a) — carries a property from HDDs over to SSDs because both are storage devices: reasoning by analogy, whose conclusion may be false
- •(b) — from “storage devices have the property” and “HDDs have the property” it concludes that an HDD is a storage device: guessing the explanation for an observation, which is hypothesis formation (abduction), and not necessarily true
- •(c) — generalizes from individual cases (HDD, SSD) to “all storage devices”: inductive reasoning, which can be overturned by one counterexample
Key rule: Deduction: general rule + case → certain conclusion. Induction: many cases → general rule. Hypothesis formation (abduction): rule + observed result → likely explanation.
Basic Theory · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.