Descending Order: Meaning and Examples | Decreasing Order

Descending Order is the arrangement of numbers in a sequence such that the next number is always smaller than the previous number. It is also called decreasing order.

Let’s learn how to arrange numbers in the Descending Order with the help of examples.

Meaning of Descending Order

Descending Order means the order of elements or objects in such a way, that each successive element is smaller than the previous element.

This, if finite numbers are arranged in decreasing order, then the first number in the sequence is the highest and the last number in the arrangement is the lowest.

Descending Order Symbol

Greater than sign “>” is used for representing the descending order. For instance,

9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1

Another symbol used to indicate descending order is an arrow pointing downwards (↓).

Descending Order Examples

Here are a few examples of numbers arranged in decreasing order:

1. 0, 8, 5, 4, 2
2. 25, 20, 15, 10, 5
3. 99, 88, 77, 66, 55
4. 7.2, 6.8, 6.5, 3.7, 1.2
5. -3, -5, -8, -10, -12
6. 1,000,000, 100,000, 10,000, 1,000, 100

Alphabets in Descending Order

Here are the alphabets in descending order :

Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A

Descending Order on Number Line

Let’s arrange the numbers, -2, -4, 0, 1, and 3 on the number line.

On the number line, this sequence is represented as,

This sequence shows the descending order because each number to the left is smaller than the number to its right. This indicates a progression from larger values to smaller values along the number line.

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• Numbers
• Number Line

How to Arrange Numbers in Decreasing Order?

We can arrange numbers in descending order for various types of numbers.

1. Integers
2. Negative Numbers
3. Fractions
4. Decimals

Now let’s learn about arranging these numbers in descending order in detail.

Integers in Descending Order

The integers are the group of numbers containing both positive and negative numbers including zero. The integers are easily arranged in descending order by following the basic rule,

• Positive numbers are greater than Zero(0) and Negative integers are less than Zero(0).
• Positive numbers are always greater than negative numbers.
• Positive numbers in integers are compared normally and arranged in descending order.
• Negative numbers are arranged in ascending order after taking the absolute values of the given function and applying the negative sign changes the number in descending order.

Let’s arrange in descending order as, -7, -9, -23, 11, 5, 0.

11 > 5 > 0 > -7 > -9 > -23

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• Integers

Negative Numbers in Descending Order

Negative numbers follow the following rules and can be easily arranged in descending order,

• Negative numbers are arranged in descending order by first taking the absolute values of these numbers and then arranging the same in ascending order.
• Then we put the negative sign to get the required series in Descending order.

This can be understood with the example as, arrange -11, -45, -32, -23 in descending order

-11 > -23 > -32 > -45

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• Negative Numbers
• Absolute Values

Fractions in Descending Order

Fractions are arranged in decreasing order by first making all the fractions like fractions and then arranging these on the basis of their numerator.

This can be understood with the example as, arrange 1/6, 2/3, 5/12, 7/4 in descending order.

Given fractions are changed into like fractions by making the denominators of the fractions equal.

LCM of 6, 3, 12, 4 = 12

• 1/6 = 2/12
• 2/3 = 8/12
• 5/12 = 5/12
• 7/4 = 21/12

Then in descending order, they are arranged as,

21/12 > 8/12 > 5/12 > 2/12

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• Fractions

Decimals in Descending Order

Decimals are arranged in descending order by following the steps discussed below,

• Whole number part of the number is compared in the case of the decimals for arranging them in descending order, i.e.

Suppose we have to compare 7.8 and 8.1 then we only compare the whole number part, as 8 > 7, so 8.1 > 7.8

• Now, if the whole number part is equal then we compare the decimal part one by one as,

7.890 and 7.891 here, 7.891 > 7.890

Read More On :

• Decimal Number System

Ascending and Descending Order

Increasing order is the opposite of descreasing order. Ascending order starts with the smallest number while descending order starts with the largest one.

Difference between Descending and Ascending Order

Let’s discuss the difference between ascending order and descending order.

Ascending Order	Descending Order
Increasing vs. Decreasing Order
Ascending order arranges the number from smallest to largest.	Descending order arranges the number from largest to smallest.
In ascending order, the numbers are arranged in a manner such that the second number is always greater than the first number.	In descending order, the numbers are arranged in a manner such that the second number is always smaller than the first number.
The symbol “<” is used to represent the numbers in ascending order.	The symbol “>” is used to represent the numbers in descending order.
Example: Arrange the number in ascending order, 5, 3, 9, 6, 13, 2 2 < 3 < 6 < 9 < 13	Example: Arrange the number in descending order, 5, 3, 9, 6, 13, 2 13 > 9 > 6 > 3 > 2

Descending Order Questions

Let’s solve some example questions on descending order.

Example 1: Arrange the following fractions in descending order, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 4/5

Solution:

The fraction as discussed above is arranged in descending order by making all the fraction to be like fractions.

Given fractions, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 4/5

LCM of 2, 3, 4, and 5 = 60

• 1/2 = 30/60
• 2/3 = 40/60
• 3/4 = 45/60
• 4/5 = 48/60

Now for the like fractions, the descending order is found by arranging the numerator in the descending order.

48 > 45 > 40 > 30, thus

48 /60 > 45 /60 > 40 / 60 > 30/60

The required fractions in descending order are arranged as, 4/5 < 3/4 < 2/3 < 1/2.

Example 2: Arrange the following decimals in decreasing order, 1.3, 4.5, 5.6, and 2.8

Solution:

In decimals, the numbers are arranged in descending order by comparing their whole part, i.e.

5 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 1, so

The required decimals in descending order are 5.6 > 4.5 > 2.8 > 1.3.

Example 3: Arrange the following integers in descending order, -1, -4, 5, and 2

Solution:

The integers are arranged in descending order as positive integers are greater than the negative integers so,

The required integers in the descending order are 5 > 2 > -1 > -4.

Example 4: Arrange the following negative numbers in decreasing order, -2, -45, -23, and -17

Solution:

In the case of the negative numbers, the modulus part is compared and the modules part of the negative number in the ascending order is equal to the descending order of the negative numbers.

The required negative numbers in descending order are, -2 > -17 > -23 > -45.

Decreasing Order- FAQs

1. What is Increasing and Decreasing Order?

Increasing Order is the arrangement of objects in a sequence such that the next element is always greater than the previous one. On the other hand, descending order is the method of arranging values such that each element is smaller than the element before.

2. How to Arrange Numbers in Descending Order?

To arrange numbers in descending order, compare the numbers in pairs and swap their positions if necessary, starting from the beginning of the set. Repeat this process until the entire set is sorted. The result is a sequence from the largest to the smallest number.

3. How to Arrange Fractions in Descending Order?

To arrange fractions in descending order, change the fraction into like fractions (i.e. fractions with equal denominator) then compare the numerator of the fractions and arranged them in descending order of the numerator.

4. How to Arrange Negative Numbers in Decreasing Order?

To arrange negative numbers in decreasing order first take the modulus of the given negative number and then arrange them in the ascending number and add a negative sign to get the descending order of the negative numbers.

5. What is the Descending Order Sign?

Greater than sign “>” is used for representing the descending order. Another symbol used to indicate descending order is an arrow pointing downwards (↓).

6. How to Arrange Decimals in Descending Order?

To arrange decimals in descending order, we compare the digits to the right of the decimal point. Then we start with the largest digit on the left and move towards the smallest digit.