correct usage of "either...or" Forum

[DragonWell]

Am I understanding "either...or" wrong?

In a logic game question, a rule says: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does either the site visited first or that visited fourth."
What is the implication here?

Do you think it means: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does the sited visited first. Otherwise, the site visited third dates from a more recent century than does that visited fourth. "

Or would you agree it means:' The site visited third dates from a more recent century than both the site visited first, and the site visited fourth."

I've googled correct usage of "either...or", and "both...and". But the answer I get doesn't seem to make sense.

[mwells56]

Am I understanding "either...or" wrong?

In a logic game question, a rule says: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does either the site visited first or that visited fourth."
What is the implication here?

Do you think it means: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does the sited visited first. Otherwise, the site visited third dates from a more recent century than does that visited fourth. "

Or would you agree it means:' The site visited third dates from a more recent century than both the site visited first, and the site visited fourth."

I've googled correct usage of "either...or", and "both...and". But the answer I get doesn't seem to make sense.

It means that it's more recent than both. You just need to take the context.

[kcdc1]

Ambiguous given context. Poorly written. I think it should technically be the first option.

[Deardevil]

I remember this game vividly.

It means the site visited third is either the ninth or 10th century because there's no way eighth century could be earlier.
IIRC, another rule forces only one century (I won't say which) to take third place, resulting in clarity.

Your understanding is spot-on. For example, if I say I want either vanilla or chocolate,
if I get vanilla, I'll be content, but if I get chocolate, that's fine as well. If I get both in this summer heat, HALLELUJAH.
"Either" just means "at least one." However, when you sneak in "but not both," that's when you only have at most one option.
"Both" and "and" indicate two are necessary. Given "if a breakfast were to be good, it requires pancakes and OJ,"
just having solely pancakes/OJ or neither will fail the condition to make the breakfast "good."
Even when you have both, it doesn't guarantee the breakfast will be good, but if you know your breakfast IS good,
you know it has both ingredients.

[DragonWell]

Am I understanding "either...or" wrong?

In a logic game question, a rule says: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does either the site visited first or that visited fourth."
What is the implication here?

Do you think it means: "The site visited third dates from a more recent century than does the sited visited first. Otherwise, the site visited third dates from a more recent century than does that visited fourth. "

Or would you agree it means:' The site visited third dates from a more recent century than both the site visited first, and the site visited fourth."

I've googled correct usage of "either...or", and "both...and". But the answer I get doesn't seem to make sense.

It means that it's more recent than both. You just need to take the context.

Thanks!

[DragonWell]

Ambiguous given context. Poorly written. I think it should technically be the first option.

Thanks!

[DragonWell]

I remember this game vividly.

It means the site visited third is either the ninth or 10th century because there's no way eighth century could be earlier.
IIRC, another rule forces only one century (I won't say which) to take third place, resulting in clarity.

Your understanding is spot-on. For example, if I say I want either vanilla or chocolate,
if I get vanilla, I'll be content, but if I get chocolate, that's fine as well. If I get both in this summer heat, HALLELUJAH.
"Either" just means "at least one." However, when you sneak in "but not both," that's when you only have at most one option.
"Both" and "and" indicate two are necessary. Given "if a breakfast were to be good, it requires pancakes and OJ,"
just having solely pancakes/OJ or neither will fail the condition to make the breakfast "good."
Even when you have both, it doesn't guarantee the breakfast will be good, but if you know your breakfast IS good,
you know it has both ingredients.

Thanks! You are a real pro!