Machine learning is transforming industries, but at its core, it remains a field built on mathematics, logic, and structured data modeling. This article walks through the foundational principles of machine learning, stripping away the modern layers of abstraction to focus on its original essence. No libraries, no black boxes, just math and reasoning. Whether you’re a beginner with a math background or a curious technologist aiming to understand what actually powers intelligent systems, this is a ground-up journey into how machines learn.