1. The problem is to understand the difference between multiplication and the variable $x$ in algebra. 2. Multiplication is an operation where two numbers or expressions are combined to get a product, often shown by a dot or simply by placing variables/numbers next to each other, e.g., $3 \times 4 = 12$ or $3x$ means $3 \times x$. 3. The letter $x$ is commonly used as a variable representing an unknown number. 4. When you see $3x$, it means $3$ multiplied by the value of $x$, not the letter $x$ itself. 5. So, if you meant "it's not multiply it x," it likely means you want to clarify that $x$ is a variable, not a multiplication sign. 6. Remember, multiplication can be shown by $\times$, a dot $\cdot$, or just by juxtaposition (placing symbols side by side). 7. For example, $2x$ means $2 \times x$, and $x^2$ means $x \times x$. 8. Understanding this helps in reading and writing algebraic expressions correctly.