The course aims to provide first-year economics students with the main mathematical tools that are used to analyse and solve a wide range of problems in economics, business, finance and insurance. This will be their first step towards achieving a broad training in quantitative disciplines, as well as a good methodological training for the analysis and critical interpretation of economic and business dynamics. This will allow them to acquire the useful tools for the formulation, implementation and control of decisions in the work contexts in which they will operate.

Knowledge and understanding: By the end of the course, students will have acquired a wide range of mathematical tools and will be able to understand and solve numerous theoretical and applied problems in economics, business and finance. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: By the end of the course, students will be able to apply quantitative tools to business decisions, to the analysis of economic phenomena and to the resolution of economic and business problems in the work contexts in which they will operate. Autonomy of judgment: By the end of the course, students will be able to develop a critical capacity in identifying the most suitable solution to the proposed problem, even in highly innovative contexts. Communication skills: By the end of the course, students will be able to develop both written and oral communication skills and to highlight the relationships between the theoretical concepts and the most important economic and managerial applications. Learning ability: By the end of the course, students will be able to stay up to date and improve their skills in examining the quantitative aspects of economics and management.

The mathematical analysis for functions of a single variable allows the students to introduce the fundamental mathematical tools (limits, derivatives, integrals) for the definition and study of the mathematical models in economics. The functions of several variables make it possible to develop models that are closer to real life economics. To this end, the tools already introduced for the functions of single variable are suitably adapted to the new context. The study of the matrices and the linear systems allows the design of models capable of including large amounts of data. The explanation is accompanied by economic examples to illustrate the importance, in real life’s settings, of the tools acquired tools in during the course.

Stefan Waner, Steven R Costenoble, Finite Mathematics and Applied Calculus, 7th edition, Cengage.

The teaching activity will consist of: - in presence and online teaching; - in presence and online exercises; - if resources allow, a weekly interactive online appointment on the applications of mathematics in economics; - material for in-depth study of the topics available on the learn.luiss.it page of the course. The teacher and the teaching assistant will set up weekly office hours to help students.

Evaluation of the students will consist of 3 written tests taken during the course and a final exam. Each test will contain both multiple choice questions and written exercises questions. Each question is worth a given number of points proportional to its difficulty. The test is graded on a 0-30 scale. Students must obtain a grade of 18 or higher to pass each test. Every week students will attend a TA session and an online session on economic applications. Quizzes and exercises on economic applications will be assigned on the learn.luiss.it of the course every week. The completion of all these assignments will be rewarded 1 bonus point. The final exam will consist of four parts. In the first three parts, students will be given the opportunity to retake one or more intermediate tests. The grade of the retake will replace the grade of the intermediate test. Before the exam, students must indicate on a specific form on the course web page, which of the intermediate tests they want to retake. The last part of the exam will be optional and it will be a written exam on economic applications. This exam will be graded with a number between -2 and +2. The final grade will be determined as follows: - The average of the three intermediate tests (or their retakes) truncated at 27 if the grade is higher - An additional bonus point is added if the student has completed the weekly assignment - The grade is then increased or decreased by the grade obtained in the optional test on economic applications. - A cum laude grade is awarded if the student obtains 1) an average of 30 in the intermediate tests (or their retakes); 2) the bonus point for the weekly quizzes on economic applications and 3) a “+2” grade on the last part of the written test on economic applications.

Interview with the teacher after the exam.

No