Published Mar 30, 2023
An introduction to mathematical techniques of particular use in economics. Topics include matrix algebra, differentation, partial derivatives, optimization techniques including constrained optimization - all developed within the context of economic problems.
Prereq: ECON 101 or ECON 100/COMM103; one of MATH 104, 4U Advanced Functions, 4U Calculus and Vectors; Not open to students in the Faculty of Mathematics
We acknowledge that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral), Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometres on each side of the Grand River.
To learn more about the history of land transfers and outstanding debts in this region, consult Land Rights: A Global Solution for the Six Nations of the Grand River (Six Nations Lands and Resources Department,Ohsweken, ON)
https://www.sixnations.ca/LandsResources/SNLands-GlobalSolutions-FINALyr2020.pdf
| use mathematics more proficiently in the context of economic analysis |
Week | Dates | Lecture Topic | Lecture Readings Due |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | May 9 and 11 Tutorial 1 May 11 |
| Osbourne 1.1, 1.4, 1.7 Hoy et al. 2.1-4 (p.11-50) |
2 | May 16 and 18 Tutorial 2 May 18 |
| Sydsaeter Ch. 6.1-3, 6.7 Osbourne 1.4 ‘continuous functions’ |
3 | May 25 Note: May 23 follows Monday schedule Tutorial 3 May 25 |
| Osbourne 1.5
|
4 | May 30, June 1 Tutorial 4 June 1 |
| Osbourne 1.5-1.6 |
5 | June 6 and 8 Tutorial 5 June 8 |
| Osbourne 2.1-2.5 |
6 | June 13 and 15 No Tutorial June 15 |
|
Osbourne 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 |
7 | June 20 and 22 Tutorial 6 June 22 |
| Osbourne 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 Hoy et al. 2.4(p51-56) |
8 | June 27 and 29 Tutorial 7 June 29 |
| Osbourne 4.1-4.3 |
9 | July 4 and 6 Tutorial 8 July 6 |
| Osbourne 5.1-5.3 |
10 | July 11 and 13 No Tutorial - July 13 |
|
Osbourne 6.1
|
11 | July 18 and 20 Tutorial 9 July 20 |
| Osbourne 6.1
|
12 | July 25 and 27 Tutorial 10 July 27 |
| Osbourne 6.3 |
13 | August 1 |
|
| Title / Name | Notes / Comments | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Martin J. Osbourne, Mathematical Methods for Economic Theory (2022) | available online, https://mjo.osborne.economics.utoronto.ca/index.php/tutorial/index/1/int/i | Yes |
| M. Hoy, J. Livernois, C. McKenna, R. Rees, and T. Stengos, Mathematics for Economics, Third Edition, The MIT Press 2011. | Chapter 2 – available through library course reserves | Yes |
| K. Sydsaeter and P.J. Hammond, Mathematics for Economic Analysis, Prentice-Hall, 1995. | Chapter 6 – available through library course reserves. | Yes |
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 10% |
| Midterm Exam 1 | 20% |
| Midterm Exam 2 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 50% |
Students are required to attend 10 tutorial meetings over the course of the term. Lecture material will be reviewed and illustrated. Each tutorial students will be given problems to solve and submit for evaluation (marking scheme: 1 attended tutorial, 2 used correct approach, 3 solved problem, out of 3). The best 8 out of 10 tutorial performances will be used to calculate the tutorial participation mark. No tutorials will be held during the week of midterms, that is on June 15th and July 13th.
The midterm exams will be held in class on June 13th and July 11th. They will test students’ proficiency with the material covered in the lectures, tutorials and practice problems.
The final exam is comprehensive. The date will be set by the Registrar’s Office.
No assignment screening will be used in this course.
All deferred Final Exam requests for economics courses are administered by the Economics Undergraduate Office. Please consult the Deferred Exam Policy at
https://uwaterloo.ca/economics/undergraduate/resources-and-policies/deferred-final-exam-policy.
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It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit alternate assignment.