The function f(x) = x^2 is a simple mathematical expression where the output, or value of f(x) , is the square of the input x . This means that if you take any number and multiply it by itself, you get the result of the function. For example, if x = 3 , then f(3) = 3^2 = 9 . The graph of this function is a parabola that opens upwards, with its vertex at the origin 0, 0. As x increases or decreases, the value of f(x) becomes larger, illustrating that the function is always non-negative. This characteristic makes f(x) = x^2 a fundamental example in algebra and calculus.