Columbus and other Europeans of his time believed that the Earth was
roughly 50 percent smaller than it really is.
roughly 50 percent larger than it really is.
about the same size as it really is.
just slightly smaller than it really is.

you didn't give any options but heres what i can tell you: an inference is likely to change based on additional observations. the latter is something that you have seen or sensed using your sensory organs while the former is like a conclusion out from what you have observed.

evidence and logical support is essential for a scientist to do in order to maintain credibility. this is because no one can believe without any logic and without any evidence.hence a scientist can maintain credibility by proving himself and by answering logically so experiments prove very beneficial. logical hypothesis give conclusion which is acceptable. therefore, there are two main factors to maintain credibility by a scientist is evidence and logical support.