This is absurd. Clearly mathematical statements are highly predictive of the real world. They aren&#x27;t false.<p>These people seem confused over the meaning of the word &quot;exist&quot;. Regardless of whether or not numbers &quot;exist&quot;, we can show that objects in the real world can obey the same laws as abstract numbers. If I have 2 apples, and take 2 more apples, I will never have 5 apples. The properties of math are real and apply to the real world.<p>If you insist on modelling philosophy on the language we happen to use, then just treat numbers as adjectives. As if 5 is a property an object can have, rather than a physical object itself. You don&#x27;t need to worry about 2 &quot;existing&quot; any more than worrying about &quot;tallness&quot; exists, when talking about objects that are taller than other objects.