Question

Starting from the greatest $5$-digit number, write the previous five numbers in descending order.

Answer 1

Hint: Descending order means that we have an arrangement of numbers in the highest to lowest format.
For example, $10$, $9$, $8$, $7$, and $6$ are arranged in descending order.
Here, in this question, firstly we need to write the greatest $5$-digit number.
Then, we will write five numbers that will come immediately before the greatest $5$-digit number.
Lastly, arrange these five numbers in descending order.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Firstly, we need to find the greatest $5$- digit number.
The greatest $5$-digit number is $99999$ because if we add $1$ to this number, then it will become $99999 + 1 = 100000$, which is clearly a $6$-digit number.
The previous $5$ numbers can be found by subtracting $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$ and $5$ from the greatest $5$-digit number $99999$ respectively, that is, we can find the five numbers before $99999$ as follows:
$99999 - 1 = 99998$,
$99999 - 2 = 99997$,
$99999 - 3 = 99996$,
$99999 - 4 = 99995$,
$99999 - 5 = 99994$.
Therefore, the previous five numbers starting from $99999$ are as follows:
$99998$, $99997$, $99996$, $99995$, $99994$.
Now, we will arrange the above numbers in descending order, that is, we will arrange the above numbers in the highest to lowest format as follows:
$99998 > 99997 > 99996 > 99995 > 99994$
Hence, starting from the greatest $5$-digit number, the previous five numbers in descending order are as follows:
$99998$, $99997$, $99996$, $99995$, $99994$.

Note: If we need to write the greatest $n$-digit number, then we will write the number ‘$9$’ $n$-times. To arrange the numbers in descending order, we just need to look at the unit’s place because the rest of the $4$ digits is the same in all the numbers.