What will be the correct decreasing order of acid strength of the hydroxybenzoic acids? (Symbols and notations carry their usual meanings)

Step-by-step solution

In case of hydroxybenzoic acids, they display both kind of effect and there is a decrease in electron density at all positions due to inductive effect of -OH group, but increase in electron density at o- and p-positions due to resonance effect by -OH group. o-hydroxy benzoic acid is strongest among the given acids due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding in its conjugate base