What best distinguishes a hypothesis from a theory?

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A hypothesis is a statement that makes a specific, testable prediction about what will happen under certain conditions. It’s something you can investigate with data and experiments, and the result will either support or challenge it. A theory, on the other hand, is a broad, well-supported account that explains a wide range of phenomena and is backed by substantial evidence gathered from many observations and experiments. Theories tie together many related findings and can generate new testable predictions, but they represent a robust framework rather than a single testable claim. So, the best distinction is that a hypothesis is a testable guess about a particular situation, while a theory is a comprehensive, evidence-based explanation of why things happen.