"First, would you agree that NFPA through 921 instructs the user to use Merriam-Webster for definitions that are not in 921. This instruction is found at the head of the definition chapter. Now let’s look at the definition from Marriam-Webster. Process of Elimination – The act of considering and rejecting each possible choice until only one is left. Would you agree this is the definition that should be used for this term?"

I agree that is stated in 921, but there is no need for a definition of the Process of Elimination in the first place. That is why it is not in the definitions.

"If you have one or more hypotheses, the proper methodology is to attempt to prove that specific hypothesis is reliable is by trying to prove it is false. What one is attempting to do is to eliminate it as a reliable hypothesis through a testing process. If it is proven to be false, then you have eliminated it from consideration. Now one has considered and rejected a possible choice. It has now been eliminated. It does not matter if you have one or more than one that you are using the methodology to determine its reliability. You may eliminate none, some, or all, but the goal is to prove they are false so they can be eliminated."

Trying to disprove a hypothesis with evidence (i.e., the hypothesis is deemed false) is falsification. Elimination of a hypothesis by using evidence that disproves the hypothesis is different than the Process of Elimination. The former is falsification.

Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
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