0 to do a calculation to get an answer to a mathematical question: --
1 to understand something or to find the answer to something by thinking about it: --
[ + question word ] There will be a full investigation to work out what caused the accident.
[ + that ] Investigators needed several months to work out that a fraud had been committed.
2 If a problem or difficult situation works out, it gradually becomes better or satisfactory, and if you work it out, you make it better or satisfactory: --
We can complete it step by step however long the road is and it can't be completed however short the road is if you don't even mark your footprint.
Vi kan slutföra det steg för steg hur lång vägen än är och den kan inte slutföras hur kort vägen än är om du inte ens markerar ditt fotavtryck.