Directions: Find the missing number in the following number series? 125, 152, 161, 169, 173, ?, 175

Using the method of successive differences, the differences between consecutive terms are 27, 9, 8, 4 and 1. These differences are formed by dividing the prime numbers 3, 3, 2, 2 by the descending numbers 1, 1/3, 1/4, 1/2, which simplifies to multiplying the prime by 1, 3, 4 and 2. Continuing the divisor pattern of 1, 1/3, 1/4, 1/2 with the next prime 2 yields a difference of 1, so 173 + 1 = 174.

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