Select the number from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.
45, 46, 50, 59, 75, ?

The correct option is 100.

To find the number that replaces the question mark (?) in the series, let us analyze the differences between consecutive terms:
First term = 45
Second term = 46
Third term = 50
Fourth term = 59
Fifth term = 75
Sixth term = ?

Let's compute the difference between each consecutive pair of numbers:
46 - 45 = 1
50 - 46 = 4
59 - 50 = 9
75 - 59 = 16

We can observe that the differences are:
1, 4, 9, 16

These differences are consecutive perfect squares:
$1^2=1$
$2^2=4$
$3^2=9$
$4^2=16$

Following this pattern, the next difference must be the next perfect square:
$5^2=25$

Therefore, the next term in the series is obtained by adding 25 to the fifth term (75):
75 + 25 = 100