1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $x + x \times x$. 2. **Recall the order of operations:** Multiplication is performed before addition. 3. **Apply multiplication first:** $x \times x = x^2$. 4. **Rewrite the expression:** $x + x^2$. 5. **Final simplified form:** $x^2 + x$. This is the simplest form since the terms are unlike and cannot be combined further.