Is x and x^2 the same thing? I mean can you add them to get x^3?

Question

I am just wondering about that. 

Answer 1

They most certainly are not the same thing.  Example:

 

x = 3

x² = 3² = 9

3 ≠ 9

 

You can MULTIPLY x times x² to get x³.

 

x·x² = x¹·x² = x¹⁺² = x³

Answer 2

x = x

x² = (x)(x)

They are not like terms. They cannot be added or subtracted. They can be multiplied and divided.