Crossword Genius

Sound out head of maths about ultimately equivocal sum? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

problem

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'sum?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'sound out head of maths about ultimately equivocal' is the wordplay.
'sound out' becomes 'probe' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'head of' says to take the initial letters.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'ultimately' says to take the final letters.
The first letter of 'maths' is 'm'.
The final letter of 'equivocal' is 'l'.
'probe'+'m'='probem'
'probem' placed around 'l' is 'PROBLEM'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for problem that I've seen before include "A matter hard to solve" , "Difficulty, poser" , "Something that needs solving" , "Question or source of perplexity" , "State of difficulty that needs to be resolved" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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