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Maths Essentials

Proctored exam

Siri Kouletsis

'LSE Maths Essentials' introduces some of the basic ideas and methods of mathematics with an emphasis on their application.

It works at an elementary level with the aim of developing sophisticated mathematical skills and bridging the gap between school leavers and undergraduate study.

At the end of the mathematics course, you should be able to:

Manipulate and use algebraic expressions
Graph, differentiate and integrate simple functions
Calculate basis quantities in financial mathematics

'LSE Maths Essentials' introduces some of the basic ideas and methods of mathematics with an emphasis on their application.

It works at an elementary level with the aim of developing sophisticated mathematical skills and bridging the gap between school leavers and undergraduate study.

At the end of the mathematics course, you should be able to:

Manipulate and use algebraic expressions
Graph, differentiate and integrate simple functions
Calculate basis quantities in financial mathematics

Related skills developed during this course include Algebra, Basic Math, Calculus, Differential Calculus, Elementary Algebra, Integral Calculus, Linear Equations.

The pass marks required are listed below:

BSc Data Science and Business Analytics – 60% required

BSc Mathematics and Economics – 60% required

BSc Accounting and Finance – 50% required

BSc Finance – 50% required

BSc Business and Management – 50% required

BSc Economics – 50% required

BSc Economics and Finance – 50% required

BSc Economics and Management – 50% required

BSc Economics and Politics – 50% required

BSc International Relations – 40% required

BSc Management and Digital Innovation – 40% required

BSc Politics and International Relations – 40% required

For more information on the entry requirements for the University of London's EMFSS programmes, visit.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

What you will be examined on:
A grounding in arithmetic and algebra

An overview of functions and the fundamentals of calculus
An introduction to financial mathematics

What you will be examined on:
A grounding in arithmetic and algebra
An overview of functions and the fundamentals of calculus
An introduction to financial mathematics

Syllabus

Arithmetic and Algebra

A review of arithmetic and the manipulation of algebraic expressions (including the use of brackets and power laws).

Solving linear equations and the relationship between linear expressions and straight lines.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid foundation in essential mathematical concepts, which is crucial for success in quantitative undergraduate programs

Covers topics like calculus and financial mathematics, which are directly applicable to various fields of economics and finance

Requires a proctored exam, which may present a barrier for some students due to scheduling constraints or additional fees

Reviews arithmetic and algebraic expressions, which helps students strengthen their understanding of fundamental mathematical principles

Focuses on developing sophisticated mathematical skills, which are essential for bridging the gap between school and university level studies

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Reviews summary

Maths essentials for lse entry

According to learners, this course serves as a solid foundation for students aiming for LSE's quantitative programs. Many find the content, covering Algebra, Calculus, and Financial Mathematics, to be well-structured and presented clearly, although some topics may require supplementary study. The course effectively prepares students for the proctored exam, which is seen as a challenging but fair assessment of the material covered. The difficulty level is appropriate for bridging the gap between high school and undergraduate mathematics.

The proctored exam tests understanding thoroughly.

"The proctored exam was tough, but fair based on the course content."

"Needed to study the material very thoroughly to pass the final assessment."

"It really tests if you've understood the concepts, not just memorized formulas."

Suitable for bridging gap to university math.

"It's a good bridge between A-level/high school math and university level math."

"The pacing was manageable, allowing me to grasp the core concepts effectively."

"Found it challenging enough to learn but not overwhelmingly difficult for someone with a math background."

Effectively teaches foundational algebra, calculus.

"This course covers the basic essentials required for entry into LSE."

"The fundamental concepts of algebra and calculus are explained quite well."

"It gave me a good review of high school mathematics and introduced some new financial concepts."

Aligns well with the requirements of the exam.

"I feel much more prepared for the LSE Maths entrance exam after taking this course."

"The practice questions and quizzes were very similar to what was on the actual proctored exam."

"Studying this material was crucial for me to meet the mathematics entry requirements for my target degree."

Deeper understanding may need external resources.

"While a good intro, some topics needed further exploration using textbooks or other online resources."

"Felt that some areas, particularly in calculus, could have gone into a little more depth."

"I used this course as a starting point but found myself needing to supplement the material for certain concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Maths Essentials: Proctored exam with these activities:

Review Basic Algebra Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental algebraic concepts, including manipulating expressions and solving equations, to prepare for the more advanced topics in the course.

Browse courses on Algebraic Expressions

Show steps

Review notes from previous algebra courses.
Work through practice problems on Khan Academy.
Identify and address any knowledge gaps.

Practice Differentiation and Integration

Show steps

Sharpen your calculus skills by practicing differentiation and integration techniques, ensuring you're comfortable with the core concepts before the course delves into more complex applications.

Browse courses on Differentiation Rules

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Review the definitions of derivatives and integrals.
Practice applying differentiation rules to various functions.
Solve integration problems using different techniques.

Read 'Calculus' by James Stewart

Show steps

Supplement your understanding of calculus by reading a chapter from a standard calculus textbook, focusing on the sections relevant to the course syllabus.

