The derivative of a function represents its rate of change at any given point. In this case, the function is x^2. To find its derivative, we can apply the power rule of differentiation. According to the power rule, when we differentiate x^n, the result is n*x^(n-1). Applying this rule to x^2, we get 2*x^(2-1), which simplifies to 2x. Therefore, the derivative of x^2 is 2x.