To find the next term in the sequence, let's examine the differences between the numbers to see if there's a pattern:

Given sequence:

• $8426, 384, 96, 54, 20, ?$

1. Step 1: Find the difference between terms.
   • $8426 - 384 = 8042$
   • $384 - 96 = 288$
   • $96 - 54 = 42$
   • $54 - 20 = 34$

There doesn’t appear to be a simple arithmetic progression in these differences. Instead, let’s see if there's a division pattern:

2. Step 2: Check for division pattern
   • $8426 / 384 \approx 21.94$
   • $384 / 96 = 4$
   • $96 / 54 \approx 1.78$
   • $54 / 20 = 2.7$

The sequence doesn't follow a consistent multiplication or division pattern either. It could be following a custom rule or a pattern that isn’t arithmetic or geometric.

Let me know if you have additional context for this sequence, or I can help further if you'd like to explore it in detail.

Follow-up Questions:

1. Is there an expected answer you might have, or can you provide additional terms?
2. Do you suspect this sequence could involve factorials or other mathematical operations?
3. Would you like me to examine common mathematical patterns that involve consecutive divisions or differences?
4. Are you interested in a visual or chart-based representation of sequence trends?
5. Could this sequence be part of a specific type of series you are studying?

Tip: When approaching complex sequences, testing for differences, division, and known sequences (like Fibonacci or powers) can reveal hidden patterns.