Introductory Mathematical Economics I

ECON 1530
Department of Economics
Fall Term 2024

Course Information
Course Instructor: Sreyphea Chheang Office Hours: TBA
Office: 1085 VH
E-mail: [email protected] Course website: eClass/Moodle

Course Description
This course presents and analyzes a sequence of basic ideas, topics and problems
arising in Economics. For each idea/topic/problem relevant mathematical ideas and
techniques are recalled and/or derived so as to provide a deeper understanding of the
Economic issue and how it can be resolved, if necessary. The notion of Quantity
Demanded is first addressed by expressing quantity demanded as a linear function of
price where both the slope and intercept embed important Economics ideas. This
sequence leads naturally to the notion of Revenue (the product of quantity demanded
and price) where nonlinear functions are analyzed using mathematical techniques that
include derivatives. This sequence culminates with notions of prices that maximize
revenue subject to a given demand function. A large number of such topic sequences
involving univariate functions are examined.

Prerequisite: Grade 12U Advanced Functions or equivalent.

Prerequisites/Co-requisites: AP/ECON 1000 3.00 or AP/ECON 1010 3.00, or
equivalent. Strongly recommended completion: high-school calculus or equivalent.
Course credit exclusions: SC/MATH 1000 3.00, SC/MATH 1013 3.00, SC/MATH 1300
3.00, SC/MATH 1505 6.00, SC/MATH 1513 6.00, SC/MATH 1530 3.00, SC/MATH 1550
6.00, GL/MATH/MODR 1930 3.00. Note: Acceptable course substitutes are available in
the Calendar

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students should have a solid knowledge of univariate
calculus and be able to set up and solve unconstrained and constrained optimization
problems with particular emphasis on economic problems.

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Technical Requirements
eClass/Moodle will be used for posting class materials and making announcements.
We also may be using Zoom at some point in the term through which students will
interact with the course materials, the course director, as well as with one another.

Course Communication Plan and Office Hours

My office is VH 1085. Office hours may be done on-line. I encourage students who
wish to see me, but who cannot physically attend office hours, to arrange an in-person
or on-line meeting with me. Regularly check the eClass page for announcements.

Course Evaluation
The final mark will be based on three midterm tests (Saturday, Sept 28, Saturday,
November 2, Saturday, November 23, all at 10:00, room TBA) which will contribute to
40% of Final Grade based on best 2/3 midterm marks and a final exam (Date TBA,
60% of Final Grade). In the unlikely event that the university substantially changes its
current policies regarding public health measures, these proportions may be changed.
50% of the content of the first midterm will be based on pre-calculus review materials,
some of which will be the students’ responsibility to review. In the event that a student
does poorly on that part of the test, they should re-evaluate their participation in the
course.

Missed Tests and Exams

There are generally no makeups for missed midterm tests. Note that the best 2/3 mid-
term test grades will contribute to the final grade. Anyone missing a midterm test will
receive zero for that test. There will be no deferments offered for missed final exams
except under very unusual circumstances. Anyone wishing to write a deferred final
exam generally will be required to formally petition for such. Final course grades may
be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades distribution profiles.

Required Course Materials

Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis, sixth edition, Knut Sydsaeter, Peter
Hammond, Arne Strom, Andrés Carvajal, Pearson.

Students are strongly advised to obtain a hardcopy version of the textbook, available at
the bookstore or on-line. (Recent price at Amazon was quite low.) There is a virtual
version of the text available with a link provided on the eclass/Moodle page.

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Assignments

Assignments will be assigned on a weekly basis.

Class Attendance

Class attendance and participation is mandatory. Students are required to close any
electronic devices apart from calculators and, say, one reader which may be used
to mark up class notes. Materials particularly germane to the midterms and final
exam will often be covered exclusively in class.

Review Sessions, Tutorials and Labs

The Department of Economics will be running Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS).
Times and rooms TBA.

