Which phrase correctly orders 2, –3, –15, and –8? * a. –15 < –8 < –3 < 2 –b. 15 < 2 < –3 < –8 c. 2 < –3 < –8 < –15 d. –8 < –15 < –3 < 2

Focus on the negative numbers only for now. Start with the largest negative (-15) and count your way down. So you'll have -15, -8, -3 in that exact order. This is steadily going closer to 0 on the number line (moving to the right).

Now after we get the negatives sorted out, we focus on the positives. There's only one positive number which is always larger than any negative. So 2 is the last value of the list.

Answer is choice A 
-15 < -8 < -3 < 2