<p>Brown Man: I think physics can exist without math but it would just be stamp collecting. For instance chemistry can be learned and used without knowledge of physics, but it is trivial being based on just observation. Chemistry is to Physics as Physics is to Mathematics (just like the XKCD comic shown earlier). So for physics to be useful it needs mathematics. </p>
<p>If that isn’t good enough just think of a balloon being pushed by the wind. It can be thought of as the wind will push the balloon in the direction of the wind, but the final position can only be accurately predicted using mathematics. So while Mathematics isn’t necessary for [basic] physics it is very useful in physics. </p>
<p>Consider what Einstein said "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality. "</p>