Materials
Slides
- Lecture slides PDF
Problem Sets
Extra Exercise in Class PDF
Readings
Here are some recommended readings. You are not required to read all of those books prior to class.
General
Moore/Siegel (2013) An introductory mathematics course aimed at social scientists, provides good intuitions for basic concepts and applications. It has accompanying video lectures on Youtube.
Gill (2006) Another introduction to mathematical principles for incoming social science graduate students.
Simon/Blume (1994) A comprehensive treatment of mathematics for students of economics for both undergraduate and more advanced level.
Sydsaeter/Hammond (2008) Another standard mathematics textbook for economics undergraduates.
Calculus
Spivak (2006) A classic standard textbook for a first class in Calculus for mathematics students at undergraduate level.
Protter/Morrey (1991) A typical theorem-proof book that covers introductory real analysis for mathematics students at undergraduate level. Short and to the point.
Linear Algebra
Lay (2011) A standard introduction for mathematics undergraduates.
Strang (2005) Another standard introduction for mathematics undergraduates. Strang’s MIT video lectures accompanying the textbook are available online for free.
Hefferon (2014) A theorem-proof style introductory book for mathematics undergraduates with lots of examples and interesting applications. It is free1.
Axler (2015) A more rigorous but intuitive treatment of linear algebra for mathematics undergraduates.
The Matrix Cookbook2 An overview over some more advanced matrix calculus.
Probability Theory
- DeGroot/Schervish (2011) A comprehensive standard treatment of probability and statistics for mathematics undergraduate students. Intuitive and (relatively) rigorous at the same time with lots of exercises.
Additional Resources
Here are some recommended non-textbook extra materials for this course and future references on the topics covered.
Text resources:
- Math Prefresher for Political Scientists
- Math Part I: chapters 1 to 6
Video resources:
Learning Tools:
- Wolfram Alpha
- Wolfram Alpha, among other things, is an excellent tool for computing, plotting and understanding limits, derivatives, and integrals and their applications.
References
Axler, S. (2015). Linear Algebra Done Right (3rd ed.). Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics. Springer.
DeGroot, M. H. and M. J. Schervish (2011). Probability and Statistics (4th ed.). London: Pearson.
Gill, J. (2006). Essential Mathematics for Political and Social Research. Cambridge University Press.
Hefferon, J. (2014). Linear Algebra.
Lay, D. C. (2011). Linear Algebra and Its Applications. London: Pearson.
Moore, W. H. and D. A. Siegel (2013). A Mathematics Course for Political and Social Research. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Protter, M. and C. Morrey (1991). A First Course in Real Analysis (2nd ed.). Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics. Springer.
Simon, C. P. and L. Blume (1994). Mathematics for Economists. New York: Norton and Company.
Spivak, M. (2006). Calculus (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Strang, G. (2005). Linear Algebra and Its Applications (4th ed.). Brooks Cole.
Sydsaeter, K. and P. Hammond (2008). Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis (3rd ed.). Essex: Pearson.