Mathematics for Business

UNIT GUIDE

Lecture Information

Time:

Venue:

Pre-requisites:

Teaching Staff

Name Nguyen Thi Thu Van

Telephone +84 (0) 932 534 197

Email nttvan@hcmuns.edu.vn

Room

Consultation Times

Unit Description

This unit provides a sound, intuitive understanding of the basic concepts students need as they

pursue careers in business, economics, and in the life and social sciences.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Use linear functions in some economic fields such as supply and demand analysis,

national income determination.

2. Use nonlinear functions in some economic fields such as revenue, cost and profits.

3. Use derivative to study marginal functions and optimize economic functions.

4. Use partial derivatives to solve unconstrained and constrained optimization.

5. Use integration calculus to solve some economic problem such as consumer’s and

producer’s surplus.

6. Understand some basic concept of matrix algebra and its operators such as addition,

subtraction, and multiplication.

Required Textbook

Haeussler E., Paul R., and Wood R.: Introductory Mathematical Analysis for Business,

Economics, and the Life and Social Sciences, 13th

edition, Pearson, 2014.

Recommended Materials

See the last section of this unit guide

LECTURE PROGRAM

The following is the outline that sets topics for the unit and required assignments/reading. The

lecturer reserves the right to revise this outline throughout the semester to either add or delete

material as necessary to accomplish the goals of the unit.

Sessions Topics Required

Assignments/Reading

1 Chapter 0. Getting started Chapter 1

1. Sets

2. Real number line

3. Applications and more algebra

2 Chapter 1. Functions, Limit, and Continuity Chapters: 2, 3, 4, and 10

1. Functions

2. Limits

3. Continuity

3 4. Functional models

4 Chapter 2. Differentiation: Basic Concepts Chapters 11 and 12

1. Motivation

2. Derivative

5 3. Applications to Economics

o Rates of change

o Marginal Analysis

o Point of Diminishing returns

o Price Elasticity of Demand

6 Chapter 3. Integration Chapter 14

1. Indefinite integrals

2. Integration

3. Approximating Integrations

4. Consumer's and Producer's Surplus

Quiz 1 (Week 7)

7 Chapter 4. Mathematics for Finance

Chapter 5

1. Simple Interest and Compound Interest

2. Annuities

8 3. Amortization of Loans

4. Perpetuities

Quiz 2(Week 9)

9 Chapter 5. Multivariable Calculus Chapter 17

1. Functions of Several Variables

2. Partial Derivatives

10 3. Applications to Economics

Chapter 6. Matrix Algebra Chapter 6

11 Matrix and Determinant

System of Linear Equations

Chapter 7. Linear Programming Chapter 7

12 1. Linear Programming

2. Simplex method

13 3. Minimization

14 Quiz 3 and Review

GRADING SCALE AND POLICY

Assessments No. Type of

Collaboration

Submission/

Occurrence date Weights (%)

Quiz (closed book, 30 minutes) 01 Individual Chapters 1+2+3

50% Quiz (closed book, 30 minutes) 01 Individual Chapters 4

Quiz (closed book, 30 minutes) 01 Individual Chapters 5+6+7

Final (closed book, 90 minutes) 01 Individual 50%

Total 100

To successfully complete this unit, students must:

achieve a minimum of 50 marks overall,

complete all assessment items (including making a satisfactory contribution to group work),

and

attend 80 per cent of class time

o Being absent for 3 classes is meant to be barred from the final exam

o Being late for more than 30 minutes at the start of the class without appropriate

reason is meant to be absent for 1 class

A minimum threshold mark will be set which represents a reasonable level of performance in the

final examination to convince the International School of Business – UEH, that, in terms of

independent work, as opposed to group and /or text assisted work, students have a reasonable grasp

of the basic principles of the unit. Unless you can demonstrate such knowledge you will not be

eligible for a clear pass or better in the unit irrespective of the total mark attained.

Late Assignment Policy

Coursework and assignments are expected to be completed within the stated time frame. All

assignments are required to be submitted by hard copy to the lecturer before the submission

deadline.

No late assignments will be accepted unless prior authorization granted by the lecturer. In case

such an authorization is granted, a 30% grade deduction will be applied.

