Answer:
The next number is [tex]4[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
we have
[tex]256, 196, 144, 100, 64, 36, 16,...x[/tex]
we know that
[tex]256-196=60[/tex]
[tex]196-144=52=60-8[/tex]
[tex]144-100=44=52-8[/tex]
[tex]100-64=36=44-8[/tex]
[tex]64-36=28=36-8[/tex]
[tex]36-16=20=28-8[/tex]
therefore
The next number is equal to
[tex]16-x=20-8[/tex] ------> solve for x
[tex]16-x=12[/tex]
[tex]x=16-12=4[/tex]