An introduction to Commercial and Financial Mathematics

Abstract

Despite its relevance and great applicability, this subject is often put aside in Mathematics’ Basic Education programs. Its approach, when it happens, is superficial and made in the first grades of the second segment of Elementary Education, when the student has neither the maturity nor the mathematical knowledge necessary to better understand or to make a deeper study of the subject. This deepening, when it happens, is the result of more urgent needs, such as an entrance examination or an official examination for a governmental post. Even then, rules and  procedures to solve a few kinds of problems are memorized, with no concern for concepts or explanations. For these and other reasons, Commercial Mathematics and Financial Mathematics remain rather obscure to the majority of the people, either for those who work with Mathematics or not. The aim of this course is to make their basic concepts clear and to use them to solve practical problems.