The expression "2 x 2" represents a basic multiplication problem in mathematics. It means that the number 2 is added to itself 2 times. In simpler terms, if you have 2 groups of 2 items, you will have a total of 4 items. When you calculate "2 x 2," the result is 4. This operation is part of the times tables, which are fundamental in learning arithmetic. Understanding multiplication helps in various real-life situations, such as calculating costs or measuring quantities.