Question

Arrange the following numbers in descending order:

199988, 1704382, 200175, 1702497, 201200, 1712040

Answer 1

1712040, 1704382 and 1702497 are all 7-digit numbers.

The three numbers have the same digits, namely 1 and 7, at the ten lakhs and lakhs places, respectively. However, the digits at the ten thousands place in 1712040, 1704382 and 1702497 are 1, 0 and 0.

∴ 1712040 is the largest.

Of the other two numbers, the respective digits at the thousands place are 4 and 2. Clearly, 4 > 2

∴ 1704382 > 1702497

201200, 200175 and 199988 are all 6-digit numbers.

At the lakhs place, we have 2 > 1. So, 199988 is the smallest of the three numbers.

The other two numbers have the same digits, namely 2 and 0, at the lakhs and ten thousands places, respectively. However, the digits at the thousands place in 201200 and 200175 are 1 and 0, respectively.

Clearly, 1 > 0

∴ 201200 > 200175

The given numbers in descending order are:

1712040 > 1704382 > 1702497 > 201200 > 200175 > 199988