It seems like you're dealing with a sequence of numbers: 8, 22, 20, 42, 16, and you're trying to determine the value of $x$.

Let's look for a pattern to solve for $x$. One approach is to examine the differences between consecutive terms:

• $22 - 8 = 14$
• $20 - 22 = -2$
• $42 - 20 = 22$
• $16 - 42 = -26$

We observe that the differences alternate between positive and negative, but the pattern in the magnitude of these differences isn't immediately clear. Let's try looking at the second-level differences (differences of the differences):

• $-2 - 14 = -16$
• $22 - (-2) = 24$
• $-26 - 22 = -48$

It appears the second-level differences alternate between negative and positive, but there isn't an immediately obvious arithmetic progression.

Would you like to provide more context, or should we try another approach, like fitting the numbers to a different kind of pattern (e.g., using multiplication or division)? Let me know how you'd like to proceed.

---

If you're interested in other ways to approach this problem, here are some questions:

1. What type of sequence are you working with (arithmetic, geometric, etc.)?
2. Could this sequence represent a real-world situation where the pattern is based on some external factor (e.g., growth rates, physical measurements)?
3. What happens if you test the sequence with another method, like assuming the differences follow a quadratic or cubic pattern?
4. Are you expecting the sequence to follow a specific rule or formula that you can identify?
5. Can you apply a different mathematical operation to the terms, such as multiplying or dividing by a certain value?

Tip: When working with sequences, don't forget to check both the first and second differences for hidden patterns!