figure out

[Sylvia_scj]

Hi, everybody.

About the phrase "figure out", I was wondering if it could be used as "figure out solutions to sth.".
for example, we finally figured out the solutions to the problem of our low sales amount.

Can "figure out" and "solution" be used together?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Monkey F B I]

I don't see why not. I think if you were to simply say "we finally figured out the problem of our low sales amount", there would be something missing from the sentence.

It may seem a bit unnecessary to use "solution", but I'd certainly include it.

 

[drei_lengua]

Hi, everybody.

About the phrase "figure out", I was wondering if it could be used as "figure out solutions to sth.".
for example, we finally figured out the solutions to the problem of our low sales amount.

Can "figure out" and "solution" be used together?

Thank you in advance.

Hello,
I prefer "We finally figured out the problem with our low sales figures." or better yet "We finally figured out the cause of our low sales numbers/figures."

"to figure out" already implies finding a solution and therefore "solution" is excessive.

Drei

 

[gasman]

Yes. Figure out means that you are finding the way to find the correct answer; solution is the answer.

 

[drei_lengua]

Hello everyone,

I'm going to have to disagree with the other replies. "to figure out" = "to solve", therefore, one cannot use them both in the same sentence.

Drei

 

[Sylvia_scj]

Thank you all.

but if I say " We finally figured out the solutions to improve our sales amout." this sentence seems so natural to me. I don't know why. Can I put it this way?

 

[Sylvia_scj]

Hello everyone,

I'm going to have to disagree with the other replies. "to figure out" = "to solve", therefore, one cannot use them both in the same sentence.

Drei

I got it. Thank you.

 

[ADCS]

Thank you all.

but if I say " We finally figured out the solutions to improve our sales amout." this sentence seems so natural to me. I don't know why. Can I put it this way?

Yes, you can say that, but you would need to change "improve" to "improving".

 

[Sylvia_scj]

Yes, you can say that, but you would need to change "improve" to "improving".

And now, I am confused again.
Why "figure out" and "solution" can be used together here?

 

[ADCS]

It's a bit redundant, but commonly used in speech. While it's technically incorrect, it's not wrong enough for people to misunderstand what you're saying, and will actually make you sound more like a native speaker.

 

[mtmjr]

I don't know if this is going to cause more confusion than understanding, but I have to disagree that "to figure out" always means "to solve". After all, doesn't one have to "figure out" the problem before one can "solve" it. Granted it's a nuanced difference, but a difference nonetheless.

As far as using "figure out" and "solution" together, it really depends on the context. Sometimes it sounds right, sometimes not. I'm not so sure that "figure out the solution" is ever wrong, per se, just that it may not sound all that pleasing. You could say:

We finally figured out the solution to improving sales.
-or-
We finally figured out how to improve sales.

"Sales amount" sounds funny, so I would just use "sales". Further, I much prefer the second construction in this case.

 

[Sylvia_scj]

I don't know if this is going to cause more confusion than understanding, but I have to disagree that "to figure out" always means "to solve". After all, doesn't one have to "figure out" the problem before one can "solve" it. Granted it's a nuanced difference, but a difference nonetheless.

As far as using "figure out" and "solution" together, it really depends on the context. Sometimes it sounds right, sometimes not. I'm not so sure that "figure out the solution" is ever wrong, per se, just that it may not sound all that pleasing. You could say:

We finally figured out the solution to improving sales.
-or-
We finally figured out how to improve sales.

"Sales amount" sounds funny, so I would just use "sales". Further, I much prefer the second construction in this case.

You really helped me understand it better. Thank you.

 

[panjandrum]

I'm confused now.
Some suggest that you figure out a problem, you don't figure out the solution to a problem.
Others allow both.
Is this my confusion or just differences in usage?

 

[mtmjr]

I think I was being nit-picky. I only wanted to clarify the meaning of "to figure out". In many situations it might imply "to solve", but setting aside any implications, it means "to discern". If there is a really complicated math problem for example, one must figure out (discern) what it is asking before one can solve it (figure it out).

 

[gasman]

One also has to "figure out", not only how to work one's way through the problem, but also how to obtain the final answer. Figuring out how to answer this question is driving me bonkers!

 

[drei_lengua]

I think I was being nit-picky. I only wanted to clarify the meaning of "to figure out". In many situations it might imply "to solve", but setting aside any implications, it means "to discern". If there is a really complicated math problem for example, one must figure out (discern) what it is asking before one can solve it (figure it out).

This is a good point. With a math problem, one has to figure out what to do in order to figure the math problem out. In the first case, one is solving the problem of not knowing how to approach solving the math problem. Go figure!

Drei

 

[drei_lengua]

I'm confused now.
Some suggest that you figure out a problem, you don't figure out the solution to a problem.
Others allow both.
Is this my confusion or just differences in usage?

It's tricky because there are so many different usages.

"John has a problem with his heart that he and his doctor are trying to figure out."
"Mary figured out how to solve the mystery of the universe."

However, going back to the sentence in the original post, I would change the sentence to "We finally figured out why our sales are low/down."

Drei

 

[bibliolept]

Personally, I'd say that figuring out a problem usually entails figuring out its solution; or this is how I would understand it in everyday conversation. Imprecise? Yes.

 

[Mack&Mack]

I am not sure if I am allowed to put a follow-up question here, but is this the case with work out?

I am trying to work out a solution for the low sales.

I am trying to work out the cause of the low sales

What do you think?

 

[zaffy]

Is 'it' necessary in this question?

"Did you figure it out why the toaster isn't working?"

 

[tunaafi]

No. Delete it.

 

[zaffy]

No. Delete it.

And here 'it' is necessary, right?

A: Why isn't the toaster working?
B: Don't know. Need to figure it out.

And does the 'it' refer to the toaster or to the issue?

 

[Edinburgher]

Yes, it is necessary.
What do I need to figure out?
I need to figure out the toaster.
I need to figure out why the toaster isn't working.

 

[zaffy]

And does this example work in the present perfect? Or, actually, I should use the present perfect?

A: Have you figured out why the toaster isn't working?
B: Not yet, I'll have a look at it today.

 

[Edinburgher]

Yes, present perfect is preferable to simple past here.