Using the provided clues, fill each of the grids with 25 different letters of the alphabet, one letter per square.
Some letters have already been inserted in their correct spots as a starting aid.
Can you solve each grid and find the odd letter out?   Extra credit for solving both!

Puzzle #1
Clues:
1. The letters of each row and column are in alphabetical (though not necessarily consecutive) order from left to right or top to bottom.

2. M is adjacent either horizontally or vertically to F, N, and T.

3. G, J, and X are in the same row or column.

4. The letters A, E, I, O U, and Y, in that order are connected by moving from square to square either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

5. The word DIOR is spelled out in a straight consecutive line, either in one row or one column.

6. C is two squares away from L and three squares away from K.

7. The letters in SPY appear in some order in a consecutive straight line, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.




Puzzle #2
Clues:
1. The letters of each row and column are in reverse alphabetical (though not necessarily consecutive) order from left to right or top to bottom.

2. The words DJS, MOW, and PEA can each be found in the grid in a straight consecutive line, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

3. The letters in BLITZ each appear, but no letter is in the same row or column as another.

4. The letters in WEARY each appear, but no letter is in the same row or column as another.

5. G is in the same row or column as U.



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Solution to the Problem:


Puzzle #1:


The odd letter out is H.

Here is Seth Cohen's reasoning:
There was a lot of guess and check, but my general path was:
- A is fixed in the top left, and Y can only go in the three bottom right squares.
- Try a placement for SPY, and then try to place DIOR, focusing on whether it's possible to get from A to I through the E, and O to Y through the U.
- With a possible SPY and DIOR in place, see if M could be placed with F, N, and T next to it. I think there was only one possible set-up that had all of this up to this point.
- With T in the bottom left and Z in bottom right, the bottom row was fixed.
- G and J had to go above the X.
- C, L, and K got placed, and finally B.



Puzzle #2:


The odd letter out is H.

Here is Seth Cohen's reasoning:
- A goes in bottom right, Z goes in top left.
- PEA is fixed, diagonally down to the A.
- W and Y from WEARY can only go in two places -- the others don't work because of too many spaces after the W or Y.
- To the W, try some placements for MOW. After this step, I think I had the Y and W placed, and two possibilities for MOW.
- Try places for DJS, leaving room for G and U.
- The rest of the letters follow.

Correctly solved by:

1. Rob Miles ** Northbrook, Illinois, USA
2. Seth Cohen ** Concord, New Hampshire, USA
3. Aliyanna Muckleshoot Tribal School,
Auburn, Washington, USA
4. Hilary Muckleshoot Tribal School,
Auburn, Washington, USA
5. Mary Muckleshoot Tribal School,
Auburn, Washington, USA

** Extra credit for solving both puzzles