Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
MATH1009 Basic mathematics for business and economics (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Mathematics Quota 540
Course Co-ordinator Dr Y M Chan, Mathematics < ymchan@maths.hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr V Bhat,Mathematics)
(Dr Y M Chan,Mathematics)
Course Objectives This course aims at introducing important topics of mathematics for introductory or intermediate level courses in Business and Economics. Mathematical concepts and methods, as well as some Business and Economics applications, would be emphasized so that students could be furnished with the essential mathematical skills for the senior courses in these disciplines.
Course Contents & Topics 1. Logic
2. Linear Equations
3. Quadratic Equations
4. Graphs and Functions
5. Differentiation
6. Unconstrained optimization
7. Partial differentiation
8. Constrained optimization
9. Integration
10. Geometric series
11. Difference equations (optional)
12. Differential equations (optional)
13. Matrix algebra (optional)
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the essential mathematics used in business and economics
CLO 2 apply mathematical skills to model and solve basic problems in business and economics
CLO 3 be more capable of coping with a higher level of mathematics required in various economic disciplines
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 NIL
The course has no pre-requisite, but students are expected to have already achieved Level 2 or above in HKDSE Mathematics or equivalent. Not for students who have passed MATH1011 or MATH1013, or have already enrolled in these courses.
This course is exclusively for non-Science and non-Engineering students (i.e. not for students from the Faculty of Science or Engineering).
Course to PLO Mapping
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    2nd sem    Examination Dec    May     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate an excellent understanding of key concepts and ideas by being able to identify the appropriate theorems and their applications through correctly analysing problems, clearly and elegantly presenting correct logical reasoning and argumentation and being able to carry out computations carefully and correctly, and with some innovative approaches to solving problems.
B Demonstrate a good understanding of key concepts and ideas by being able to identify the appropriate theorems and their applications through correctly analysing problems, but with some minor inadequacies in arguments, identifying the appropriate theorems or their applications and presentation or with some minor computational errors.
C Demonstrate an acceptable understanding of key concepts and ideas by being able to correctly identify appropriate theorems, but with some inadequacies in applying the theorems through incorrectly analysing problems with poor argument and presentation or a number of minor computational errors.
D Demonstrate some understanding of key concepts and ideas by being able to correctly identify appropriate theorems, but with substantial inadequacies in applying the theorems through incorrectly analysing problems with poor argument or presentation or with substantial computational errors.
Fail Demonstrates poor and inadequate understanding by not being able to identify appropriate theorems or their applications, or not being able to complete the solution.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Tutorials and Assignments 10.0 1,2,3
Examination 50.0 1,2,3
Test 40.0 1,2,3
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Ian Jacques: Mathematics for Economics and Business (New York: Pearson Education, 2018, 9th edition)
M. J. Rosser: Basic Mathematics for Economists (London: Routledge, 2003, 2nd edition)
Martin Anthony and Norman Biggs: Mathematics for Economics and Finance:
Methods and Modelling (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996)
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk/
Additional Course Information


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