Math expected for Econ (Example)

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
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<p>This should give you an idea of what is expected in core macroeconomics, two quarters long, for economics majors (microeconomics is comparable):</p>

<p>You would prime yourself for each chapter by reading:</p>

<p>Robert J. Barro, Macroeconomics, 5th ed., MIT Press, 2001. (“Barro”)</p>

<p>Pure theory discussion, only algebra to supplement. </p>

<p>You would then prepare for actual class discussion, problem sets, and exams by thoroughly studying:</p>

<p>Matthias Doepke, Andreas Lehnert, and Andrew W. Sellgren, Macroeconomics, 1998. </p>

<p>See link for calibur of calculus: </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.econ.ucla.edu/doepke/teaching/textbook/dls_ch8.pdf[/url]”>http://www.econ.ucla.edu/doepke/teaching/textbook/dls_ch8.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Examples of a problem sets:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.econ.ucla.edu/doepke/teaching/resources/e202ps6.pdf[/url]”>http://www.econ.ucla.edu/doepke/teaching/resources/e202ps6.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://home.uchicago.edu/~vlima/courses/econ203/fall01/econ203pset03Fall01.pdf[/url]”>http://home.uchicago.edu/~vlima/courses/econ203/fall01/econ203pset03Fall01.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The answers by the way, are usually quite long. A computational answer that receives full credit is going to spill over at least two pages (unless you omit a lot of steps, which a fair number of a math wiz types do).</p>

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<p>Thanks for this!</p>

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<p>Seems do-able. Is this freshmen year stuff?</p>

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<p>uhhh thanks. that’s a bit intimidating =p</p>

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<p>I know in which area I am not going to major now. =P</p>

<p>Just going for pure math here. I hope I can make it through…</p>

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<p>Haha, JUST pure math? Are you kidding? The math at UofC (from personal experience) is freakin’ hard. You should see one of the Honors Analysis problem sets.</p>

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<p>I’m pulling for Kathros, not many women in pure math at U of C from what I understand.</p>

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<p>Idad, I too told Katharos ( in a PM some time ago) that she should gun for the math. Not many women.</p>

<p>Katharos, which is more difficult - one year of ancient Greek condensed into 9 weeks or the math that you have seen so far at Chicago?</p>

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<p>he…he…he…</p>

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<p>idad - Thank you. Yes, I will be a minority if I make it through. But, then again, I’m just trying to make it through calc for now!</p>

<p>micromom - They are very different areas, so they each present their own difficulties, as I see it. I definitely had more trouble with Greek in summer 2005, though. But, because it consumed my life, I did better in it (I did nothing but Greek for those nine weeks). Then again, there is nothing like seeing a calc final that consists mainly of proofs and extended uses of things (supposedly) taught. =)</p>

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<p>The math is considerably harder :slight_smile: I say this with a bias, but I am basing it off of the fact that most math majors could probably take ancient Greek classes with some varied success, but ancient Greek majors most likely wouldn’t stand a chance in hell in the math department.</p>

<p>Hehe- trust me…analysis and up get to be real pains in the asses</p>

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<p>Haha-- I heard from a friend that his roommate, a math major, took Intro. to Attic Greek last year and almost died because of it. Supposedly, the guy spent more time studying Greek than he did math, and he still barely scraped by.</p>

<p>But yes, I am agreed with you on the second part (personal opinion, though…). I can’t see Classics majors being very interested in math, for one. That’s not to say they aren’t smart, though; they are brilliant, just in a different way. (Then again, I went into college as a possibly Classics major, and here I am, interested in math.)</p>

<p>I am completely looking forward to the hell of tough math courses, though. =P</p>