Concept 1 of 8
Alphabet Position: Counting From Both Ends
Today's big idea
Number the alphabet A=1 to Z=26, and a letter's two counts always add up to 27.
Swapping ends uses 27 minus the position, never 26 minus it.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
Puzzles love to ask for the 8th letter from the right end. You can chant the alphabet on your fingers, or you can do one small sum instead. The sum is faster and it never slips.
💡 Here's the trick
Look at the strip above. Each letter wears a number, running from A at 1 up to Z at 26. Count one letter from the left and from the right, and those two counts always add up to 27.
🪄 How to do it
- 1.Find the letter on the strip above and write down its number.
- 2.Add on for steps to the right, or take away for steps to the left.
- 3.Use 27 minus the number to swap from one end to the other.
✍️ Try it
Which letter sits at position 24? Then, which letter is the 6th one counting from the right end?
Position 24 is X, because X sits two places before Z. The 6th from the right sits at 27 minus 6, which is 21, so it is U.
⚠️ Watch out
You might be thinking that the 6th from the right is 26 minus 6, which gives 20. Try that idea on a letter you already know. Z is 1st from the right, and 27 minus 1 gives 26, the true spot for Z. The 26 rule would have handed you 25 instead, one place out every time.
🌟 Why this matters
Seat rows, class registers and queue numbers all get counted from both ends. Knowing that the two counts add to one more than the total saves you from recounting.
Exam tip: Write A=1 and Z=26 in the margin first, then every letter question turns into a small sum.
Watch me solve one
Quanta solves it
“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”
THE PROBLEM
“Which letter is the 4th to the LEFT of S?”
- 1
Position of S
S = 19. 📍
- 2
'To the LEFT' → subtract
19 − 4 = 15
- 3
Convert position back
Letter at position 15 = O.
- 4
Answer ✓
O
Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
From the right, Z=1, Y=2, X=3 — or use 27 − 3 to get the left position.
ALPHABET POSITION · ROUND 1 OF 3
Find the 3rd letter from the RIGHT end
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
Which letter is 6 steps to the RIGHT of H?
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!
Up next: Coding & Decoding
Compare original to code, find +N, apply it.