Definition
Descending order
Descending order arranges values from greatest to least; equal values may repeat.
Continue from this idea into connected AXIO math.
Boundary check: Equal neighbours are allowed: 9, 9, 4, 2 is descending, not strictly decreasing.
What it means
Start with the largest value and move downward. Compare the actual values. If the numbers use different units or forms, change them to a common form before ordering them.
Remember it
Descending is a walk down: greatest first, least last.
Example
Put 0.8 m, 95 cm, and 1.2 m in descending order. In centimetres they are 80, 95, and 120. Greatest to least gives 1.2 m, 95 cm, 0.8 m.
Watch for
Descending order allows equal neighbours: 9, 9, 4 is still descending. A strictly decreasing order does not allow repeats.
Common mix-up
Descending describes value order, not the direction in which the numerals are written or read.
Exact meaning
A list is in descending order when each value is greater than or equal to the value after it. The values run from greatest to least, and equal values may appear next to one another.