7, 16, 8, 27, 9

Question

what is the next number in the sequence?

Answer 1

7, 16, 8, 27, 9:

(a) 7, 4², 8, 3³, 9, 2⁴ series: 7, 16, 8, 27, 9, 16 continuing 10, 1, 11

(b) 7, 2⁴, 8, 3³, 9, 4² series: 7, 16, 8, 27, 9, 16 continuing 10, 5, 11

(c) 7, 16, 8, 27, 9 differences 9, -8, 19, -18. Next differences 29, -28? series continues 38, 10

Whichever pattern in (a) or (b) is applied, 16 is the next term.