View Calculus on Amazon

Show steps

Select a chapter on derivatives or integrals.
Read the chapter and work through the examples.
Attempt the end-of-chapter exercises.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Solve Linear Equation Problems

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Improve your proficiency in solving linear equations through repetitive practice, reinforcing your algebraic skills and preparing you for more complex problem-solving scenarios.

Show steps

Find a set of linear equation problems online.
Solve each equation, showing your work.
Check your answers against the solutions.

Create a Financial Mathematics Cheat Sheet

Show steps

Consolidate your knowledge of financial mathematics by creating a cheat sheet summarizing key formulas and concepts, aiding in quick recall and application during the course.

Show steps

Review the financial mathematics section of the course.
Identify the key formulas and concepts.
Organize the information into a concise cheat sheet.

Read 'Mathematics for Economics and Business' by Ian Jacques

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of the mathematical concepts used in economics and business by reading a chapter from a relevant textbook, focusing on the applications of calculus and algebra.

View Mathematics for Economics and Business on Amazon

Show steps

Select a chapter on financial mathematics or optimization.
Read the chapter and work through the examples.
Relate the concepts to real-world investment scenarios.

Build a Compound Interest Calculator

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of financial mathematics by building a compound interest calculator, solidifying your understanding of the formulas and their practical applications.

Show steps

Design the user interface for the calculator.
Implement the compound interest formula in code.
Test the calculator with different inputs.
Add features such as different compounding intervals.

Career center

Learners who complete Maths Essentials: Proctored exam will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

As a financial analyst, you will evaluate financial data, provide insights, and make recommendations to guide investment decisions. This course on Maths Essentials introduces foundational concepts such as calculating quantities in financial mathematics and understanding investment schemes. This introduction provides an elementary background that you can build upon to assess the value of different investment opportunities. With the knowledge gained from this course, you will have developed sophisticated skills on how to approach financial analysis with a more informed perspective. Moreover, understanding arithmetic and geometric sequences will be particularly helpful when projecting investment growth and returns. By building a foundation in math, you'll be well-equipped to tackle complex financial models and make informed recommendations as a financial analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Data Scientist

Data scientists analyze complex data sets to extract meaningful insights and develop predictive models. Data scientists typically require an advanced degree. This Maths Essentials course introduces foundational mathematical concepts, including algebra, calculus, and financial mathematics, providing a starting point for understanding machine learning algorithms and statistical modeling. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions, graphing functions, and calculating financial quantities are directly applicable to data analysis tasks. The course's coverage of linear algebra and optimization is particularly relevant for developing and implementing machine learning models. With the knowledge gained, you are equipped to approach data science challenges. The role of a data scientist is very quantitative.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business analysts identify business needs and propose solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This Maths Essentials course introduces essential mathematical concepts and their applications, providing a foundation for quantitative analysis. Skills such as algebraic manipulation, graphing functions, and financial mathematics can be applied to analyze business processes and identify areas for improvement. In particular, being able to calculate basic quantities in financial mathematics may be helpful when assessing the financial impact of proposed solutions. With the fundamental knowledge gained, you may be prepared to approach business challenges with a more analytical mindset as a business analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative analysts, often called quants, develop and implement mathematical models for financial analysis and risk management. Quantitative analysts typically require an advanced degree. This Maths Essentials course introduces foundational mathematical concepts, including algebra, calculus, and financial mathematics, which provides a basis for understanding quantitative models. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions, graphing functions, and calculating financial quantities can be directly applied to developing and testing financial models. The course's coverage of calculus is helpful when understanding derivatives and other complex financial instruments. Aspiring quantitative analysts can benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment bankers assist companies with raising capital and provide advice on financial transactions. This Maths Essentials course introduces essential mathematical concepts, including algebraic manipulation and financial mathematics, giving context for understanding financial instruments and transactions. The course's coverage of compound interest, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and investment schemes provides a basis for understanding investment valuation and risk assessment. With the knowledge gained, you might be prepared to tackle the quantitative aspects of investment banking with more confidence. An investment banker would benefit from a strong mathematical background.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Economics Consultant

The role of an economics consultant often involves applying mathematical principles to analyze economic trends and advise clients on strategic decisions. This Maths Essentials course introduces fundamental mathematical concepts and their applications, which builds a foundation for understanding economic models. The course's coverage of functions and calculus may be useful in modeling economic relationships and predicting outcomes. Furthermore, the skills to manipulate and use algebraic expressions can be invaluable when constructing and interpreting economic models. Taking this course offers a strong starting point for developing the quantitative skills necessary for success as an economics consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economics Consultant

Financial Examiner

Financial examiners ensure compliance with financial regulations and assess the soundness of financial institutions. This Maths Essentials course introduces essential mathematical concepts, including algebraic manipulation and financial mathematics, which provides a footing for understanding financial statements and regulatory requirements. The course's coverage of compound interest and investment schemes is particularly useful when assessing the risk profiles of financial institutions. Having a better understanding of finance will help the financial examiner carry out their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Examiner

