CXC Math Grade I, II or III (Grade II Pre 1998), O'Level Math Grade C or EC08A



Room 14

Mon 10-12, Mon 2-4
ECON1003 : Mathematics for the Social Sciences

Course Description

Instruction: Three (3) contact hours for 13 weeks

This course is designed to build on students’ understanding of elementary mathematics and to expose them to some of the mathematical concepts that will be useful in the study of mathematical models in economics and the management sciences.

Emphasis will be placed on the understanding and application of mathematical concepts rather than just computational skills, the use of algorithms and the manipulation of formulas.

Important: It is understood that most students enter this course with varying abilities and mathematical experiences. The department will be having a series of workshops for those students who are borderline or are unsure about their mathematical background. The workshops will run for the first four (6) weeks of the semester and will have one (1) contact hour per week. In these workshops you will revisit the fundamental mathematical ideas needed to cope with this course.

The content of the workshop:

1. Exponents and radicals
2. Operations with algebraic expressions
3. Factoring
4. Algebraic fractions
5. Linear Equations
6. Changing the subject of formulas
7. Quadratic Equations
8. Radical Equations
9. Linear inequalities and an introduction to interval notation
10. Introduction to simultaneous linear equations.

You are encouraged to attend these workshops as the course will be delivered under the assumption that you are competent in these areas.


Course Objective

At the end of the course students will be able to use mathematical concepts to solve problems in economics and management sciences.


Course Outline

Pre calculus

1. Functions

1.1 Definition of a function
1.2 Function notation and evaluating functions
1.3 Domain and range of functions
1.4 One to one and onto functions
1.5 Composition of functions
1.6 Inverse functions
1.7 Special functions (constant, polynomial, rational, absolute value)
1.8 The remainder theorem, factor theorem and the solution of cubic equations.
1.9 Applications of functions (depreciation, demand and supply curves, production levels)
1.10 Sketching graphs of function (constant, linear, quadratic, square root, absolute value)
1.11 Transforming graphs (horizontal and vertical shifts, reflection)


2. Solutions of inequalities

2.1 Systems of linear inequalities
2.2 Quadratic inequalities
2.3 Graphs of systems of inequalities
2.4 Applications of inequalities (profit, sales allocation, investment)


3. Complex Numbers

3.1 The definition of complex numbers
3.2 Addition, multiplication and division of complex numbers


4. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

4.1 Graphs of exponential and logarithmic function
4.2 The natural exponential and natural logarithmic function
4.3 Basic properties of logarithmic
4.4 Solving exponential and logarithmic equations
4.5 Applications


5. Matrix Algebra                                  

5.1 Matrix addition, multiplication and transposition
5.2 The determinant of a 3 x 3 matrix
5.3 The inverse of a 3 x 3 matrix
5.4 Matrix solution of 2 x 2 and 3 x 3 systems of linear equations


6. Sequences and Series

6.1 Definition of a sequence (general terms and recursive definition)
6.2 Types of sequences (constant, oscillating, arithmetic, geometric)
6.3 Sigma Notation
6.4 Arithmetic and Geometric Series
6.5 Sums of Arithmetic and Geometric Series including sums to infinity


Calculus

7. Limits

7.1 Concept of a Limit
7.2 Limits of Sequences
7.3 Limits of Polynomial and Rational Functions
7.4 One-Sided Limits
7.5 Limits to infinity


8. Continuity

8.1 Conditions for continuity at a point
8.2 Determination of continuity of polynomial and rational functions (at points and over intervals)
8.3 Finding points of discontinuity


9. Differentiation of Single Variable Functions

9.1 The concept of the derivative
9.2 Differentiation from first principles
9.3 Rules of differentiation (power, chain, product, quotient rules)
9.4 Differentiation of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions


10. Applications of Differentiation

10.1 Determination of gradients
10.2 Increasing and decreasing functions
10.3 Relative extrema (maxima/minima) using the first and second derivative tests
10.4 Concavity and Points of Inflection
10.5 Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes
10.6 Sophisticated Graphing (polynomial, rational and other algebraic functions)


Course Assessment

20% - A one-hour mid-semester examination consisting of twenty (20) multiple-choice questions. This will be set only on the Pre calculus section of the course.

20% - 4 graded online quizzes worth 5% each.

60% - A two-hour paper for the final examination will consist of  only long answer questions. This paper will be comprehensive.



Prescribed Texts

1.Introductory Mathematical Analysis for Business, Economics, and the Life and Social Sciences, Ernest Haeussler Jr, Richard Paul and Richard Wood