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.

Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis 6th Edition by Knut Sydsaeter, Peter Hammond, Arne Strom, Andrés Carvajal, Pearson

The teaching activity will consist of: - frontal teaching and tutoring - material for in-depth study of the topics available on the learn.luiss.it page of the course. The teacher and the teaching assistants will set up weekly office hours to help students.

Student evaluation will be based on individual performance, class participation, and overall involvement. For students with consistent attendance, grading will follow these criteria: • Class Participation and Assignments. • Midterm Exam. The midterm exam will take place during the course break (between the 6th and 7th week). Students may choose to reject their midterm grade, in accordance with the rules and deadlines announced during the course. • Final Exam. The final exam mirrors the format of the midterm, including multiple-choice questions and written exercises. Scoring: graded on a 0–30 scale, with a minimum passing score of 18. • Review Process Each written exam will be followed by a compulsory review session. Further details will be provided before the course begins.

Interview with the teacher after the exam.