Refresh and Test your knowledge

Students lacking a strong mathematics background should prepare before they come to Tinbergen Institute and start the research master Business Data Science, by studying the first 12 chapters of

• Anthony and Harvey (2012). Linear Algebra: Concepts and Methods, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9780521279482

Antony and Harvey (2012) is the key reference for the basic knowledge that prospective students should have when entering in the research master's program.

We have developed two test based on this literature and we recommend that you take these before starting the program. To do so, start with the first test. If you find it challenging, we advise you to refresh your math knowledge before you continue to the second test.

Fundamental Math Test 1
Fundamental Math Test 2

Link to answer key Fund Math Test 1. Password: Solution1!
Link to answer key Fund Math Test 2. Password: Solution2! 

General Mathematics

All incoming students are supposed to be familiar with the basics of the usual mathematics courses for undergraduate students in economics:

• Functions of one variable: linear functions, quadratic functions, polynomial functions,
  power functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, inverse functions.
• Differentiation: relation with tangent, rules for differentiation (including product rule,
  quotient rule, chain rule), linear approximation, Taylor approximation.
• Integration: indefinite and definite integrals, primitive of a function, relation with
  area.
• Linear equations: matrix and vector notation, Gaussian elimination, matrix
  multiplication, transpose.

Statistics/Econometrics 

Students in the standard track should read Chapter 1 of the book used in this track’s first course before the start of Statistics and Econometrics in September:

• John A. Rice (1995). Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis, 2nd Edition, Duxbury Press, ISBN: 0-534-20934-3 or 3rd Edition (2007), ISBN: 0-534-39942-8  

Also, students may want to enrol in a Coursera course.

The course “Logic for Economists” (www.coursera.org/learn/logic-for-economists), which has been written for prospective students, gives a brief introduction to formal mathematical topics like propositional and predicate logic, set notation, the number system, and types of proof strategies. In the course 'Econometrics: Methods and Applications' (Econometrics: Methods and Applications | Coursera) students learn how to translate data into models to make forecasts and to support decision making.