Definitions for "Double counting"
a mistake encountered in calculating the probability of at least one of several events occurring, when the events are not mutually exclusive. In this case, the addition rule does not apply.
The process by which some courses may be used to meet both General Education requirements and requirements for a major or minor. However, the credits may not be counted twice. If, for instance, one course is used to meet requirements in General Education and the major, the credits may only be counted in one of those areas.
In a resource flow analysis, double counting can best be illustrated by using paper as an example. Paper will go through many stages of production until it becomes the final product we might read (a book) or use (office paper). Economic data can track these sequential processes and report the financial value of each stage. However, it is still the same paper, and for resource accounting purposes this presents a risk of double counting. For the purposes of this study, only the final product has been counted, all intermediate products have been removed.