how do i count "great" when there are 2 paths to the same person with different generations [closed]

Question

Reason Howard-1572 (my 5ggf) has 2 branches to Matthew Howard-8458 Sr, one by his father (3 males) and one by his mother (2 females).  the branch by his mother is shorter by one generation.  so does that make Matthew Howard-8458 Sr my 9ggf or my 8ggf?  does it matter?

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Howard-1572

Answer 1

Actually both! It only matters if you are tracing one line or the other

Answer 2

I have a couple that is both my 2xggrandparents and my 3xggrandparents. The program counts them as 2xggrandparents. I was a bit confused when I found that out and created those lines.