Answer
If $f(x) = 3x^2 - x^3$, find $f'(1)$ and use it to find an equation of the tangent line to the curve $y = 3x^2 - x^3$ at the point $(1,2)$.
Work Step by Step
To find $f'(1)$, differentiate $f(x)$ using the power and difference rule.
If $f(x) = 3x^2 - x^3$, $f'(x) = 6x-3x^2$
Then, plug in $x=1$ to the $f'(x)$ equation. This yields $f'(1) = 3$.
We now have the slope of the tangent line and a point on the tangent line. With this information we can find the equation of the tangent line using point-slope form.
$y-2 = 3(x-1)$
Rearranging the terms, we get $y = 3x - 1$
This is the equation of the tangent line to $y = 3x^2 - x^3$ at $(1,2)$.