1. **State the problem:** Factor the expression $x^2$. 2. **Recall the factoring rules:** - Factoring means expressing a polynomial as a product of simpler polynomials. - $x^2$ is a perfect square term, which can be written as $x \cdot x$. 3. **Factor the expression:** Since $x^2 = x \times x$, the factored form is simply: $$x^2 = x \cdot x$$ 4. **Explanation:** The expression $x^2$ is already a simple square of $x$, so its factorization is just the product of $x$ by itself. **Final answer:** $$x^2 = x \cdot x$$