X 110 ―Mathematics for Management‖ (Online)

UCLA EXTENSION—Business & Management

Instructor: Dr. Jesse U. Overall Quarter: Winter 2011

Meetings: Weekly online from 01/05/11 through 3/23/11.
Office Hrs.: By appointment or via e-mail at math4mgmt@yahoo.com or joverall@ucla.edu.

Course Description
Course participants engage in a comprehensive review of essential algebra- and
calculus-based processes used in graduate business programs, UCLA Certificate
programs and in the public and private economic sectors. They learn to develop
realistic, data-based linear and nonlinear models using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
techniques, and use these models in a variety of applied business contexts. Concepts
such as ―breakeven‖, ―equilibrium‖, ―optimization‖, and ―rate of change‖ are
emphasized within the contexts of these analyses. The course concludes with each
participant having the option to select one or more elective topics of study from the
following: ―time value of money‖, linear programming, matrix algebra, multivariate
analysis, and third order models. NOTE: All course instruction is carried out over the internet.

Expected Outcomes
This course enhances each participant’s preparation for the employment of quantitative
techniques taught in any MBA or UCLA Certificate program. Participants…
 …develop univariate linear models (equations) using the concept of slope and the point-slope
equation form; and, verify model accuracy using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet techniques.
 …develop univariate nonlinear models (equations) using Excel spreadsheet techniques.
 …combine individual models into linear/nonlinear systems using Excel spreadsheet techniques;
and, both solve applied problems involving these systems and perform ―optimization‖ and ―rate of
change‖ analyses in business contexts like Cost/Revenue/Profit and Demand/Supply.
 …study the basic theory underlying differential calculus, and employ the techniques most often
needed to derive first and second derivative expressions of univariate functions.
 …employ first derivatives of univariate functions in ―optimization‖ and ―rate of change‖ contexts
such as Profit/Revenue maximization, Cost/average Cost minimization, marginal Cost/Revenue/
Profit estimation, and Price Elasticity of Demand computations.
 …employ second derivatives of univariate functions to determine relative and absolute maximum
and minimum values, and—where applicable—inflection points.
 …review, on an elective basis, selected techniques from the areas of economics and finance.
 …gain insight into how the concepts covered in this course relate to those in Business Statistics.

1
 Grading
Course grades will be based on completion of two Problem Sets which serve as a
midterm and a final exam. The average of the two Problem Sets will be converted to a
percentage, and the percentage will be translated into the course grade as follows:

A = 94 – 100% B+ = 88 – 89% C+ = 78 – 79% D+ = 68 – 69%

A– = 90 – 93% B = 83 – 87% C = 73 – 77% D = 60 – 67%
B– = 80 – 82% C– = 70 – 72% F = below 60%

Resources (Required)
Text: Harshbarger & Reynolds. Mathematical Applications for the Management, Life,
and Social Sciences (9th Edition only). Brooks-Cole, Belmont, CA, 2009.
Contact the instructor for ordering options.

Readings: A series of instructor-prepared documents and spreadsheets will augment

the text material, particularly in the area of applications.

Resources (Optional)
Dowling, Edward T. Calculus for Business, Economics and the Social Sciences.
Schaum’s Outline Series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990. ISBN-13: 9780070176737.

Dowling, Edward T. Mathematical Methods for Business & Economics. Schaum’s

Outline Series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. ISBN-13: 9780071635325.

Winston, Wayne L. Excel 2007: Data Analysis and Business Modeling. New York:
Microsoft Press, 2007. ISBN-13: 9780735623965. [note: Participants using an earlier
version of Excel should contact the instructor for an appropriate resource.]

System & Software Requirements

Course participants will need (1) internet access via a web browser for interaction
purposes, and (2) Microsoft Excel access for computational and graphing purposes.

[X110SYL(UCLA)2011Winter]