A mysterious box is delivered to the dinner party you are attending. The label on the box says that the volume of a box is the function f(x) = x3 + 3x2 – 10x – 24. To open the box, you need to identify the correct factors of f(x). Partygoers offer up solutions, and it is your job to find the right ones.

Their suggestions are:
(x – 1)
(x + 2)
(x – 3)
(x + 4)
(x + 6)
(x – 12)

List the correct factors. Then justify your selections with complete sentences.

Three partygoers are in the corner of the ballroom having an inten

Question

A mysterious box is delivered to the dinner party you are attending. The label on the box says that the volume of a box is the function f(x) = x3 + 3x2 – 10x – 24. To open the box, you need to identify the correct factors of f(x). Partygoers offer up solutions, and it is your job to find the right ones.

    Their suggestions are:
        (x – 1)
        (x + 2)
        (x – 3)
        (x + 4)
        (x + 6)
        (x – 12)

List the correct factors. Then justify your selections with complete sentences.

    Three partygoers are in the corner of the ballroom having an inten

anonymous · Answer

since the expression begins with x^3, you know that you will  have 3 factors

anonymous · Answer

find three factors with numbers that multiply to -24, since that's what your expression ends in

anonymous · Answer

How do I find that out? Am I supposed to plug in the numbers to the expression?

anonymous · Answer

all of the factors listed are (x+#) or (x-#).  There are 6 factors listed.  You only need 3 of them.  Look at the #'s on the end.  Think about it and figure out which 3 #'s multiply to give you -24

anonymous · Answer

You don't need to plug numbers in, just multiply

anonymous · Answer

Multiply what? like 4 x 6?