Thinks mathematically? (7)

I believe the answer is:

figures

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'thinks' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for figures that I've seen before include "Shapes" , "Forms" , "Digits" , "characters' > features" , "Makes sense" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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