32255 - General Mathematics 1

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Piero Plazzi
  • Credits: 8
  • SSD: SECS-S/06
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Economics and Finance (cod. 0893)

Learning outcomes

See  the above section in Italian

Course contents

1. Numbers. Natural numbers (induction), integers, rationals, real numbers. Powers, roots; exponential and logarithmic functions. The language of set theory: unions, intersections, intervals. Factorials, binomial coefficients.

2. Real functions in one real variable. Elementary functions. Composition, inversion of functions. Graphs. Limits, continuity: elementary properties; Bolzano's and Weierstrass' theorems.

3. Differential calculus in one real variable. Derivatives and elasticities, elementary derivatives. Critical points, maxima and minima. Monotonicity, mean value Lagrange's theorem and applications. De l'Hospital's rules. Higher-order derivatives: convexity. Taylor's formula and applications.

4. Differential calculus in two variables. Partial and directional derivatives: geometrical (graphic) meaning. Critical points, maxima and minima. Constrained extrema and Lagrange's method of multipliers.

5. Sequences and series.Convergence, divergence. Partial sums and series: geometric series. Series with positive terms, convergence criteria (root and ratio tests).

Further details in the Italian section.

Readings/Bibliography

Please read the related section in Italian

Teaching methods


Assessment methods

Please read carefully the above section in Italian.

Teaching tools

See the related section in Italian.

Office hours

See the website of Piero Plazzi