hypothesis: $re1 <= $re2 is_less_or_equal( $re1, $re2 ) specific -> $re1 $re2 <- generic if exists $str that $str =~ /$re1/ and $str =~ /$re2/ -> no consequence $str =~ /$re1/ and $str !~ /$re2/ -> falsifies hypothesis $str !~ /$re1/ and $str =~ /$re2/ -> corroborates hypothesis $str !~ /$re1/ and $str !~ /$re2/ -> no consequence