Final answer:
The basic pattern of inference to the best explanation involves coming up with a hypothesis that best explains the given data and focusing on the meaning of the evidence rather than its truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic pattern of inference to the best explanation, also known as abductive reasoning, involves starting with a set of data and coming up with a hypothesis that can best explain the existence of that data. In this pattern, the focus is on what the evidence means rather than its truth. The best explanation is the one that has the best fit with the facts and is supported by well-supported claims. This process relies heavily on reason and evidence to support claims about physical events or a physical state of affairs.