Definition of the word figure out

The expression "figure out" originally emerged in the mid-19th century and derives from the noun "figure," which signified a mathematical problem in that time period. The phrase "to figure out" initially referred to the process of calculating and solving mathematical equations. The usage of "figure out" soon extended beyond the realms of mathematics and was applied to solving other types of problems and puzzles as well. It came to represent a broader concept of understanding and resolving issues through logical reasoning and critical thinking. There is debate over whether this usage of "figure out" evolved from the meaning of "figure" in the broader sense of representing or depicting something, or whether it was a separate development. Nevertheless, the phrase "figure out" has since become a common expression used in everyday language to connote logical reasoning and solving complex problems.