Sure, let's go through the steps together to find how many cubes we have:
1. Identify the numbers to add: We are given two numbers: 2 and 1.
2. Add the numbers together:
[tex]\[
2 + 1
\][/tex]
3. Perform the addition:
- First, we start with the number 2.
- Then, we add 1 to 2.
[tex]\[
2 + 1 = 3
\][/tex]
4. Determine the result: The sum of 2 and 1 is 3.
Therefore, the total number of cubes is [tex]\( \boxed{3} \)[/tex].
