General objectives

This subject plays a key role in students’ overall scientific training. Any discipline that relies on formal modelling depends on the methodological rigour and instrumental approach afforded by mathematical language. Accordingly, students must acquire familiarity with the fundamentals of this language, which forms an integral component of the degree’s scientific content.

The primary objective of the subject is to equip students with the basic mathematical knowledge and techniques necessary to understand mathematical formalism and to express themselves accurately in mathematical language.

 A further objective is to develop their capacity to formulate and solve economic problems using mathematical methods, with a gradual progression in the complexity of the problems addressed.

The subject is also designed with a strong instrumental focus, supporting the study of other modules across the degree programme. In particular, it provides the mathematical tools and methods that students will require in subsequent stages of their studies.

Specific objectives 

Upon successful completion of this subject, students will: Demonstrate a solid grounding in the core concepts and properties underpinning mathematical formalism.

Show mastery in the use of mathematical tools and procedures and apply mathematical concepts and techniques to the formal representation of economic principles, employing these tools effectively to enhance their understanding of the specific content of Mathematics I and related subjects within the programme.

The aim of this subject is to equip students with the mathematical knowledge required to understand two key areas of economics: optimisation theory and dynamic equations.  

The study of optimisation theory is designed to provide students with the mathematical tools and reasoning necessary to address optimization problems, including those with equality and inequality constraints.

The focus of dynamic analysis is to introduce students to the concepts of mathematical integration and differential equations, along with the principal methods for solving them. This foundation enables students to engage confidently with most mathematical economics texts, particularly those that model time-dependent variables in continuous domains.

• Acquire principled knowledge rather than relying on superficial characteristics. Each subject provides knowledge grounded in the definition of concepts and properties, their application to simple cases, and subsequent generalisation to more complex problems, highlighting the most significant properties.
• Develop analytical and synthesis skills, where analysis is understood as the ability to decompose objects into their fundamental components, while synthesis is the capacity to recombine these components in a coherent and meaningful way. These skills include setting objectives, acquiring foundational knowledge, identifying associated properties, and recombining elements in novel configurations.
• Demonstrate organisational and planning abilities. Students should be able to define an initial situation and a desired objective. These skills are supported through the combination of lectures and small-group seminars.
• Solve problems effectively. Students should be able to identify the most relevant aspects of a problem, plan the steps necessary to reach a solution. This skill can be improved by posing and solving exercises of increasing difficulty. This process allows students to develop and integrate strategies for solving complex problems.
• Develop independent learning skills. This entails actively creating knowledge by selecting, organising, and structuring information coherently and connecting new knowledge with prior understanding.
• Develop a capacity to interpret data and results. Students should be able to appraise the initial information provided, and evaluate the methodology and problem-solving process and critically assess outcomes.