Here’s one natural way to see the pattern:

  • Start with the sequence: 7, 10, 16, 28.
  • Look at the differences:
    • 10 − 7 = 3
    • 16 − 10 = 6
    • 28 − 16 = 12
  • These differences are: 3, 6, 12 — each new difference is double the previous one (3 × 2 = 6, 6 × 2 = 12).

So the next difference should be 12×2=2412\times 2=2412×2=24.

Add that to the last term: 28+24=5228+24=5228+24=52.

So, the next number in the sequence is 52.