Which example illustrates the process of deduction?

The process of deduction involves reasoning from general principles to specific cases, often operating on established premises to arrive at a conclusion that must logically follow if the premises are true.

In the provided example, the statement "All mammals are warm-blooded; a whale is a mammal; therefore, whales are warm-blooded" follows this deductive reasoning pattern. It begins with a general premise about all mammals and then applies that principle to the specific case of whales. Since whales fit the definition of mammals outlined in the first premise, the conclusion that whales are warm-blooded naturally follows.

This clear structure of reasoning—starting with a broad, universally accepted premise and using it to derive a specific conclusion—is indicative of deductive reasoning. Hence, this example effectively demonstrates the principles of deduction in a logical manner.