What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following series?
100,81,64,49,?

Options

A. A)48
B. B)46
C. C)40
D. D)36

Answer

To find the missing term in the series 100, 81, 64, 49, ?, we can analyze the pattern of the numbers provided.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Numbers**: The given series is 100, 81, 64, 49.

2. **Recognize Perfect Squares**: Each number in the series is a perfect square:
- \(100 = 10^2\)
- \(81 = 9^2\)
- \(64 = 8^2\)
- \(49 = 7^2\)

3. **Observe the Pattern**: The numbers whose squares are taken are decreasing by 1 each time:
- The first term corresponds to \(10\),
- The second term corresponds to \(9\),
- The third term corresponds to \(8\),
- The fourth term corresponds to \(7\).

4. **Determine the Next Number**: Following the pattern, the next number should correspond to \(6\):
- The fifth term will be \(6^2\).

5. **Calculate \(6^2\)**:
- \(6^2 = 36\).

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the missing term in the series is \(36\).

### Final Answer:
The number that will come in place of the question mark (?) is **36**.