Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
203,178,162,153,?

Let's find the differences between consecutive terms in the series:
203−178=25

178−162=16

162−153=9

The differences are perfect squares of consecutive decreasing integers:

25=5
2


16=4
2


9=3
2


Following the same logic, the next difference must be 2
2
=4.

Next term=153−4=149