Quantitative Foundations for International Business

About this course: This course provides the essential mathematics required to succeed in the finance and economics related modules of the Global MBA, including equations, functions, derivatives, and matrices. You can test your understanding with quizzes and worksheets, while more advanced content will be available if you want to push yourself. This course forms part of a specialisation from the University of London designed to help you develop and build the essential business, academic, and cultural skills necessary to succeed in international business, or in further study. If completed successfully, your certificate from this specialisation can also be used as part of the application process for the University of London Global MBA programme, particularly for early career applicants. If you would like more information about the Global MBA, please visit www.londoninternational.ac.uk/mba This course is endorsed by CMI

Created by:  University of London

• Taught by:  George Kapetanios, Professor of Finance and Econometrics

  King's College London

Basic Info Course 3 of 6 in the International Business Essentials Specialization Commitment 4 weeks of study, 5 hours per week. Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 3.7 stars Average User Rating 3.7See what learners said Coursework

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


Equations



Although financial models are theoretical frameworks, we often use mathematical tools to work with these models. Mathematical models usually consist of a set of equations, which are designed to describe the structure of the model, and whose solution determines the importance of variables. This week, we will look at equations, including the basic terminology, and the rules for solving equations requiring more than one operation.


10 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Welcome to Quantitative Foundations for International Business
2. Video: Equations- An Introduction
3. Reading: Glossary of Terms
4. Video: 1. Variables, Constants and Parameters
5. Video: 2. The Real Number System
6. Video: 3. Basic Rules
7. Reading: Quiz Instructions
8. Practice Quiz: Equations: Practice Exercises
9. Video: 4. Like Terms
10. Video: 5. Translate Phrases into Mathematics
11. Video: 6. Working with Business Formulas
12. Video: 7. Ratio and Proportion
13. Video: Equations- Summary

Graded: Equations: Summative Exercises
Graded: Week 1: End of Week Quiz

WEEK 2


Functions



Functions are important in every area of pure and applied mathematics, including mathematics applied to economics, finance and business. For example, the language of economic analysis is full of terms like demand and supply functions, cost functions, production functions, consumption functions, and so on. This week, we will present a discussion of functions of one real variable, illustrated by some economic examples. Remember- one variable is a function of another if the first variable depends upon the second.


18 videos expand

1. Video: Functions- An Introduction
2. Video: 1. A Function as an Ordered Pair of Elements
3. Video: 2. Relations and Functions
4. Video: 3. Types of Function
5. Video: 4. Levels of Generality
6. Video: 5: The Domain of a Function
7. Video: 5.1: Graphing an Equation
8. Video: 6. Linear Functions
9. Video: 7. Quadratic Functions
10. Video: 8. Cubic Functions
11. Video: Functions Summary
12. Video: 1.1. The Exponential Functions
13. Video: 1.2. The Nature of Exponential Functions
14. Video: 1.3. Simple Exponential Functions
15. Video: 1.4. The Graph
16. Video: 2.1. Logarithmic Functions
17. Video: 2.2. Log Functions and Exponential Functions
18. Video: 2.3 The Graphical Form

Graded: Summative Questions
Graded: End of Week Quiz

WEEK 3


Derivatives



An important topic in many scientific disciplines- including economics- is the study of how quickly quantities change. The concept used to describe the rate of change of a function is known as the derivative. In this lecture, we will define the derivative of a function, and share some of the important rules for calculating it.


17 videos expand

1. Video: Lecture: Derivatives - An Introduction
2. Video: 1. Slopes of Curves
3. Video: 2. The Geometrical Interpretation of Tangents and Derivatives
4. Video: 3. Increasing and Decreasing Functions
5. Video: 4. Derivatives as a Rate of Change
6. Video: 5. Continuity
7. Video: 6. Simple Rules of Differentiation
8. Video: 6.1. The Derivative of a Constant Function
9. Video: 6.2. The Graphical Representation of the Rule
10. Video: 6.3. Examples
11. Video: 6.4. The Power Rule
12. Video: 6.5. Sum and Difference
13. Video: 7. The Product Rule
14. Video: 8. The Quotient Rule
15. Video: 9. The Chain Rule
16. Video: 10. Higher Order Derivatives
17. Video: Lecture: Derivatives - Summary

Graded: Summative Questions
Graded: End of Week Quiz

WEEK 4


Matrices
The analysis and even the comprehension of systems of linear equations is much easier when we use key mathematic concepts such as matrices, vectors, and determinants. This week, we’ll introduce these concepts and explain their application to economic models


16 videos expand

1. Video: Matrices - An Introduction
2. Video: 1. What Is A Matrix?
3. Video: 2. The Square Matrix
4. Video: 3. Matrix Operations
5. Video: 3.1. Addition
6. Video: 3.2. Subtraction
7. Video: 3.3. Scalar Multiplication
8. Video: 3.4. Multiplication of Matrices
9. Video: 3.5. Multiplication Procedure
10. Video: 3.6. General Rules for Matrix Addition and Multiplication by Scalars
11. Video: 4. The Inverse
12. Video: 5. The Transpose
13. Video: 6. Identity Matrix
14. Video: 6.1. Properties of the Identity Matrix
15. Video: 7. Linear Systems of Equation
16. Video: Matrices | Summary

Graded: Summative Questions
Graded: End of Week Quiz
Graded: End of Course Quiz