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In this activity, we will be putting integers in order, largest first.
This is called descending order.
Don't worry if you don't know the word integer - it simply means a whole number, either positive or negative.
Example
Arrange the following integers in descending order, putting the largest first.
| 48 | 56 | 14 | -35 | -2 |
Answer
Look at the positive numbers first.
The largest positive number is 56.
Next comes 48, and then 14.
Then look at the negative numbers.
The largest negative number is -2. Then -35.
The numbers in descending order are:
| 56 | 48 | 14 | -2 | -35 |
If you find it hard to picture negative numbers, it can help to draw a number line with zero in the middle. Positive numbers go to the right of zero and negative numbers to the left of zero.
The further to the right of zero you go, the larger the number. The further to the left of zero (into the negative numbers) you go, the smaller the number.
Let's have a go at some questions now.
