The sequence provided is: 2, 4, 8, 12.

To identify a pattern, let's examine the differences between consecutive terms:

• $4 - 2 = 2$
• $8 - 4 = 4$
• $12 - 8 = 4$

The differences are increasing by 2 for the first jump, and then remain constant at 4. If we assume the next difference will also be 4, the next term in the sequence would be:

$12 + 4 = 16$

Thus, the next number in the sequence is 16.

Would you like more details on how to extend such sequences?

Here are 5 related questions to explore:

1. How do you determine if a sequence is arithmetic or not?
2. What is the formula for finding the nth term of an arithmetic sequence?
3. How do you identify geometric sequences and their rules?
4. Can sequences have a mix of patterns, like alternating arithmetic and geometric?
5. What other types of number patterns commonly occur in mathematics?

Tip: For sequences, always check both the differences and ratios between terms to see if it's arithmetic or geometric.