1. The problem is to find the next number in the sequence: 8, 2, \frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{24}, ? 2. Let's analyze the pattern by looking at the relationship between consecutive terms. 3. Calculate the ratio between terms: \[ \frac{2}{8} = \frac{1}{4}, \quad \frac{\frac{1}{3}}{2} = \frac{1}{6}, \quad \frac{\frac{1}{24}}{\frac{1}{3}} = \frac{1}{8} \] 4. The ratios are \frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{6}, \frac{1}{8}. We see the denominators increase by 2 each time: 4, 6, 8. 5. Following this pattern, the next ratio should be \frac{1}{10}. 6. Multiply the last term by \frac{1}{10}: \[ \frac{1}{24} \times \frac{1}{10} = \frac{1}{240} \] 7. Therefore, the next number in the sequence is \boxed{\frac{1}{240}}.