Look at this series: 8, 22, 8, 28, 8, ... What number should come next?

Concept: An alternating (interleaved) number series is really two independent sub-sequences woven together by position - the terms at odd positions follow one rule and the terms at even positions follow another, unrelated rule. To find the next term, split the series by position and extend only the relevant sub-sequence's rule.

Application:

1. Write the series with its position: 8 (1st), 22 (2nd), 8 (3rd), 28 (4th), 8 (5th), ? (6th).

2. The odd-position terms - 1st, 3rd, 5th - are all 8, a constant filler that never changes between cycles.

3. The even-position terms - 2nd, 4th, 6th - are 22, 28, ?, an independent arithmetic sub-sequence.

4. Find the common difference of this sub-sequence: 28 minus 22.

5. Apply that same common difference to the last known even-position term, 28, to get the 6th term.

6. This gives 34 as the next number in the series.

Cross-check:

Extending the pattern one more full cycle - 8, 34, 8, 40, ... - keeps the filler term constant and the step between successive even-position terms unchanged, confirming 34 is correct.