To find the next number in the series, we need to identify the pattern or rule that governs the sequence.
If we look closely at the given series, we can see that each number is obtained by multiplying the previous number by a certain value and then adding a constant term.
Let's analyze the differences between consecutive terms in the series:
8 - 3 = 5
22 - 8 = 14
63 - 22 = 41
185 - 63 = 122
We can see that the differences between consecutive terms are increasing by a factor of 3 each time. This suggests that the next difference should be 122 * 3 = 366.
To find the next number in the series, we need to add this difference to the last number in the series:
185 + 366 = 551
Therefore, the next number in the series is 551.
Among the given options, the correct answer is B) 550.