Action of dividing up objects or numbers according to certain attributes or characteristics.
In general, we distinguish sorting from classification by the fact that classification is the set of rules that define the sorting.
Sorting consists of arranging according to the rules of the classification.
Example
Sorting whole numbers into prime numbers and composite numbers creates three classes:
- Prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, …
- Composite numbers: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, …
- Numbers that are neither prime nor composite: 0 and 1.