The expression "2 × 2" represents a basic multiplication problem in mathematics. It means that the number 2 is added to itself 2 times. This operation is one of the fundamental concepts in arithmetic, which is essential for understanding more complex mathematical ideas. When you calculate "2 × 2," the result is 4. This means that if you have 2 groups of 2 items, you will have a total of 4 items. Multiplication is often used in everyday situations, such as when calculating the total cost of multiple items or determining the area of a square with sides of length 2.