NYPD NYPD Deductive and Inductive Reasoning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A witness states that the robber was tall, had a beard, and wore a green jacket. Officers detain four suspects. Suspect A is tall with a beard but wears a blue jacket. Suspect B is tall, bearded, and wears a green jacket. Suspect C is short with a beard in a green jacket. Suspect D is tall, clean-shaven, in a green jacket. Which suspect best matches the description?
- Suspect A
- Suspect B (Correct answer)
- Suspect C
- Suspect D
Correct answer: Suspect B
Suspect B matches all three descriptors — tall, bearded, and wearing a green jacket — making him the closest match to the witness description.
Question 2: All detectives in Unit 5 carry a shield number above 5000. Detective Ruiz carries shield number 4872. What can be logically concluded?
- Detective Ruiz is not in Unit 5 (Correct answer)
- Detective Ruiz is in Unit 5 but has a special exception
- Shield numbers above 5000 are for Unit 5 only
- Detective Ruiz recently transferred to Unit 5
Correct answer: Detective Ruiz is not in Unit 5
Since all Unit 5 detectives have shield numbers above 5000 and Ruiz's number is 4872, Ruiz cannot be in Unit 5.
Question 3: An officer observes that a store's alarm has triggered six times in the past two months, always on Friday nights. Today is Friday night and the alarm is silent. Using inductive reasoning, what is the best conclusion?
- The alarm will definitely not trigger tonight
- The alarm may still trigger tonight — the pattern increases probability but does not guarantee it (Correct answer)
- The absence of an alarm means the store is secure
- The pattern is too small to draw any conclusion
Correct answer: The alarm may still trigger tonight — the pattern increases probability but does not guarantee it
Inductive patterns increase probability estimates but never guarantee specific outcomes; the alarm may still trigger despite currently being silent.
Question 4: A sergeant instructs: 'If a civilian asks for directions, officers should help if not responding to a call.' Officer Patel is en route to a non-emergency administrative task and a civilian asks for directions. Should Officer Patel help?
- No, because any task counts as a call
- Yes, because an administrative task is not an emergency call, so the condition to help is met (Correct answer)
- No, because directions are not a police matter
- Yes, but only after completing the administrative task first
Correct answer: Yes, because an administrative task is not an emergency call, so the condition to help is met
The rule requires officers to help unless responding to a call; an administrative task is not a call, so the condition for helping is met.
Question 5: In four consecutive months, car thefts in District 9 increased whenever a local event drew large crowds. A major parade is scheduled for next month. What does inductive reasoning suggest?
- Car thefts will definitely increase next month
- Car thefts will probably increase next month based on the observed pattern (Correct answer)
- Car thefts will decrease because police will be present at the parade
- The pattern is irrelevant to future planning
Correct answer: Car thefts will probably increase next month based on the observed pattern
Four consistent data points create a probable pattern, justifying a prediction of increased theft risk during the parade.
Question 6: Only officers with a rank of sergeant or above may authorize a search of a department locker. Officer Collins, a patrol officer, wants to search a colleague's locker. What must Officer Collins do?
- Search the locker immediately if she has reasonable suspicion
- Obtain authorization from a sergeant or higher-ranking officer before searching (Correct answer)
- Request permission from the locker's owner
- File a written request with Internal Affairs
Correct answer: Obtain authorization from a sergeant or higher-ranking officer before searching
The rule limits authorization to sergeants and above; Collins, as a patrol officer, must obtain that authorization before conducting the search.
Question 7: Five eyewitnesses to the same robbery give slightly different descriptions of the suspect's height: 5'9", 5'10", 6'0", 5'11", and 5'10". Using inductive reasoning, what is the most reasonable height estimate for the suspect?
- Exactly 6'0" because the tallest estimate is most noticeable
- Approximately 5'10" to 5'11" because most estimates cluster there (Correct answer)
- The estimates are too varied to draw any conclusion
- 5'9" because witnesses tend to overestimate height
Correct answer: Approximately 5'10" to 5'11" because most estimates cluster there
Inductive reasoning from multiple observations favors the range where estimates cluster; four of five witnesses estimated between 5'9" and 5'11", centering around 5'10".
NYPD NYPD Deductive and Inductive Reasoning 4
A witness states that the robber was tall, had a beard, and wore a green jacket.
Officers detain four suspects.
Suspect A is tall with a beard but wears a blue jacket.
Suspect B is tall, bearded, and wears a green jacket.
Suspect C is short with a beard in a green jacket.
Suspect D is tall, clean-shaven, in a green jacket.
Which suspect best matches the description?