"whichever is (the) less", vs "whichever is (the) lesser"
Solution 1:
1) Whichever is less
Among very few things (two preferably)
2) Whichever is lesser
Used for comparing among two or more number of things
3) Whichever is the least
The thing which is less than all of the other things
Yes, they all may sound like they have the same meaning, and it's mostly up to you whatever sense you want to deliver to the reader.