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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
BUSD054.
Course Title (CB02)
Business Mathematics
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Provides students with a rapid review of basic mathematical operations and concepts in order to improve speed and accuracy, and to introduce and understand its use as a tool to aid in the business and personal finance decision-making processes.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This is a required course for the AA degree in Marketing Management. It is CSU transferable and a CSUGE. Students are instructed in business terminology and concepts and are provided with comprehensive methods for applying the techniques learned to analyze business and personal finance problems.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGB4CSU GE Area B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative ReasoningApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
5.0
Maximum Credit Units
5.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours5.010.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
60.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
60.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
120.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
120.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

  • ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
  • Pre-algebra or equivalent (or higher), or appropriate placement beyond pre-algebra

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture

PowerPoint Presentations

Discussion

Web Site Exploration

Problem Solving Exercises

Case Studies

Written Homework Assignments

Assignments

  1. Required Reading
  2. Recommended readings of selected articles
  3. Internet based research assignments (such as budgeting, plan for a major purchase, evaluate green transportation alternatives, compare the cost of living across the U.S., determine the cost advantage of discounts, determine the true cost of purchasing a particular car given the dealer "holdback", determine whether you can afford to retire, calculate the cost of money through investment and financing purchases, compare ways you can make your money grow, calculate the cost of paying over time, evaluate the financial health of a company using ratios, compare purchase price and current value, compare life insurance policies, etc.)
  4. Homework Assignments (such as word problems, case studies, etc.)

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Weekly quizzes: math problems, word problems, and essays where students have to demonstrate understanding of business word problems and translate into mathematical representations in time value of money concept in business, pricing, and investment planning and strategy.
  2. Midterm and final exams in which student demonstrate their understanding of the Time Value of Money, the mathematics of pricing and investment performance.
  3. Participation in on-line discussions where students demonstrate different business scenarios to solve problems regarding time value of money, pricing, and investments.
  4. Written homework assignments where students practice and demonstrates their understanding of mathematical concepts and computing solutions.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Four-function calculator
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Slater, Jeffrey. "Practical Business Math Procedures, Twelve Edition," New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2016.
Brechner, Robert, and Bergeman, George. "Contemporary Mathematics for Business and Consumers, Eighth Edition," Mason, Ohio: South-Western College Publishing, 2016.
Salzman, Gary, and Clendenen, Stanley, "Business Mathematics", Fourteenth Edition, Pearson, 2019.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Biehler, Timothy J. "The Mathematics of Money", 3rd edition, Ann Arbor, MI: XanEdu, 2016.
Wall Street Journal
Forbes
Money
Black Enterprise
Business Week
Fortune

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Discuss and develop strategies for success in comprehending and demonstrating mastery of business and mathematical concepts
  • Analyze business problems by computing and evaluating the implications of their mathematical solutions.
  • Explain and differentiate key business concepts and their impact on business decision making.
  • Apply key concepts in a variety of practical areas of business.

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the "Time Value of Money" concept in business.

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the mathematics of pricing.

  • Calculate performance measures for investments such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

Outline

  1. Discuss and develop strategies for success in comprehending and demonstrating mastery of business and mathematical concepts
    1. Explore and discuss techniques for overcoming math/business anxiety
    2. Develop organization and study skills
  2. Analyze business problems by computing and evaluating the implications of their mathematical solutions.
    1. Introduction and Review of Mathematical Concepts
      1. Algebraic concepts
      2. Percentages
      3. Ratios
      4. Decimals
      5. Word problems
    2. Explain and apply the 5-step approach to solving for unknowns in word problems.
    3. Identify and translate a variety of business problems into mathematical representations.
    4. Evaluate the solutions to these problems and determine which options are most feasible given the circumstances.
  3. Explain and differentiate key business concepts and their impact on business decision making.
    1. Calculate the "Time Value of Money" and interest concepts in business and explain their significance in finance
      1. Ordinary annuities
      2. Amount-of-an-annuity equation
      3. Annuity tables
      4. Calculation of interest
      5. The effects of compounding
      6. Present value of money
      7. Straight loans
      8. Discounted loans
      9. Proceeds of a loan
      10. Sinking Fund concept
      11. Amortized loans
      12. Installment buying
    2. Explain the purpose and use of trade discounts and the credit terms a business may offer.
    3. Discuss the costs associated with installment buying.
    4. Read, analyze and interpret the key financial statements.
      1. Review and evaluate the balance sheet
      2. Review and evaluate the income statement
      3. Conduct trend and ratio analysis
    5. Discuss the significance of the Stock Market to businesses and potential investors.
      1. Explain the purpose and use of the financial markets.
      2. Compare and contrast the three major types of investments: stocks, bonds and mutual funds
        1. Explain generally the differences in costs, benefits and risk.
        2. Analyze the various categories and types of each investment
        3. Discuss and explain the concepts surrounding placing orders
    6. Explain the importance of business statistics in predicting future sales.
      1. Discuss the use of business statistics to identify trends and evaluate market performance over time
      2. Use various techniques to analyze and graphically represent business statistics.
        1. Mean
        2. Median
        3. Mode
        4. Graphs
  4. Apply key concepts in a variety of practical areas of business.
    1. Personal Finance
      1. Research, plan and prepare a budget
      2. Determine the cost of home ownership (including mortgage, insurance, taxes, etc.)
        1. Distinguish between the various types of mortgages available
        2. Compute the monthly mortgage payment
        3. Calculate the total cost of interest over the life of the loan
        4. Calculate and identify the interest and principal portion of each monthly payment
        5. Prepare an amortization schedule
      3. Prepare a plan to manage credit card debt
      4. Plan the funding for an individual's college education
      5. Outline key considerations in retirement planning
    2. Mathematics of Pricing
      1. Calculate markups and markdowns based on cost and selling price.
      2. Price perishable items to cover spoilage.
      3. Calculate break-even analysis
    3. Payroll
      1. Calculate various types of employees' gross pay
      2. Compute payroll deductions
      3. Explain employers' responsibilities
    4. Inventory Valuation Methods and Overhead
      1. FIFO
      2. LIFO
      3. Weighted average
      4. Retail Method
      5. Gross Profit Method
      6. Inventory Turnover
      7. Distribution of Overhead
    5. Depreciation Methods Used in Accounting
      1. Straight-line
      2. Units-of-Production
      3. Sum-of-the-Years'-Digits
      4. Declining balance
      5. Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) and ACRS
    6. Securities
      1. Evaluate the performance of each of the primary types of investments by calculating and interpreting the following:
        1. Earnings Per Share
        2. PE Ratio
        3. Rate of Return
        4. Yield
        5. Net Asset Value (where appropriate)
      2. Determine the optimal solution given the short-term and long-term needs specified
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