2017-2018 / MATH0055-2

Mathematics for Economic and management sciences (Part 1)

Duration

60h Th, 45h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in economics and business management7 crédits 

Lecturer

Isabelle Pays

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

  • Summation notation, Newton's binomial formula
  • Elementary functions (polynomials, power functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions).
  • One variable calculus (limits, continuity, dérivatives).
  • Financial maths: simple and compounded interest, present value, motgages, internal rate of return.
  • Multivariable calculus (essentially 2 variables) (Introduction: graphs, level curves, partial dérivatives, linear approximations).
  • Matrix algebra, determinants, systems of linear equations.
  • Linear programming, an introduction.
Every topic is illustrated with a great variety of examples in mamangement as well as in economics.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Learning outcomes :
"Use adequately the mathematics, the statistics or the IT tools in the context of the management or the economics", with this course the student will


  • acquire the mathematical tools needed in the models used in economics as well as the basics to be able to undertake statistics courses, essential for futur managers or economists.
  • be aware of the need to think, to reason rigorously, argue, interpret (from a practical point of view) results and communicate its approach and conclusions in the context and the appropriate language.
  • be able to structure and to organize knowledge so that it can integrate them later in his studies and later in his career.
The student is not asked to produce mathematics but to take them under control in such a way that he/she will be able to use them in the context of management and economics.
Strategy : The course will allow students to analyse the financial and economic context of a complex situation. The course will allow students to demonstrate scientific precision and a critical mind in the analysis of a complex situation.
Implementation : The course will allow students to take charge of the everyday management of a company, an organization or a project
Quality and Performance Control : The course will allow students to plan and implement the performance and quality control in a company, an organization or a project
Communication : The course will allow students to communicate efficiently, internally and externally, about a company, organization or project
Adaptability : The course will encourage students to be curious and to show a scientific precision of academic level in their studies as well as in their professional life.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Elementary algebra : fraction, power, operations priority, proper use of parenthesis; First and second degree functions and their graphs.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Methods
Selected exercises are to prepare outside of class and before the exercise sessions. The exercises will be announced a few days to prepare in advance. 
Personal work, outside of class sessions and exercises is expected of the student throughout the year. Regular work is essential to achieve the objectives.

In addition to the ongoing large group classes, exercise sessions are held in small groups. Formative evaluations ("blank exams") are organized.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Recommended or required readings

"Mathématique pour l'économie" dont les auteurs sont Knut Sydesaeter et Peter Hammond avec la collaboration de Arne Strom. (4e édition, PEARSON.) ISBN: 978-2-3260-0032-2 Disponible à la centrale des cours (N1)
 translation of:
"Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis" dont les auteurs sont Knut Sydesaeter et Peter Hammond. (4e édition, PEARSON.) ISBN: 978-0-273-76068-9 (La 3e édition convient aussi.) Disponible à la centrale des cours (N1)
  Several documents will be available on the course website : New lol@: http://lola.hec.ulg.ac.be/course/view.php?id=123 (Identification needed to access MATH0055-2)

Assessment methods and criteria

Written exams, including partial in January on the matter of the first term (which may lead to a partial exemption).
As part of any written exam, a MCQ (multiple choice questions) part and a part with developped and detailed answers. The proportion of MCQ could be greater in the second session exam (August/September).
It is strictly forbidden to carry a mobile phone or other electronic device, even swiched off. Failure to comply with this rule will cancel the exam, that is to say it will lead to a score of 0.
 Two "blank exams" during the year, for training. The students that register for the firts time for this course must take these "blank exams". (For students who actually took the exam the previous year, the "blank exam" is optional.)
It is noted that the presence is mandatory for 1st block of of 1st cycle exams in January under penalty of not being admitted to other sessions. To be marked present at an examination the student must apply in person at the time and date for the exam.
For exam periods, scholarship students should be aware that unauthorized absence exam can cause them to lose access to scholarship. The current regulation specifies that: Failure to present himself at the exam leads to a rating of "absence." This absence can be excused if the student sent a medical certificate to the apparitorat as soon as possible and no later than the third calendar day counted from the start of the absence. To be considered, the medical certificate must have been issued on the 1st or 2nd day of illness or accident (or absence).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is taught in French.
Mobile phones, tablets and other computers are not useful during the course and impair concentration. These devices must be switched off, alarm deactivated, during the courses.

Contacts

Instructor : I. Pays, HEC-Ecole de Gestion de l'Ulg, Rue Louvrex, 14, Liège. (Bât. N1, Local 327), Tél. : 04 232 7302 - E-mail: Isabelle.Pays@ulg.ac.be
Assistants:
S. Maron, Bât. N1, Local 306. Tél. : 04 232 73 01 - E-mail : Sabine.Maron@ulg.ac.be
M.-C. Cillis, Bât. N1, Local 306. Tél. : 04 232 73 41 - E-mail : mccillis@ulg.ac.be
E. Flas, Bât. N1, Local 306. Tél. : 04 232 73 15  - E-mail : eddy.flas@ulg.ac.be

Items online

Course web site
The slides and other documents will be available during the year on the course web site.