Budget Analyst

Budget analysts are responsible for developing and managing budgets for organizations. This Maths Essentials course introduces helpful mathematical concepts, including algebraic manipulation and financial mathematics, providing a solid background for understanding budgeting principles. The course's coverage of compound interest, arithmetic and geometric sequences, and investment schemes is particularly useful when forecasting future financial needs. With the fundamental knowledge gained, you may be better equipped to analyze financial data and make informed budget recommendations as a budget analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Data Analyst

Data analysts interpret data to identify trends and provide insights for decision-making. The Maths Essentials course introduces a foundation in algebra, calculus, and financial mathematics, equipping you with an understanding of quantitative analysis. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions, graphing functions, and calculating financial quantities are directly applicable to data analysis tasks. This background that you have established will provide with a solid starting point for understanding statistical methods and data modeling techniques. The course's focus on developing sophisticated mathematical skills may be helpful for anyone pursuing a career as a data analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries assess and manage financial risks, often in the insurance and finance industries. Actuaries typically require an advanced degree. The Maths Essentials course introduces foundational mathematical concepts, including algebra, calculus, and financial mathematics, equipping you with a strong understanding of quantitative analysis. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions, graphing functions, and calculating financial quantities are directly applicable to actuarial modeling and risk assessment. The course's treatment of probability and statistics is particularly relevant for understanding and quantifying risk. Aspiring actuaries can benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Accountant

Accountants maintain financial records, prepare financial statements, and ensure compliance with regulations. The Maths Essentials course introduces essential mathematical concepts, including algebraic manipulation and financial mathematics, forming a foundation for understanding accounting principles. Being able to calculate basic quantities in financial mathematics helps with tasks such as calculating interest, depreciation, and amortization. Further, the skills developed in this course provide a solid base for understanding more advanced accounting topics and financial analysis. This course may be helpful in the development of the necessary mathematical acumen of an accountant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and solve problems across various fields. Statisticians typically require an advanced degree. This Maths Essentials course introduces essential mathematical concepts, including algebra and calculus, which are fundamental to understanding statistical methods. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions and graphing functions are useful when working with statistical models. The course's coverage of probability and statistics is particularly relevant for understanding statistical inference and hypothesis testing. Students with quantitative inclination will find this course relevant to the field of statistics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators collect and analyze data to estimate the costs of projects or services. The Maths Essentials course introduces foundational mathematical concepts, including algebra and calculus, providing a context for understanding cost estimation techniques. Skills such as manipulating algebraic expressions can be useful when calculating material costs and labor expenses. Furthermore, the course's coverage of financial mathematics is helpful for understanding pricing strategies and profit margins. A cost estimator uses math on a daily basis, so any such course is helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cost Estimator

Management Consultant

Management consultants advise organizations on how to improve performance and efficiency. This Maths Essentials course may be useful as it introduces mathematical concepts and their applications, providing a foundation for quantitative analysis. In particular, the coverage of financial mathematics and investment schemes is helpful when assessing the financial implications of different strategies. The analytical skills honed through practice problems in this course can be applied to analyze business processes and identify areas for improvement. This course may be helpful for aspiring management consultants who want to develop a strong quantitative foundation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Market Research Analyst

Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. This Maths Essentials course may be useful since it provides useful skills, such as manipulating algebraic expressions and solving equations, which will assist in quantitative analysis of market data. An understanding of functions and calculus can be applied to modeling market trends and predicting consumer behaviour. The course's emphasis on financial mathematics may be helpful with analyzing pricing strategies and forecasting revenue. The background provided offers a valuable starting point for developing the analytical skills required for a career as a market research analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Research Analyst

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Maths Essentials: Proctored exam.

Mathematics for Economics and Business

Save

Provides a comprehensive introduction to the mathematical tools and techniques used in economics and business. It covers topics such as algebra, calculus, linear algebra, and optimization, with a focus on their applications in real-world scenarios. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals. It adds more depth and breadth to the existing course, particularly in the area of financial mathematics.

Mathematics for Economics and Business

Paperback

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Mathematics for Economics and Business

Kindle Edition

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Calculus

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Provides a comprehensive overview of calculus, covering topics such as limits, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. It widely used textbook in universities and colleges, making it a valuable resource for understanding the fundamental concepts of calculus. Reading this book will provide a solid foundation for the calculus topics covered in the course. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

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Effort

2 to 3 hours per week for 1 week

Level

Introductory

Via

edX

Institution

The London School of Economics and Political Science

Instructor

Siri Kouletsis

Language

English

Transcript

English

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid foundation in essential mathematical concepts, which is crucial for success in quantitative undergraduate programs

Covers topics like calculus and financial mathematics, which are directly applicable to various fields of economics and finance

Requires a proctored exam, which may present a barrier for some students due to scheduling constraints or additional fees

Reviews arithmetic and algebraic expressions, which helps students strengthen their understanding of fundamental mathematical principles

Focuses on developing sophisticated mathematical skills, which are essential for bridging the gap between school and university level studies

Maths Essentials

Proctored exam

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Maths essentials for lse entry

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses

edX Buyer Protection & Guarantee

Free Audit Track Available

14-Day Full Refund Window

Verified Academic & Industry Partner