y' - y = x^2

y' - y/x = x
Use substitution:
u = y/x
y = ux
y' = xu' + u
xu' + u - y/x = x
xu' + u - u = x
xu' = x
u' = 1
u = 1 dx
u=x+C
y/x = x + C
y = x^2 + Cx
NOTE: We cannot find for sure that y = x^2 + 3x unless we have some initial condition, such as
y(1) = 4
Mathmom 4 years ago
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xy' - y = x
Dividing both sides by x.
y' - (y/x) = x
Now this becomes a first-order linear D.E.
Integrating factor = e^(-1/x dx) = 1/x
Multiplying both sides by the integrating factor:
y'/x - (y/x) = 1
d/dx[y/x] = 1

Integrating both sides:

y/x = x + C
y = x + Cx
Now you must've had some initial value along with this problem, since you said that the answer
is y = 3x + x. This means that C = 3.