Description

The math review is intended to give students from different backgrounds (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, etc) an overview of the quantitative skills that will be required in their MPA program. Courses that will draw on these mathematical concepts are Quantitative Techniques and Systems Analysis in Policy Making I and II (statistics), Microeconomics I and II and The Economics of Sustainable Development (calculus and algebra, graphing), Financial Management (graphing and spreadsheet), and all natural science courses (calculus, algebra, statistics, graphing, and spreadsheets). The approach is based on evaluating applications rather than developing theoretical mathematical knowledge. The three-course review will start with very basic algebra and run into introductory calculus. Students will be asked to complete a series of "Worksheets" that increase in difficulty. These are intended to allow students to exercise fundamental operations that are commonly used in all the above-mentioned courses. Then, students will also need to complete two short problems should allow them to warm up to the problem solving approach used in this program.

The worksheets are not graded but students need to complete them in their entirety and submitted by the deadline to obtain a grade in their course "Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology". The individual worksheets are due every Friday. The and work problems are voluntary but we encourage you to try them to apply some of the computation exercises you’ve practiced with the math sheets.

References (in increasing order of sophistication).

These books describe the underlying mathematical concepts used in your economics courses. They are recommended, but not required. All three texts contain the same material presented in different ways. Which is best for you depends on your current level of comfort with calculus.

Nicholson,W. 2002. Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions 8th Edition, Chapter 2: The Mathematics of Optimization.

Binger, B.R. and E. Hoffman. 1998. Microeconomics with Calculus, 2nd Edition, Chapters 1-3.

Chiang, A. Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, 3rd Edition, Chapters 2, 6-12.

Do NOT worry if you do not understand all the material in these texts. However, you will need to understand how to apply the basic techniques necessary to solve the problems below.

Further supporting material can be found on SIPA's math tutorial web pages: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/math/

Lectures

MPA Home Page

Earth Institute

School of Public and International Affairs

Columbia University

Description

Table of Contents

Lectures