What type of reasoning is indicated when a student uses examples from personal experiences to form general conclusions?

Inductive reasoning involves making generalizations based on specific instances or observations. When a student draws on personal experiences to come to a broader conclusion, they are recognizing patterns or trends that emerge from those individual examples. This method of reasoning allows one to infer general rules or principles from particular cases, which is a key characteristic of inductive reasoning.

In contrast, formal reasoning refers to structured processes and logical frameworks often based on established principles or theorems without relying on personal experiences. Deductive reasoning works from the general to the specific, applying universal truths to reach specific conclusions. Empirical reasoning, while involving observation and experience, is more focused on evidence and data collection rather than personal instance-based conclusions. Therefore, the act of using personal experience leads directly to inductive reasoning, making that the correct answer.