What is the next number in the sequence: 43, 41, 37, 31, 23?

To identify the next number in the sequence, it's essential to analyze the pattern in the given numbers: 43, 41, 37, 31, and 23.

Here, we can look at the differences between each consecutive number:

• From 43 to 41, the difference is 2.

• From 41 to 37, the difference is 4.

• From 37 to 31, the difference is 6.

• From 31 to 23, the difference is 8.

Observing these differences reveals a clear pattern: they increase by 2 each time (2, 4, 6, 8). Following this pattern, the next difference should be 10.

Now, to find the next number in the sequence, we subtract this next difference (10) from the last number (23):

23 - 10 = 13.

Thus, the next number in the sequence is 13, confirming that it fits the established pattern of increasing differences.