91Ó°ÊÓ

Conclusion: negative integers are always smaller than positive integers.

– 4 < – 3 < – 2 < – 1 < 0 and 0 < 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 …so on.

When numbers are sorted from lowest to the highest order, the order is called an ascending order. While the numbers sorted from highest to lowest order, the order is called a descending order.

Example: Arrange the numbers in descending order. Example: Write 31 to 39 in ascending order. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,

If smallest first and the greatest last, this is called ascending order.

Example

Arrange the following integers in ascending order, putting the smallest first.

$\text{ }48,\text{ â¶Ä‰}56,\text{ â¶Ä‰}14,−\text{ â¶Ä‰}35,\text{ â¶Ä‰}−2$

Look at the negative numbers first. The smallest negative number is -35, then -2.

Then look at the positive numbers. The smallest positive number is 14. Then comes 48 and finally the largest number is 56.

The numbers are ascending order:$−35,\text{ â¶Ä‰}−2,\text{ â¶Ä‰}14,\text{ â¶Ä‰}48,\text{ â¶Ä‰}56$

Arrange the following integers in ascending order, putting the smallest first.

– 6, – 4, – 3, 2, 5, 6

Look at the negative numbers first. The smallest negative number is – 6, then –4 and finally 7.

Integers in order from least to greatest: Integers in order from least to greatest:

– 6, – 4, – 3, 2, 5, 6

The integers on the number line: