What is the Difference Between Ascending and Descending?

The difference between Ascending and Descending is that Ascending order means moving from the smallest to the largest number. Whereas, Descending order means moving from the largest to the smallest number. Numerically, you can set any set of numbers in Ascending or Descending order.

What is Ascending Order?

Ascending Order refers to the statement saying “moving upwards”. Ascending order means the increase in the order of the numbers. There are many ways regarding how we describe ascending order. Like the alphabet A to Z is in ascending order, also dates when arranged in chronological order, from earliest to latest, become the best example of the ascending order. You can explore more examples of the Ascending order.

Examples of Ascending Order

Ascending order refers to arranging things from smallest to largest. Here are some examples of the same:

• Numbers: The most common example is arranging numbers from smallest to biggest. For instance, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is in ascending order.
• Heights: You can arrange people according to their height, starting from the shortest to the tallest.
• Sizes: You can arrange objects based on their size, from smallest to biggest.

What is the Symbol of Ascending Order?

Ascending order, also sometimes called increasing order, is all about arranging things from smallest to largest. The symbol we use to show this order is the less than sign “<“. Here is an example to show how this symbol can be used.

1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5

The number or item on the left side of the “<” is always smaller than the one on the right.

What is Descending Order?

Descending order means arranging the items in decreasing order, i.e. from largest to smallest. Descending order means “moving downwards”. There are numerous ways to describe descending order, for example, if we start reading numbers from 10 to 1, it will become the best example of descending order, as in this example the order is dropping from largest to smallest. To clear your concept regarding descending order, you can explore more examples, listed below.

• Heights: You can line up your friends from the tallest person at the beginning to the shortest person at the end and you will witness the example of descending order.
• Temperatures: Imagine the temperature dropping throughout the day. A list showing the temperatures from hottest to coldest, it is the best example of the descending order.
• Dates: Arrange the dates from earliest to latest to witness another example of the descending order.

What is the Symbol of Descending Order?

Descending order, also sometimes called decreasing order, is all about arranging things from largest to smallest. The symbol we use to show this order is the less than sign “>”. Here is an example to show how this symbol can be used.

F > E > D > C > B > A

The number or item on the left side of the “>” is always larger than the one on the right.

What is the Difference between Ascending and Descending Order

There is a lot of difference in the Ascending and the Descending order of the numbers. Ascending order means the increase in the order of the numbers. Whereas, Descending order means arranging the items in decreasing order, i.e. from largest to smallest. Descending order means “moving downwards”.

Also, there is a difference between the symbols of the Ascending and Descending Order. Descending order is represented by the symbol “>”. On the other hand, the Ascending order is represented by the symbol “<“. 

To observe more difference between ascending and descending order, you can read the table inserted below. Have a look at the table below. 

Particulars	Ascending Order	Descending Order
Definition	Ascending Order refers to the statement saying “moving upwards”. Ascending order means the increase in the order of the numbers.	Descending order means arranging the items in decreasing order, i.e. from largest to smallest. Descending order means “moving downwards”.
Order	Smallest to the Largest	Largest to the Smallest
Symbol	“<“	“>”
Adding a Positive Number	Maintains Ascending Order	Disturbs the Descending Order.
Example	1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5	F > E > D > C > B > A

How to Identify Ascending and Descending Order? 

When a number is dropping from the largest to the smallest number, it is the descending order. On the other hand when there is an upward order, i.e. the numbers are arranged in the increasing order, i.e. from the smallest to the largest, it is an ascending order. 

To get more clarity related to this concept, you can observe the given table. Here we will explain teh concept with the help of a practice question. This will also help you to solve the questions in the exams related to the Ascending and Descending order.

Ascending Order vs Descending Order Chart

Definition

Ascending Order: Ascending order means the increase in the order of the numbers, i.e. from smallest to largest.

Descending Order: Descending order means arranging the items in decreasing order, i.e. from largest to smallest.

Example 

Ascending Order

Question:  Arrange the following numbers in ascending order: -3, 8, 1, 0, 5. Here is how you need to solve this question.
1. Start by comparing the largest numbers to the smallest. In this case, we see 8 is the biggest and -3 is the smallest.
2. Write down the smallest number first: -3
3. Next, compare the remaining numbers and find the one that comes after -3 according to ascending order. Here, 0 is the next smallest number.
4. Write down 0 after -3.
5. Continue comparing the remaining numbers (1, 5, and 8) and placing them in ascending order after 0.
Following these steps, the ascending

Descending Order

Question:  Sarah has 4 cookies of different sizes.  She wants to eat them from biggest to smallest so she saves the smallest for last.  Which cookie should she eat first if their sizes are:
Cookie A: 5 cm diameter, Cookie B: 3 cm diameter, Cookie C: 4 cm diameter, Cookie D: 2 cm diameter.
Here is how you need to solve this question.
Descending order means biggest to smallest.
The biggest cookie will have the largest diameter.
Compare the cookie diameters. Cookie A (5 cm) has the biggest diameter.
Therefore, Sarah should eat Cookie A first.

Practice Question

Question:  The school library is organizing a book fair! They have new books on various animals arriving throughout the week.  Here’s a list of the animals the books are about, along with the estimated delivery days:
Monday: LionsWednesday: PenguinsFriday: Dolphins
Help the librarian order the animal names on a display board according to when the books will arrive, from earliest to latest delivery.

Question:  The temperature outside dropped throughout the day.  If the temperatures were recorded at these times:
8:00 AM: 25°C10:00 AM: 20°C12:00 PM: 18°C
List the temperatures in descending order according to the time they were recorded.

Application of Ascending and Descending Order in Real Life

There are various stages where the application of the ascending and descending order comes into the picture. For example, we can use this concept to arrange the pencil colors, or books in a certain order of their height. Also, there can be other examples of this order, like reading time in the ascending order or reading calendar in the ascending order.

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