During the first two weeks of class, the Department will be conducting Review
Sessions of high school algebra and functions. The schedule will be posted on eclass.

Students may also receive assistance at the Student Numeracy Assistance Centre at
Keele (SNACK).

Using Zoom
Students shall note the following:
• Zoom is hosted on servers in the United States and Canada. Recordings done
since May 1, 2022 are stored in Canada. For more information, please refer to
the notes on Zoom Privacy and Security provided by Information Security at
York.
• If you have privacy concerns about your data, provide only your first name or a
nickname when you join a session.
• The system is configured in a way that all participants are automatically notified
when a session is being recorded. In other words, a session cannot be recorded
without you knowing about it.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources, and help:
• Student Guide to eClass
• Zoom@YorkU Best Practices
• Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide
• University Information Technology (UIT) Student Services
• Student Guide to eLearning at York University

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To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as
Speedtest, that can be run. If you need technical assistance, please consult the
University Information Technology (UIT) Student Services web page. For more specific
assistance, please write to [email protected].

Course Policies
All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information:
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Please also review the following course policies:

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a fundamental and important value of York University. To maintain a

fair and honest learning environment, students in this course are responsible for
understanding and upholding academic integrity in all of their academic activities. To
better understand expectations, familiarize yourself with the Senate Policy on Academic
Conduct. To learn more about how to demonstrate academic integrity in your courses and
to access related resources and support, visit the Academic Integrity website.

Accessibility
While all individuals are expected to satisfy the requirements of their program of study
and to aspire to achieve excellence, the University recognizes that persons with
disabilities may require reasonable accommodation to enable them to perform at their
best. The University encourages students with disabilities to register with Student
Accessibility Services to discuss their accommodation needs as early as possible in the
term to establish the recommended academic accommodations that will be
communicated to Course Directors through their Letter of Accommodation (LOA).

Please let your instructor know as early as possible in the term if you anticipate
requiring academic accommodation so that we can discuss how to consider your
accommodation needs within the context of this course. Sufficient notice is needed so
that reasonable steps for accommodation can be discussed. Accommodations for
tests/exams normally require three (3) weeks (or 21 days) before the scheduled
test/exam to arrange.

Religious Observance Accommodation

York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all
members of the community, and making reasonable and appropriate accommodations
to adherents for observances of special significance. Should any of the dates specified

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in this syllabus for course examinations, tests, or deadlines conflict with a date of
religious significance, please contact the instructor within the first three (3) weeks of
class. If the date falls within the formal examination periods, you must complete and
submit a Religious Accommodation for Examination Form at least three (3) weeks
before the start of the exam period.

Intellectual Property
Course materials are designed for use as part of this particular course at York
University and are the intellectual property of the instructor unless otherwise stated.
Third-party copyrighted materials (such as book chapters, journal articles, music,
videos, etc.) have either been licensed for use in this course or fall under an exception
or limitation in Canadian copyright law. Students may not publish, post on an Internet
site, sell, or otherwise distribute any course materials or work without the instructor’s
express permission. Course materials should only be used by students enrolled in this
course.

Copying this material for distribution (e.g., uploading material to a commercial third-
party website) may lead to a charge of misconduct according to York’s Code of Student
Rights and Responsibilities, the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty, and/or legal
consequences for copyright violations.

Student Conduct in the Learning Environment

York University is committed to fostering teaching and learning environments that are
free of disruptive and/or harassing behaviour, are physically safe, and conducive to
effective teaching and learning. Students and instructors are expected to maintain a
professional relationship characterized by courtesy, civility, and mutual respect and to
refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. Individuals who fail to adhere to
such standards and who violate University or public law may be subject to disciplinary
action by the University.

For more information, see the policies on Disruptive and/or Harassing Behaviour in
Academic Situations, the Student Conduct and Responsibilities, and the Code of
Student Rights & Responsibilities.

