Mathematics For Economists Simon Blume Chapter 3 Filetype Pdf

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· 197 ratings · 11 reviews

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Dec 05, 2010 Jake Losh rated it really liked it

I will echo the sentiment that this book is much better suited for review than for learning, but it does its job very well. I find myself coming back to it again and again. I take that as a sign of a good reference book. If you're interested in the kind of math economists use, this is a good reference. If you're an econ undergrad, though, I'd recommend taking some courses in real analysis, linear algebra and optimization before cracking this tome. I will echo the sentiment that this book is much better suited for review than for learning, but it does its job very well. I find myself coming back to it again and again. I take that as a sign of a good reference book. If you're interested in the kind of math economists use, this is a good reference. If you're an econ undergrad, though, I'd recommend taking some courses in real analysis, linear algebra and optimization before cracking this tome. ...more

Much more of a book of applied mathematics than an economics textbook, Mathematics for Economists reviews the key concepts of differential calculus, integral calculus, and linear algebra en route to a careful study of multivariable calculus and optimization. Clearly written with an eye for proof, the text is rigorous enough to satisfy mathematicians skeptical of the validity of economic analysis while remaining accessible to students with limited exposure to higher mathematics.

While I agree with

While I agree with the reviewers that this text is at times difficult to follow without supplementary materials, the state of technology (Khan Academy, MOOCs, applications like Matlab, Wolfram Alpha, 3-D graphers, etc.) makes the key insights of this book accessible to the dedicated autodidact. What is lost in the concise presentation style is more than made up for by well-aligned chapters that advance to the mathematical core of graduate level economics as quickly as possible.

One final note: Mathematics for Economists is largely geared towards the students of advanced microeconomics; students more interested in macroeconomists or econometrics might consider looking elsewhere. But if you are looking for a clear, well-written treatment of the intersection of mathematics and economic theory, you would be hard-pressed to do better than Simon and Blume's classic text.

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Quite comprehensive almost everything you need in Math and also talks a lot about Econ.
However, I do not think the author is very good at explanation. So you do not feel the concept or process is as clear as what you got from the Chiang's book.
Since I have already read the Chiang's book and did every exercises in it. I feel it a kind of waste of time to read this one. So I quickly look through it without doing any exercises. By the way, the notation is not as what we commonly use. Quite comprehensive almost everything you need in Math and also talks a lot about Econ.
However, I do not think the author is very good at explanation. So you do not feel the concept or process is as clear as what you got from the Chiang's book.
Since I have already read the Chiang's book and did every exercises in it. I feel it a kind of waste of time to read this one. So I quickly look through it without doing any exercises. By the way, the notation is not as what we commonly use. ...more

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I absolutely hated this book the first time I really started to read it. My math background at the time? One algebra course in HS, 6 weeks of trig, 6 weeks of business "calc", and 2 stats courses (one of which was actually a decent prep for my first-semester grad stats course. This definitely handicapped me, as the book is written in a very "mathy" language. It is a math book, after all. But still, I felt that this book is marketed as something that is supposed to be accessible to non-math major I absolutely hated this book the first time I really started to read it. My math background at the time? One algebra course in HS, 6 weeks of trig, 6 weeks of business "calc", and 2 stats courses (one of which was actually a decent prep for my first-semester grad stats course. This definitely handicapped me, as the book is written in a very "mathy" language. It is a math book, after all. But still, I felt that this book is marketed as something that is supposed to be accessible to non-math majors, and I didn't feel that it was.

However, despite the steep learning curve while I waded through notation and terminology, I ended up learning more than I've ever learned from a single text before. My math skills increased exponentially, and I am now much more comfortable in my other quantitative classes and research. The text is VERY comprehensive and applicable to the day-to-day work of an econ grad student, and it is definitely one to keep around for reference.

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This is a great book. Not as intuitive as Chiang's, but a great option nevertheless. It has helped me review the prerequisites for grad school. I recommend it to those who already have a good intimacy with mathematical tools and need a refresher. This is a great book. Not as intuitive as Chiang's, but a great option nevertheless. It has helped me review the prerequisites for grad school. I recommend it to those who already have a good intimacy with mathematical tools and need a refresher. ...more