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Introduction to Mathematical Methods

Michaelmas , Hilary &Trinity Terms

Compulsory course for E&M 1st Year

Recommended course for PPE + HE 1st years with AS-level Maths or equivalent

The Maths Workbook for PPE, E&M and HE students

Maths Classes and assignments for Economics and Management students.

Past examination papers may be found on OXAM.

For Lecture Slides see item 3, below.

1.    Background to First-year Courses in Mathematics and Statistics

The Economics Department runs two separate but parallel lecture courses in mathematical methods for first-year students.  The objective is to enable students from all levels of mathematical background to obtain the necessary quantitative skills to support their work in Economics and to enable those students with an enthusiasm for quantitative methods to develop those skills further.

This course 'Introduction to Mathematical Methods' is aimed at:

All Economics & Management students;

PPE and History & Economics students who have AS-level Maths or better (or equivalent in other qualification systems), may well find these helpful.

A second course 'Elementary Mathematical Methods' is aimed at PPE and History & Economics students who do not have AS-level Maths.

Background: Examinations

Economics & Management students will sit a three-hour paper in Mathematics and Statistics as part of their Preliminary Examination in June 2008.

Past examination papers may be found on Oxam.

Background: Teaching Arrangements

Economics & Management students should attend the Introduction to Mathematical Methods lectures in Michaelmas Term and in weeks 1-2 of Hilary Term; the Introduction to Statistics lectures in weeks 3-8 of Hilary Term and weeks 1-2 of Trinity Term; and a further set of Introduction to Mathematical Methods (Linear Algebra) lectures in Trinity Term.

They must also attend departmentally-organised exercise classes in Mathematics and Statistics fortnightly and weekly, that complement the above lectures.

In addition to recommended text-books, the Department has an online Maths Workbook, which largely defines the range of the mathematics lectures courses, and which students can work through on their own.

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2. Reading List

Course texts. The Maths Workbook is the key reference for the lectures 1-10. In addition, students should use (and buy if possible) one of the following two texts:

  • Renshaw, G. (2005) Maths for Economics, Oxford University Press.
  • Anthony, M. & N. Biggs (1996), Mathematics for Economics and Finance. Cambridge University Press.
  • Jacques, I. (1999), Mathematics for Economics and Business, 3rd ed. Addison Wesley Longman.

Further Reading. The following texts are rather more advanced, but may be useful for reference:

  • Chiang, A. C. (1985), Fundamentals of Mathematical Economics. McGraw-Hill.
  • Simon, C. P. & L. Blume (1994), Mathematics for Economists. W. W. Norton & Co.
  • Pemberton, M. & N. Rau (2001), Mathematics for Economists. Manchester University Press.
  • Hoy, M., Livernois, J., McKenna, C., Rees, R. & Stengos, T. (2001) Mathematics for Economists, 2nd Ed., MIT Press.
  • Sydsaeter, K. & Hammond, P. J., Mathematics for Economic Analysis
  • Baldani, J. Bradfield, J, and Turner R, (2nd ed) Mathematical Economics, Thomson Press.

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3. Course/Lecture Outline

(To download copies of lecture slides for a particular topic, simply click on the topic title, below.)

There are sixteen lectures. A rough guide follows, with contents and suggested reading. The outline is subject to minor changes due to time limits etc.

Topics

Lecture 1: Compound Growth and Present Value
                   Readings: GR10, GR12, AB3, AB4,J3.
                   Handout

Lecture 2: Some single variable functions in economics
                   Readings: GR3, GR8, AB1, AB2,AB7;J1,J2;J5.1
                   Handout

Lecture 3: Economic Applications of Derivatives of Single Variable Functions
                   Readings: GR8, GR9, AB6, J4, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 4: More Economic Applications of Derivatives including Optimisation
                   Readings: GR7, GR8, GR13, AB8, J4, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 5: Functions of many variables
                   Readings: GR14, AB11, AB12, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 6: More on multivariate functions (including optimisation)
                   Readings: GR15, GR17, AB8, AB13, J4, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 7: Introduction to Math Methods
                   Readings: GR15, GR16, AB21, AB22, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 8: More on Constrained optimisation
                   Readings: GR15, GR16, AB21, AB22, J5
                   Handout

Lecture 9: Topics involving Integration (I)
                   Readings: GR18, AB25, AB26, J6
                   Handout

Lecture 10: Topics involving Integration (II)
                   Readings: GR18, AB25, AB26, J6
                   Handout

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4. Problem Sets

Extra Problem Sets for E&M Students (Linear Algebra Problems)

Problem Set on Topics 11 & 12

Problem Set on Topics 13 & 14

Problem Set on Topics 15 & 16

 

5. Trinity Term Lectures Weeks 3-5

Lecturer - Anthony Murphy

 

Teaching Material and Problem Sets

 

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