The term analysis refers to a critical examination or an explanation of something. It can also mean a methodical consideration or evaluation of facts in order to form a judgment, reach a decision, or determine an outcome. In addition, it may refer to the separation of a mixture into its component parts or the breaking down of a complex topic into smaller components for study. Analysis is often used in science, mathematics, and logic as well as in everyday language to describe the process of understanding something by examining its parts.