A partition is a way to divide something into separate parts or sections. In mathematics, it often refers to breaking down a number into a sum of other numbers. For example, the number 5 can be partitioned into 2 + 3 or 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1. This concept helps in understanding combinations and arrangements in various mathematical problems. In computer science, a partition can refer to dividing a hard drive into sections, allowing for better organization of data. Each section, or partition, can hold a different operating system or file system, making it easier to manage storage. This is commonly used in systems like Windows and Linux.