f(x) = x³ + 3x² - 10x - 24
The root factors must be the factors of 24.
1 x 24 ; 2 x 12 ; 3 x 8 ; 4 x 6.
The most probable roots would be -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Using synthetic division, one can find that the smallest root is -3.
(x - 3)(x² - 6x - 8). The quadratic can now be factored as (x + 2)(x - 4) and further factored as (x - 3)(x + 2)(x - 4).
The correct factors are: (x - 3) (x + 2) (x - 4)
