How to Sort and Order Numbers in a Data Set? A data set has several values that may be ordered randomly. There are several ways to sort and order numbers in a data set. One of the most common ways to do this is to sort them in ascending or descending order. Ascending order is when values are arranged from the smallest to the largest number. For example, if we are arranging digits between 1 and 10 in ascending order, it will be: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - (the values are arranged from the smallest to the largest value). Descending order is when the numbers are arranged from the largest to the smallest number. For example, if we have to sort out numbers from between 14 and 20 in descending order, it will be: 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14 - (The integers are arranged from the largest value to the smallest value).
I always revert to recommending that students always think about number lines when sorting and ordering the value of integers. If you are ordering values least to greatest, that is easy because they would be arranged in that order when you plot them on a number line. If you are looking for the values sorted greatest to least, just think reversed number line. That will usually always get it done for you. These worksheets explain how to order sets of numbers from least to greatest (or vice versa). There is a healthy range in most the integers that are presented.