Charles has noticed that every time it rains, both his car and his lawnmower are hard to start up. Based on these observations, he developed a theory that humidity reduces the ability of gasoline to burn effectively. Charles's theory can be said to have been developed on the basis of which of the following?

Question

A.
The inductive method.

B.
The abstract method.

C.
The empirical method.

D.
The deductive method

Answer 1

Charles's theory is based on observations he has made regarding the performance of his car and lawnmower in relation to rain and humidity. This approach—drawing a general conclusion (that humidity reduces gasoline's ability to burn effectively) based on specific observations (the difficulty starting the car and lawnmower when it rains)—aligns with the inductive method.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

A. The inductive method.