Find the missing term in the following number series- $5 \quad 9 \quad 25 \quad 73 \quad ? \quad 521$

Pattern: Differences are 4, 16, 48, 128, 384. Each difference is: 4×1=4, 4×4=16, 4×12=48, 4×32=128, 4×96=384. The multipliers (1,4,12,32,96) follow pattern: ×3, ×4, not consistent. Alternative: 5 to 9 (+4), 9 to 25 (+16), 25 to 73 (+48), 73 to 201 (+128), 201 to 521 (+320). Differences: 4, 16, 48, 128, 320 follow ×4, ×3, ×4, ×2.5. Another pattern: (5-1)=4, (9-1)=8, (25-1)=24, (73-1)=72, (201-1)=200, (521-1)=520. The sequence 4,8,24,72,200,520 follows: ×2, ×3, ×3, not consistent. Best fit: D (201) makes the sequence work.