In case that no prior authorization being granted by the lecturer, a 20% grade deduction will be

automatically applied to the late assignments for every single day after the submission deadline.

Make-up Policy

All quizzes and the final exam must be taken on the assigned dates. If there are extenuating or

unforeseen circumstances, lecturer must be contacted prior to missing a quiz, or the final exam to

authorize a makeup date. No make-up quiz or exam will be accepted unless prior authorization

granted by the lecturer.

CLASS POLICIES AND METHODOLOGY

Attendance

Attendance is checked using fingerprint scanners. For this express term course, you are permitted

no more than 2 absences during the term.

Coming late by 30 minutes at the beginning of the class, coming late by 10 minutes after the break,

or leaving prior to the scheduled end time without the permission of the lecturer will equate to an

absence.

Electronic Device Use

Cell phones will be turned off or switched to vibrate mode before class starts. No phone calls or

text messaging are allowed inside classroom during class time. Portable listening and/or music

devices may not be operated in the classroom. Headphones and/or ear buds of any type may not be

worn while in the classroom whether operating or not. Laptop, PCs, tablets and other electronic

devices are not permitted unless specifically authorized by the lecturer exclusively for note

taking. If you are in violation of these policies you will be excused from class and an absence will

be assessed.

Email Policy

The lecturer may be contacted through the standard ISB email system or at nttvan@hcmus.edu.vn.

Students must use their assigned ISB Email account. The lecturer will not respond to private or

personal email account messages. In case students use their personal email accounts, they will be

held accountable for privacy issues.

Lecturer’s Expectations

Students are to be punctual at every class meeting. Assignments (including reading assignments)

must be completed before class. Projects and papers are to be completed on time and turned in as

scheduled. Students must participate in classroom assignments and discussions. A participation

grade will be included in the student's assessment. This course will follow formal academic rules of

correspondence so students are expected to observe college-level syntax, grammar, punctuation,

capitalization, etc., in all written work.

Methods of Instruction

Lecture slides with in-class commentary, in-class discussions, written assignments, exercises,

problems, team project, and exams will be employed.

Classroom Etiquette and Student Behavior Guidelines

Students will demonstrate respect for lecturers and fellow students. A behavior that is disruptive to

a positive learning environment reported by the lecturers will result in a warning on the first

instance; the second instance might result in expulsion from the course or campus.

Disability Support Services

Students with disabilities are advised that accommodations and services are available through ISB.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the ISB Office and to submit appropriate documentation

prior to receiving services.

Additional Information

This unit guide may be revised at the discretion of the lecturer without the prior notification or

consent of the students. The schedule above presents an approximate expectation of course

progress. The lecturer reserves the right to add, delete, or modify any dates of this schedule. The

lecturer also reserves the right to change the overall course grade weighting. Any changes will be

announced in class.

Any student caught (1) Cheating on an exam, (2) Collaborating with others on work to be

presented, if contrary to the stated rules of the course, (3) Submitting, if contrary to the rules of the

course, work previously submitted in another course, (4) Knowingly and intentionally assisting

another student in any of the above actions, including assistance in an arrangement whereby work,

classroom performance, examination, or other activity is submitted or performed by a person other

than the student under whose name the work is submitted or performed, or (5) Plagiarizing, may

fail the class and be subject to further disciplinary action.

First violation will result in a grade ZERO (0%) for that assignment. Second violation will result in

a failure course grade. Written assignments will be randomly checked by the lecturer with

Turnitin.com, an online plagiarism-checking tool.

Furthermore, your reference to support your statements must be from a reliable source, such as,

textbooks, supplemental reading material, and reference books. However, many websites are not

reliable sources. Examples are Wikipedia.org, about.com, and ask.com. If you are not sure if a

reference is acceptable or not, please contact the lecturer.

Referencing

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) 6th edition will serve

as the primary reference materials for all students. Therefore, all papers must be submitted in APA

format. The mechanics of student papers and work will be evaluated, as well as the content. It is

imperative that guidelines be reviewed before an assignment is begun. It is also important that the

required submission format be followed in compiling the final paper or assignment.

RECOMMENDED READING

Books

Not applicable.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Not applicable.