\[a_{1} = 16;\ \ d = - 4;\ \ S = - 324:\]
\[\frac{2a_{1} + d(n - 1)}{2} \cdot n = - 324\]
\[\frac{32 - 4n + 4}{2} \cdot n = - 324\ \ \ \ \ | \cdot 2\]
\[(36 - 4n)n = - 648\]
\[- 4n^{2} + 36n + 648 = 0\ \ \ \ |\ :( - 4)\]
\[n^{2} - 9n - 162 = 0\]
\[D = 81 + 648 = 729\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \]
\[n_{1} = \frac{9 + 27}{2} = 18;\ \]
\[n_{2} = \frac{9 - 27}{2} = - 9.\]
\[n = 18.\]
\[Ответ:18.\ \]