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 arranged from lowest to the highest order, it is called an ascending order. While the numbers arranged from highest to lowest order, it is called a descending order.

Example: Arrange the numbers in descending order. Write 34 to 42 in ascending order:34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42,

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

Example

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

$ 48,  56,  14,-  35,  -2$

Mark the negative numbers first. The smallest negative number is – 35, then – 2.

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

The numbers are ascending order: $-35,  -2,  14,  48,  56$

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

– 12, – 21, 31, 0, – 5, 13

Mark the negative numbers first. The smallest negative number is – 21, then – 12.

Then look at the positive numbers. The smallest positive number is 13 and finally the largest number is 31.

Integers in order from least to greatest: – 21, – 12, – 5, 0, 13, 31.