Netiquette for eClass and Online Learning

Students and instructors have a joint responsibility to create and maintain a welcoming
and inclusive learning environment. All students are expected to conduct themselves
in accordance with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Please review and
familiarize yourself with behaviours that support “netiquette” in virtual classrooms by
consulting the Guide to Netiquette and Student Guide to eLearning.

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Student Notice of Recording for Online Teaching and Learning
Activities for this course involve recording, in partial fulfillment of the course learning
outcomes. Images, audio, text/chat messaging that have been recorded may be used
and/or made available by the University to students enrolled in the course and those
supporting the course for the purpose of materials review, for assessment, etc.
Recordings will be managed according to the University’s Common Record Schedule
and will be securely destroyed when no longer needed by the University. Your personal
information is protected in accordance with York University’s Guidelines on Access of
Information and Protection of Privacy and the Freedom of Information and Protection
of Privacy Act. Access to online materials, including recordings or live meetings, is
subject to York University’s Senate Policy on Computing and Information Technology
Facilities.

The University will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of
the recorded information, but cannot provide a guarantee of such due to factors
beyond the University’s control, such as recordings being forwarded, copied,
intercepted, circulated, disclosed, or stored without the University’s knowledge or
permission, or the introduction of malware into computer system which could
potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings. The
University is not responsible for connectivity/technical difficulties or loss of data
associated with your hardware, software, or Internet connection.

By engaging in course activities that involve recording, you are consenting to the use of
your appearance, image, text/chat messaging, and voice and/or likeness in the manner
and under the conditions specified herein. In the case of a live stream recording, if you
choose not to have your image or audio recorded, you may disable the audio and video
functionality. If you choose to participate using a pseudonym instead of your real
name, you must disclose the pseudonym to your instructor in advance to facilitate
class participation.

You are not permitted to disclose the link to/URL of an event or an event session
recording or copies of recording to anyone, for any reason. Recordings are available
only to authorized individuals who have been directly provided the above
instructions/link for their use. Recordings for personal use, required to facilitate your
learning and preparation of personal course/lecture notes, may not be shared with
others without the permission of the instructor or event coordinator, and may not be
published, posted, linked to, or otherwise made available online, including on social
media feeds, even if those feeds are private.

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Health and Safety
All York students and instructors share responsibility for the safety and well-being of the
community while on York's campuses. Please continue to check YUBetter Together for the
latest information on health and safety.

Student Support and Resources

To help you succeed academically, York University offers a wide range of resources
and services. Everything from writing workshops and peer mentorship to wellness
support and career guidance is available to fulfill our LA&PS students’ needs. Explore
the links below to access these on-campus resources:
• Academic Advising is available to provide students support and guidance in
making academic decisions and goals.
• Student Accessibility Services are available for support and accessibility
accommodation when required.
• Student Counselling, Health & Wellbeing offers workshops, resources, and
counselling to support your academic success.
• Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) Program provides student study sessions
for students to collaborate and enhance their understanding of course content
in certain courses.
• Student Numeracy Assistance Centre at Keele (SNACK) supports students in
courses involving math, stats, and Excel.
• The Writing Centre provides multiple avenues of writing-based support
including drop-in sessions, one-to-one appointments, a Multilingual Studio, and
an Accessibility Specialist.
• ESL Open Learning Centre (OLC) supports students with building proficiency in
reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Learning Skills Services provides tips for time management, effective study and
learning habits, keeping up with coursework, and other learning-related
supports.
• Learning Commons provides links to supports for time management, writing,
study skills, preparing for exams, and other learning-related resources.
• Roadmap to Student Success provides students with timely and targeted
resources to help them achieve academic, personal, and professional success.
• Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR) is responsible for administering
the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities and provides critical incident
support.
• goSAFE is staffed by York students and can accompany York community
members to and from any on-campus location, such as the Village Shuttle pick-
up hub, parking lots, bus stops, or residences.

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For a full list of academic, wellness, and campus resources visit Student Support &
Resources.

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