HSPT Math Practice Test 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Master Your Exam!

To determine the next number in the sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, it's important to identify the pattern among the numbers.

First, observe the differences between consecutive terms:

- 6 - 2 = 4

- 12 - 6 = 6

- 20 - 12 = 8

The differences between the terms form the sequence 4, 6, and 8. Noticing this, we can see that these differences increase by 2 each time. This leads us to deduce that the next difference should be 10 (since 8 + 2 = 10).

Adding this next difference to the last number in the original sequence:

20 + 10 = 30.

Thus, the next number in the sequence is 30, which aligns with the identified pattern of increasing differences. This method of recognizing a pattern in the differences is commonly used in number sequences.