Why is it so much more difficult to recite the alphabet backwards than numbers?

Why can we almost automatically recite numbers backwards but it takes a bit of thought to do the alphabet backwards? Is it because it is mathematical? Is it because we have had more practice doing it?Why is it so much more difficult to recite the alphabet backwards than numbers?
we are used to working forwards and backwards in math, but not with the alphabetWhy is it so much more difficult to recite the alphabet backwards than numbers?
I think it's because of having more practice.


One time when I was bored on a long trip when I was a kid, I memorized the alphabet backwards. ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA. See! Now I can do it and barely think about it.


If you asked me to do the alphabet by 2s or backwards by 2s then I would be stuck again. I have never memorized the numbers for most of the alphabet either (A=1, B=2, C=3 etc.)
probably for two reasons:





1) we learn to count backwards as children, when playing games.





2) to count backwards only requires us to memorize 10 items in order (10, 9 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) but to recite the alphabet backwards requires us to memorize a sequence of 26 items in order.
I think it's because when you learned to subtract, they taught you to count backwards to get to the number, but no one ever told you do say the alphabet backwards, I'm sure if you practiced saying the alphabet backwards enough times, it would come just as naturaly as counting backwards.
i had to memorize the alphabet backwards for a grade in the 5th grade so it is eays for me.





but this is a good question. i dont really know. mabye because that numbers have repeating patterns and they are easier to learn

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