# Sorting Number Variables

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sorting-number-variables/317240>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [December 14, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sorting-number-variables/317240 "2010-12-14T20:04:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gemixin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@Gemixin](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Gemixin)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/sorting-number-variables/317240/1 "2010-12-14T20:04:28Z")

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Hi there

I have a set if variables:

```auto

var appleCount:Number = 8;
var bananaCount:Number = 5;
var carrotCount:Number = 2;
var pineappleCount:Number = 5;
var cabbageCount:Number = 3;
var kiwiCount:Number = 5;
var grapeCount:Number = 5;

```

What I want to do is sort them by value.

Basically I have some fruit and veg objects, and I want to add 5 randomly to the scene. So the first time you run the application, you might get a banana, apple, carrot, kiwi and grape. Then another time it might be apple, kiwi, cabbage, pineapple and banana.

But I want to make it based on how many times they have been seen previously. So if the count variables are as shown above, how can I sort the fruit and veg objects in to order, so I only add the lowest 5? Bearing in mind, the numbers might all be the same. I.e. the first time it’s played, the count for all objects will be 0. So I want to choose 5 random fruit/veg with the lowest value.

I assumed the best way to do this would be to put them in to an array, sort it and select [0], [1], [2], [3] and [4]. But how can I put the values in to the array and sort them without losing the fruit/veg they are associated with?

I.e. if I end up with an array of {2,3,5,5,5,5,8}, I have no idea which fruit and veg they represent.

Any advice appreciated.