1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $x + x \times x^2$. 2. **Recall the order of operations:** Multiplication and exponentiation are performed before addition. 3. **Evaluate the exponent:** $x^2$ means $x$ squared. 4. **Perform the multiplication:** $x \times x^2 = x^{1+2} = x^3$. 5. **Rewrite the expression:** $x + x^3$. 6. **Final simplified form:** $x + x^3$. This expression cannot be simplified further because the terms have different powers of $x$ and are not like terms.