The expression 2x squared usually means:
[
2x^2
]
This is read as “two times x squared,” where x is multiplied by itself first, then multiplied by 2.
Example: If (x = 3):
[
2x^2 = 2 \times (3^2) = 2 \times 9 = 18
]
It is not the same as ((2x)^2), which would be (4x^2).
