Hypothetical vs Theoretical?

The difference between a hypothetical situation and a theoretical situation.

In everyday conversation (unlike scientist) we usually don't make that distinction, which means you can use both words interchangeably.

To answer your question, your friend asked a "hypothetical" question.

When you suggestion a hypothetical situation, you are making up or imagining a situation that could have or could not exist in real life. E.g. Hypothetically if someone shot you in the leg, would you cry? or What will you do if you discovered that you have 100,000 children?

A theoretical question have to be proven. E.g. Wormholes exist theoretically but we haven't found any yet (the laws of physics allow for wormhole to exist, meaning you can calculate it or it's theoretically possible). The 2nd example I used above will not be valid in a theoretical question because it is impossible to happen.

*this is taken from my YA.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhQrEHWRxBxKpdgXpNSv3ZsjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20100207155657AAYT73p