Mathematical Fundamentals

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

Modified

July 23, 2026

1 Welcome to MS01-001-G: Mathematical Fundamentals

This course will help you develop the mathematical reasoning and calculation skills needed to solve quantitative problems in finance, economics, and management.

Throughout the course, you will learn to:

  • Perform calculations accurately;
  • Translate practical problems into mathematical expressions;
  • Choose an appropriate calculation method;
  • Interpret equations, functions, graphs, and numerical results;
  • Use mathematical tools to support managerial decisions.

2 Course Information

  • Department: Operations Management and Decision Science
  • Code: MS01-001-G
  • 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

3 General Presentation

This course in Mathematical Fundamentals 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.

4 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).

5 Organisation & Schedule

Module 1 — Essential Mathematical Calculations for Economics and Management

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

Application question: How can we calculate and interpret a change in price, revenue, cost, or market share?

Module 2 — Mastering Equations for Better Decision-Making

Factoring, expanding, notable identities, and solving first-degree equations.

Application question: At what sales volume does a company reach its break-even point?

Module 3 — Curve Analysis in Economics and Management

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

Application question: At what level of activity do two pricing or cost models produce the same result?

Module 4 — Introduction to Financial-Mathematics Tools

Study of numerical sequences (general definition, arithmetic sequences, geometric sequences).

Application question: How can we model a quantity that grows by a fixed amount or by a fixed percentage?

Module 5 — Application of Financial Mathematics

Simple and compound interest.

Application question: How does capitalisation frequency affect the future value of an investment?

Module 6 — Functions Useful in Economics and Management

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

Application question: Which type of function best represents a given economic or managerial phenomenon?

Module 7 — Introduction to Optimization

Average and instantaneous rates of change, an intuitive presentation of the derivative, applied to affine and polynomial functions.

Application question: Which price, quantity, or production level maximises profit or minimises cost?

Module 8 — Revision and Final-Exam Preparation

General revision and consolidation of what has been learned.

Application question: Can you identify the appropriate mathematical method without being told which module the problem comes from?

Glossary

Collects every symbol and term introduced across the modules.

6 Assessment

Precision of Numerical Answers

Some questions will ask for a numerical answer, for example solving for an equilibrium price.

  • If the answer is rational, enter an exact answer. For example: \(3/4\), \(0.125\) or \(519\).
  • If the answer is rational, but has a repeating decimal, you may alternatively enter any approximation within \(0.1%\) of the correct answer. For example: \(1/9\) or \(8.66667\).
  • Otherwise, enter any approximation within \(0.1%\) of the correct answer. For example: \(1.414\) to represent \(\sqrt{2}\).

When in doubt, enter more decimal places than you think you need. It never hurts to put more decimal places.

Examination % of overall grade Assessment mode Duration (min)
Continuous assessment 35 individual written 45
Final exam (FE) 65 individual written 90

Expected Personal Work

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