The expression "5 - 2" represents a simple mathematical operation known as subtraction. In this case, the number 5 is the minuend, and 2 is the subtrahend. When you subtract 2 from 5, you are determining how much remains after removing 2 from 5. The result of "5 - 2" is 3. This means that if you start with 5 items and take away 2 items, you will have 3 items left. Subtraction is a fundamental arithmetic operation used in various everyday situations, such as calculating change or measuring distances.