The expression ‘3x squared’ refers to the mathematical operation of squaring the variable x and then multiplying the result by 3. In mathematical terms, this is written as 3x².
To break it down:
1. Squaring x means multiplying x by itself, which gives x².
2. Multiplying x² by 3 gives the final result of 3x².
For example, if x = 2:
1. x² = 2 * 2 = 4
2. 3x² = 3 * 4 = 12
So, 3x squared is a way to express the product of 3 and the square of x.