The course tries to revive and extend the basic mathematical knowledge acquired in previous studies that often is asleep due to lack of practice. In addition to the acquisition of mathematical concepts, the course also aims to develop a critical mind and a way of approaching with rigour and precision the problems encountered by the economist and the manager.
The course provides an introduction to various important mathematical concepts that will be used in future courses:
1. Functions of one variable: study of functions commonly used in economics: exponential, logarithms, etc. 2. Limits, asymptotes and continuity: introduction to the concept of limit and continuity. 3. Derivability: study of first and second derivatives and their role in the study of a function and in the resolution of optimization problems. 4. Integral: study of the primitivation and calculation of defined integrals and flat areas. 5. Matrix calculation: a brief introduction to linear algebra by solving systems of linear equations with application to Leontief models. 6. Functions of several variables: partial derivation and optimization problems (without constraints and with one equality constraint (Lagrange multipliers)).
BARNETT R.A.,ZIEGLER M.R., BYLEEN K.E., College Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences, Pearson, 2005. HAEUSSLER E.F.Jr., PAUL R.S., WOOD R.J., Introductory Mathematical Analysis for Business, Economics, and the Life and Social Sciences, Pearson, 2005.