For your problem, my long division came out with 9x^2-8x-1.
That means 9x^3 + 10x^2 - 17x - 2 = (9x^2-8x-1)(x+2). Yay! Second degree is easier. Factor as you normally would.
9x^3 + 10x^2 - 17x - 2 = (9x^2-8x-1)(x+2) = (9x+1)(x-1)(x+2)
Now recall that we want to find the x-coordinate where each of these roots = 0, so
9x+1 = 0 and x-1 = 0, leading to x= -1/9 and x=1.
Plug these values back into your original equation to make sure they are correct (and you didn't make any little mistakes on the path getting here).
9(1)^3 + 10(1)^2 - 17(1) - 2 =9 + 10 -17 -2 = 0 :)
9(-1/9)^3 + 10(-1/9)^2 - 17(-1/9) - 2 = -1/81 + 10/81 +153/81 - 162/81 = 0
Hooray! Don't you love it when checking your answer is WAY faster than looking through your work?
Hope that helps and good luck!