What is the next number in the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16?

To identify the next number in the sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, one should observe the pattern in the progression of numbers. Each number in the sequence is obtained by multiplying the previous number by 2.

Starting with 2, when multiplied by 2, we get 4. Continuing this pattern, multiplying 4 by 2 results in 8, and then multiplying 8 by 2 leads to 16. Following this consistent multiplication of 2, we take the last number in the sequence (16) and again multiply it by 2.

Calculating this gives us:

16 × 2 = 32.

Thus, the next number in the sequence is 32, confirming that this choice follows the established pattern of doubling each previous term in the sequence. The option representing this answer aligns perfectly with the mathematical behavior exhibited in the series.