Final answer:
To find the value of b, substitute x = 4 into the equation, and solve for b.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the value of b, we need to determine the constant term in the quadratic equation x^2 + bx - 24 when x - 4 is a factor.
When x - 4 is a factor, it means that x = 4 is a solution to the equation.
Substituting x = 4 into the equation, we get:
4^2 + 4b - 24 = 0
From here, we can simplify the equation and solve for b.