Mathematics at a basic level can help describe the world and how it works. For instance, we know what 2 apples looks like, and we know what 3 apples looks like, and via mathematics we can say that 2 apples + 3 apples is 5 apples.
What we can do with mathematics is pose questions (and find answers) that do not work in the real world. For instance, we cannot do 2 apples - 3 apples in the real world, but in mathematics we can ask the question "well, if we could, what would it be?" and the answer is -1 apples.
What we can do with mathematics is pose questions (and find answers) that do not work in the real world. For instance, we cannot do 2 apples - 3 apples in the real world, but in mathematics we can ask the question "well, if we could, what would it be?" and the answer is -1 apples.