MATHEMATICS

Instructional goals

The course will provide the students with basic knowledge of one-variable calculus and linear algebra, illustrating the main ideas and tools through examples, exercises and theoretical discussions.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: The course will introduce basic quantitative mathematical tools together with examples of applications and their theoretical discussion. Applying knowledge and understanding: The students will learn to formally write and discuss mathematical results, with a level of abstraction that will allow them to connect different empirical problems (as those they will meet in subsequent courses) to the same mathematical understanding. They will be able to apply the tools learned during the course to non-standard exercises, suitably adapting them. The students will also be able to discuss main ideas and motivations that stand behind the introduction of the mathematical techniques they learned. Making judgements: Students are expected to be able to choose properly the best solution strategy for each mathematical problem and to understand how to apply concepts and tools to problems in computer science and economics. This ability will be evaluated via exercises and exams. Communications Skills: Students will learn how to properly formulate and communicate mathematical concepts and logical reasoning, both in written and oral communication, using the English language. They will also gain a sufficient level of abstraction to understand how different concrete problems can be studied using similar techniques. Learning skills: Students will broaden their mathematical knowledge and their competence in abstract reasoning, and become able to work independently with basic mathematical concepts and tools.

Course Contents

Some basic notions of mathematical logic and set theory. Number sets. Sequences and their limits. Functions of one real variable: limits, continuity, derivatives, approximation by Taylor’s polynomials. Integrals of functions of one real variable. Vectors, matrices, systems of linear equations. Vector spaces and subspaces. Linear transformations. Coordinate systems.

Reference Books

Notes on every topic in the course will be given by the instructor. A good book containing the topics of the first part of the course is: J. Stewart, "Calculus, Early Transcendentals", Brooks/Cole, Seventh Edition or later. Good texts for the second part of the course are: D.C. Lay, "Linear Algebra and Its Applications", Addison-Wesley, 5th Edition and Ron Larson, “Elementary Linear Algebra”, Cengage, 8th edition. A basic level book containing most (but not all) the topics in this course is Lorenzo Peccati, Sandro Salsa, Annamaria Squellati Mathematics for Economics and Business, Egea.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, exercise classes on campus and online. Four Graded multiple-choice Quizzes and one Written mid term. The quizzes and the mid term will each make up 20 percent of the final grade for this course. Group Exercises: MathLab group projects. The project will make up 10 percent of the final grade for this course

Assessment Method

Written Exam The written part consists of multiple choice questions (possibly also about theoretical aspects as discussed during the course) and exercises (similar to those explained during the course). The written exam will make up 50 percent of the final Grade. At the end of both the written midterm and the final exam the student can request a bonus exercises after having handed in the exam. This bonus exercises will be harder than the other exercises and will allow student to get distinction. If the students were unable to attend the midterm and/or the quizzes or are unhappy with their grade they can reject those grade and do a bigger final exam worth 90%

Thesis assignment criteria

N.A.

Week 1

Introduction to the course; elements of binary logic;basics of set theory; number sets; the induction principle.

Week 2

Functions, injectivity, surjectivity, invertibility; linearity; sequences; limits of sequences; rules for computing limits

Week 3

real functions of one real variable; limits. ; the number e.

Week 4

Continuity; derivatives. tangent linesdifferentiability; properties of differentiable functions.

Week 5

Higher order derivatives, graphs of functions; Taylor polynomials.

Week 6

Antiderivatives; definite integrals; indefinite integrals, improper integrals

Week 7

integration by parts and by substitution

Week 8

Linear systems; row reduction; vectors

Week 9

Geometry in two and three dimensions;matrices and operations with matrices.

Week 10

Determinants; vector spaces; linear independence.

Week 11

Bases and coordinates.

Week 12

Linear transformations