ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mathematical theory

Mathematical theory is like a puzzle. It's a set of ideas that help us figure out how things work by using math. As an example, if you wanted to find out how a car works, you would use mathematical theory to break down all the different parts of the car and figure out how they are all connected. Mathematical theory helps us make sense of things that might seem complicated or confusing. So if you want to know why something works the way it does, it can help us make the connections by breaking it down into tiny pieces, then put them back together with math.