But the inductive reasoning involved in these processes have never been codified due to the uncertain nature of the conclusions drawn from given data on formation. The breakthrough occurred only in the beginning of the present century with the realization that inductive reasoning can be made precise by specifying the amount of uncertainty involved in the conclusions drawn.
This paved the way for working out an optimum course of action involving minimum risk, in any given uncertain situation, by a purely deductive process. Once this mechanism was made available, the floodgates opened and there was no end to the number of applications impatiently awaiting for methods which could really deliver the goods.