Mathematical Fundamentals and Data Analysis

Undergraduate course providing the essential mathematical tools to analyse and solve quantitative problems in finance, economics, and management.

Published

September 17, 2025

Modified

July 23, 2026

Course Information

  • Department: Operations Management and Decision Science
  • Semester: 01
  • Teaching campuses: Aix-en-Provence, Angers, Bordeaux, Boulogne-Billancourt, Lyon, Strasbourg
  • Total hours: 30.00
  • ECTS credits: 4.00
  • Language of instruction: French and/or English
  • Open to exchange students: No

General Presentation

This course in Mathematical Fundamentals and Data Analysis aims to give students the mathematical tools needed to analyse and solve quantitative problems, whether financial, economic, or managerial:

  • manipulating algebraic expressions;
  • solving first- and second-degree equations and inequalities to model economic questions;
  • graphically visualising and interpreting economic functions;
  • sequences and the usual functions;
  • simple optimization for strategic decision-making.

Targeted Competencies

2 — Intellectual abilities

  • 2.3: Choose the relevant calculation methods and problem-solving tools.

5 — Technological skills

  • 5.2: Use the tools dedicated to searching and processing information and to business communication (in particular: word processing, dashboards, project-management tools, online tools).

Organisation & Schedule

Module 1 — Essential Mathematical Calculations for Economics and Management

2025-09-17 — Fundamental operations and properties of real numbers (order of operations, absolute value, powers, square roots, fractions, percentages, index numbers, and the proportionality rule).

Module 2 — Mastering Equations for Better Decision-Making

2025-09-25 — Factoring, expanding, notable identities, and solving first-degree equations.

Module 3 — Curve Analysis in Economics and Management

2025-10-01 — Graphical representation (reading a graph, lines, sign, sense of variation, parity), intersection of two lines, first-degree systems of equations and inequalities.

Module 4 — Introduction to Financial-Mathematics Tools

2025-10-08 — Study of numerical sequences (general definition, arithmetic sequences, geometric sequences).

Module 5 — Application of Financial Mathematics

2025-10-15 — Simple and compound interest.

Module 6 — Functions Useful in Economics and Management

2025-10-22 — Single-variable functions (meaning, domain of definition, forbidden values) and the usual functions (affine, polynomial, logarithm, exponential); simple and general second-degree equations.

Module 7 — Introduction to Optimization

2025-11-05 — Average and instantaneous rates of change, an intuitive presentation of the derivative, applied to affine and polynomial functions.

Module 8 — Revision and Final-Exam Preparation

2025-11-12 — General revision and consolidation of what has been learned.

Course resources: the Glossary collects every symbol and term introduced across the modules.

Assessment

Examination % of overall grade Assessment mode Duration (minutes)
Continuous assessment 50 individual written 45
Final exam (FE) 50 individual written 90

Expected Personal Work

  • Complete the associated work and exercises before each class session.
  • Workload: 50 hours.