Math 4050                                                       Fall 2009

Financial Mathematics


Instructor: Professor Jim Zhu
Office: 5533 EV, Tel: 387-4535, e-mail: zhu@wmich.edu
Web: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~zhu/
Office Hours: M. W. 5:40-6:30 P.M, others by appointment
Class Hours: M.W. 6:30-7:45 P.M. HR 02211
Text: Financial Mathemtics, 2nd edition. by C. Ruckman and J. Francis
Reference: Mathemtics of Investment and Credit, 4th edition. by S.A. Broverman
Course Description

This is an introductory course on how to apply mathematical and statistical tools to model financial problems. Financial topics include interest theory, portfolio management, utility functions and option pricing methods. The emphasis will be on how to establish mathematical models for the financial problems. Since financial problems often involve uncertainty, related methods in probability and statistics will also be introduced. This course is designed for students from different disciplines. Students are encouraged to participate in discussions and to contribute ideas from their disciplines. 

Course Prerequisites: Math 2720 Vector Calculus. 

Academic Integrity: Students are responsible for making themselve aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate (pp. 274-276) [Graduate (pp.25-27)] Catalog that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.

Calculator:

A calculator is required for this class. If you are intend to take actuarial exams you may want to purchase one of the following models of Texas Instruments calculators that are approved for those exams:

Class discussion:

We have a small class this semester. You are invited to participate class discussions and contribute your ideas. I will allocate 10% of the grade for participation in class discussions.  

Homework:

It is important to practice and get familiar with all the procedures and formulas. I expect that you do all the practice problems in the end of the chapters that we cover. However, I will only collect about half to evaluate your progress and to grade. You can find a table for the collected homework assignments and a tentative schedule in the bottom of this page. Homework counts for 40% of the class evaluation. 

Quizzes:

We will have 3 quizzes. They will cover all of the material before the day of the quiz. Quizzes count for 20% of the overall grade. No make up quiz will be given. However, I will drop your worst quiz.

Final:

The final exam will be 7:00--9:00 PM on Monday, December 14.

Grading:

As metioned before, the quizzes count for 20%, class discussion participations count for 10% and homework counts 40%. The mainder 30% comes from the final examination. Grading scale is approximately as follows:
                                    A (88-100%) BA(80-87.99%) B (71-79.99%) CB(63-70.99%)
                                    C(55-62.99%) DC(50-54.99%) D(43-49.99%) E(0-42.99%) 

 Tentative Schedule and Homework
Section  Date   Problems
1.1-1.3
9/9
1.1,1.3, 
1.4-1.6
9/14
1.4,1.7,1.10
1.6-1.9
9/16 1.11,1.12,1.14,1.16
2.1-2.3
9/21
2.1,2.4,2.6
2.4-2.6
9/23
2.8,2.12,2.14,2.17
     
9/28
Review
   
9/30
Quiz 1
3.1-3.2
10/5
3.1,3.3
 3.3-3.5
10/7
3.5,3.6,3.11
3.6-3.8
10/12
3.11,3.12,3.13
3.9
10/14
3.14-3.15 Review
     
10/19
Quiz 2
   
10/21
Review
4.1-4.3
10/26
4.2,4.3
4.4-4.5
10/28
4.4,4.7
4.6-4.7
11/2
4.12,4.15,4.17
   
11/4
Review
5.1-5.2
11/9
5.1,5.4
5.3-5.4
11/11
5.7,5.9
5.5-5.6
11/16
5.14,5.15,5.18
     
11/18
Review
   
11/23
Quiz 3 
   
11/25
Thanksgiving
6.1-6.3
11/30
6.2,6.5,6.12
6.4-6.5
12/2
6.15,6.16, 6.19
7.1-7.2
12/7
7.2, 7.4
   
12/9
Review
   
12/14           
Monday: Final, 7:00-9:00pm