Complete the series 36, 54, 74, 96, 120, _______

Let's find the difference between successive terms:
* $54-36=18$
* $74-54=20$
* $96-74=22$
* $120-96=24$

The differences are increasing consecutively by 2 ($18,20,22,24,\dots$).
The next difference will be $24+2=26$.
Next term $=120+26=146$.