Finance programmes:
Self-assessment maths test

Our Finance programmes at Imperial College Business School are highly rigorous, and our students are required to have a high level of quantitative skills. To test your quantitative ability to determine if you are suitable to apply for one of our Finance programmes, please complete the Maths test below.

Please note, this Maths test only applies to candidates considering the MSc Finance, MSc Financial Technology, MSc Investment & Wealth Management and MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering programmes.

 

 

Math Quiz

1. Optimisation

The profit of a firm depends on three positive input factors and as follows:

P(x1,x2) = 30x1 - x12 + 60lnx2 - 4x2

Determine input factors which maximise the profit function and find the maximum profit. For simplicity please round to 2 decimal places.

2. Matrix algebra

The firm AC/DC Associates manufactures ballet tutus and tights, and is in intense competition with Bob Dylan Co. and Queen Plc. All three companies are competing fiercely over the quality of their tutus and tights, and this has been a challenge recently. Ballet companies have been switching between the three companies in pursuit of finding the best tutus and tights for their dancers. Last season, the Gaga Ballet Company purchased items from all three companies as follows:

Table 1. Gaga Ballet Company's Purchases

 
Purchases
 
 
 
AC & DC Associates
Bob & Dylan Co.
Queen Plc.
Tutus
20
10
20
Tights (pairs)
20
30
10

The cost of these items are given in the following chart:

Table 2: Cost of items

 
Purchases
 
 
 
AC & DC Associates
Bob & Dylan Co.
Queen Plc.
Tutus
30
40
50
Tights (pairs)
20
20
15

Let Q be the 2x3 matrix corresponding to the purchases, and let C be the 2x3 matrix corresponding to the costs per item.

Compute the product CTQ. What do the diagonal entries of the product represent?

3. Simultaneous Equations and Linear Algebra

Find the solution vector of the following linear system

3x1 + 2x2 - 2x3 = 1

2x1 - x2 + x3 = 3

x1 + 3x2 - 2x3 = 1

4. Ordinary Differential Equations

Find the solution for the differential equation dy/dx + 7x = 0 given y(0)=3. Evaluate this answer for x=1.

5. Probability

(This one is harder, so don’t worry if you find this one too difficult)

Let p denote the probability that a firm fiddles its books. Suppose that p = 0.1 . Also suppose that a financial professional services firm keeps auditing firms until they have found 3 ‘bad’ ones.

Compute the probability that they will need to audit exactly 6 firms.

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