Table of Contents
Ascending Order
When the numbers are arranged from the smallest number to the largest number, those numbers are said to be in an ascending order.
Ascending order of numbers is arranged numbers from smallest to largest number.
Descending Order
When the numbers are arranged from the largest to the smallest number, those numbers are said to be in descending order.
Descending order of numbers is arranged numbers from largest to smallest number.
Examples
| Numbers | Ascending Order | Descending Order |
| 1, 2, 3, 4 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | 4, 3, 2, 1 |
| 5, 3, 7, 2, 13 | 2, 3, 5, 7, 13 | 13, 7, 5, 3, 2 |
| 52, 24, 33 | 24, 52, 33 (24=16, 52=25, 33 = 27) | 33, 52, 24 (33 = 27, 52=25, 24=16) |
Characteristics of Ascending and Descending
In general terms, Ascending means smallest to largest and Descending means largest to smallest.
Ascending order means the smallest or earliest or first in the order will appear at the top of the list.
Descending order means the largest or last in the order will appear at the top of the list.
Here are Characteristics of Ascending and Descending for some types of data.
| Data Type | Ascending | Descending |
| Amounts or Numbers | smallest to largest. Lower amounts or numbers will be at the top of the list. | largest to smallest. Higher amounts or numbers will be at the top of the list. |
| Words or Letters | alphabetical from A to Z | alphabetical from Z to A |
| Numbers and Letters | 0-9 is sorted first, then followed by A-Z | Z to A is sorted first then followed by 9-0 |
| Dates | Oldest dates to most recent | most recent dates to the oldest dates |