Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is more complex than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is simpler than (i.e. less complex than).”

(1) Legalism is simpler than virtuousness: legalism < virtuousness

This can be rewritten: virtuousness > legalism

(2) Virtuousness is more complex than pragmatism: virtuousness > pragmatism

These two statements tell us that virtuousness is more complex than the other two options; however, they do not tell us the relationship between those other two.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is more soothing than.” 

(1) Performing music is more soothing than painting and running.

We get two statements from this: 

(a) Music > painting

(b) Music > running

(2) Running is more soothing than debating: running > debating

Notice that this tells us that:

Music > running > debating

However, it does not tell us the relationship between painting and debating.  We just know that debating and painting are less soothing than performing music.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is more loving than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is less loving than.”

(1) Christopher is more loving than both Richard and Timothy. This really contains two statements:

(a) Christopher > Richard

(b) Christopher > Timothy

(2) Richard is less loving than Lucy but more loving than Ronald, who is less loving than Timothy. This really contains two statements:

(a) Lucy > Richard > Ronald

(b) Ronald < Timothy

Now, notice that the link from Ronald to Christopher will have to go through Timothy. Let's rewrite 2b as:

Timothy > Ronald

This can be combined with 1.b to get:

Christopher > Timothy > Ronald

Therefore, it is true that Christopher is more loving than Ronald.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is a larger town than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is a smaller town than.”

(1) Wheeler is a smaller town than Connellsville but larger than Chalkhill: Connellsville > Wheeler > Chalkhill

(2) Chalkhill is larger than both Frogbottom and Toadhole. This really gives us two statements:

(a) Chalkhill > Frogbottom

(b) Chalkhill > Toadhole

Now, we can relate Toadhold and Wheeler by combining 1 with 2b:

Connellsville > Wheeler > Chalkhill > Toadhole

It is therefore true to say that Toadhole is smaller than Wheeler.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is a better writer than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is a worse writer than.”

(1) Charles is a better writer than Steven but a worse writer than Laura: Laura > Charles > Steven

(2) Laura is a worse writer than both Nellie and John. This gives us two statements:

(a) Laura < Nellie

(b) Laura < John

Now, we can rewrite 2b as: John > Laura

This let's us combine 2b with 1 to get:

John > Laura > Charles > Steven

Therefore, it is true to say that John is a better writer than Steven.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is more successful than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is less successful than.”

(1) Isaac is more successful than Mallory and Peter. This really gives us two statements:

(a) Isaac > Mallory

(b) Isaac > Peter

(2) Gregory is less successful than Peter and George. This really gives us two statements:

(a) Gregory < Peter

(b) Gregory < George

Now, let's rewrite 2a as: Peter > Gregory. We can combine this with 1b to get:

Isaac > Peter > Gregory

Therefore, it is false to say that Isaac is less successful than Gregory.

Since "sane" and "crazy" can be considered, opposites, we will read them as such. Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is saner than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is less sane than (crazier than).”

(1) James is saner than Maurice but crazier than Jacques: Jacques > James > Maurice

(2) Yves is saner than Jacques, Reginald, and Theodore.  This gives us 3 separate statements:

(a) Yves > Jacques

(b) Yves > Reginald

(c) Yves > Theodore

Now, we need to relate Yves to Maurice.  We can do this by combining 2a and 1:

Yves > Jacques > James > Maurice

This means that Maurice is less sane than Yves or (in other words) he is crazier than Yves.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is more interesting than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is less interesting than.”

(1) Dante is more interesting than Durandus and Capreolus. This really gives us two statements:

(a) Dante > Durandus

(b) Dante > Capreolus

This is the same as: Capreolus < Dante

(2) Capreolus is less interesting than Avicenna and more interesting than Averroes:

Averroes < Capreolus < Avicenna

Now, we can combine 1b and 2 to get:

Averroes < Capreolus < Dante

Therefore, it is true to say that Averroes is less interesting than Dante.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this. “Greater than” (>) will mean “is rougher than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “is less rough (softer) than.”

(1) Potato sacks are rougher than cotton, which is rougher than silk:

potato sacks > cotton > silk

(2) Cotton is softer than denim and wood.  This really contains two statements:

(a) cotton < denim

(b) cotton < wood; this is the same as: wood > cotton

We can combine 1 and 2B to get:

wood > cotton > silk

Therefore, it is true to say that wood is rougher than silk.

Let’s use symbols from math to help us understand this.  “Greater than” (>) will mean “reads more than,” and “less than” (<) will mean “reads less than.”

(1) Sebastian reads more than Jerome, who reads less than Silvanus. This really has two statements in it:

(a) Sebastian > Jerome

(b) Jerome < Silvanus, which can be rewritten: Silvanus > Jerome

(2) Germanus, who reads less than Isidore, reads more than Silvanus:

Isidore > Germanus > Silvanus

Now, we can combine 1b and 2 to get: Isidore > Germanus > Silvanus > Jerome

This means that it is false to say that Isidore reads less than Jerome.