Definition
Ascending order
Ascending order arranges values from least to greatest; equal values may repeat.
What it means
Start with the smallest value and move upward. Compare the actual values, not just how they look. When units or forms differ, change them to a common form before placing them in order.
Remember it
Ascending is a climb: least on the first step, greatest at the top.
Example
Put 75 cm, 1 m, and 90 cm in ascending order. First write 1 m as 100 cm. Then 75 cm < 90 cm < 100 cm, so the order is 75 cm, 90 cm, 1 m.
Watch for
Ascending order allows equal neighbours: 2, 2, 5 is still ascending. A strictly increasing order does not allow repeats.
Common mix-up
Compare values, not the number of digits, and convert different units before ordering.
Exact meaning
A list is in ascending order when each value is less than or equal to the value after it. The values run from least to greatest, and equal values may appear next to one another.