Which type of scientific statement is Kepler's discovery?

An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning rather than directly observed facts. While Kepler's work involved inference in the sense of interpreting observational data, his conclusion about planetary motion is a law rather than an inference, as it describes a consistent behavior rather than a derived conclusion.

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that incorporates facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses. While Kepler's findings contributed to the development of theories regarding gravity and motion, his specific discovery about elliptical orbits is a law, not a theory.

A hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables. Kepler's discovery was based on empirical observations rather than a speculative prediction, making it a law that describes a consistent pattern rather than a simple hypothesis awaiting testing.