partition

Everyday

1. A thin wall or screen that divides a room into parts. tree →
2. Verb: to divide something into parts. tree →
3. (maths) To split a number into parts, often by place value: 345 = 300 + 40 + 5. tree →
4. The division of a country into separate countries. tree →

In the lessons

In primary maths, «partition» is a key method: split 47 into 40 + 7 to add or multiply more easily; numbers can be partitioned in different ways (47 = 30 + 17). In buildings, partitions make offices. In history, «partition» means a country split into parts (like the partition of India, or of Ireland).

Examples

• Partition 563 into hundreds, tens and ones. tree →
• 56 can be partitioned into 50 and 6, or 40 and 16. tree →
• A glass partition separates the two offices. tree →
• They partitioned the attic into two bedrooms. tree →
• Partition 24 to work out 24 × 3: 20 × 3 + 4 × 3 = 72. tree →
• The partition of the country made new borders. tree →
• Our windows looked into the tan-yard, which was divided into two parts by a partition of planks; in one half were many skins and hides, raw and tanned. tree →

Note

In maths, partitioning never changes the total: the parts always add back to the whole. Spelling: -tion. Verb stress same as noun: par-TI-shun.