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 consumers and
producers 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

Chapter 0. Getting started

Required
Assignments/Reading
Chapter 1

1. Sets
2. Real number line
3. Applications and more algebra
Chapter 1. Functions, Limit, and Continuity
2
1. Functions
2. Limits

Chapters: 2, 3, 4, and 10

3. Continuity
3

4. Functional models
Chapter 2. Differentiation: Basic Concepts

Chapters 11 and 12

1. Motivation
2. Derivative
5

3. Applications to Economics
o

Rates of change

Marginal Analysis

Point of Diminishing returns

Price Elasticity of Demand

Chapter 3. Integration

Chapter 14

1. Indefinite integrals
2. Integration
3. Approximating Integrations
4. Consumer's and Producer's Surplus
Quiz 1 (Week 7)

Chapter 4. Mathematics for Finance

1. Simple Interest and Compound Interest
2. Annuities
3. Amortization of Loans

8
4. Perpetuities

Chapter 5

Quiz 2(Week 9)

Chapter 5. Multivariable Calculus

Chapter 17

1. Functions of Several Variables

2. Partial Derivatives
10

3. Applications to Economics
Chapter 6. Matrix Algebra

11

Chapter 6

Matrix and Determinant

System of Linear Equations

Chapter 7

Chapter 7. Linear Programming

12

1. Linear Programming
2. Simplex method

13
14

3. Minimization
Quiz 3 and Review

GRADING SCALE AND POLICY

Submission/

No.

Type of
Collaboration

Quiz (closed book, 30 minutes)

01

Individual

Chapters 1+2+3

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

Assessments

Occurrence date

Weights (%)

50%

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.
Lecturers 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.