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Learn the mathematical foundations essential for financial engineering and quantitative finance: linear algebra, optimization, probability, stochastic processes, statistics, and applied computational techniques in R.
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Modern finance is the science of decision making in an uncertain world, and its language is mathematics. As part of the MicroMasters® Program in Finance, this course develops the tools needed to describe financial markets, make predictions in the face of uncertainty, and find optimal solutions to business and investment decisions.
This course will help anyone seeking to confidently model risky or uncertain outcomes. Its topics are essential knowledge for applying the theory of modern finance to real-world settings. Quants, traders, risk managers, investment managers, investment advisors, developers, and engineers will all be able to apply these tools and techniques.
How to Prepare
There are a number of prerequisites for this course: Calculus (multivariable), probability and statistics, linear algebra, and basic programming skills. Learners are urged to thoroughly review the 15.455x Prerequisites and Resources site* which details these prerequisites and provides a robust suite of resources to prepare you for this advanced math course, including a readiness assessment to help you confirm that you have a solid understanding of the 15.455x prerequisite material, and to indicate directions of study in case you need to build on your current foundations prior to starting the course.
*Please note that you will need to enroll in order to access the Prerequisite and Resources site. To do so, click the link above, then click "Enroll."
Learning modules:
Probability: review of laws probability; common distributions of financial mathematics; CLT, LLN, characteristic functions, asymptotics.
Statistics: statistical inference and hypothesis tests; time series tests and econometric analysis; regression methods
Time-series models: random walks and Bernoulli trials; recursive calculations for Markov processes; basic properties of linear time series models (AR(p), MA(q), GARCH(1,1)); first-passage properties; applications to forecasting and trading strategies.
Continuous time stochastic processes: continuous time limits of discrete processes; properties of Brownian motion; introduction to Itô calculus; solving differential equations of finance; applications to derivative pricing and risk management.
Linear algebra: review of axioms and operations on linear spaces; covariance and correlation matrices; applications to asset pricing.
Optimization: Lagrange multipliers and multivariate optimization; inequality constraints and quadratic programming; Markov decision processes and dynamic programming; variational methods; applications to portfolio construction, algorithmic trading, and best execution.|
Numerical methods: Monte Carlo techniques; quadratic programming
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.
