Hi, I'm currently going into my Sophomore year of undergrad. I've taken multivariable calculus, differential equations and skimmed over a book involved linear algebra.Can someone recommend a book to catapult me into the realm of math finance? If my math background is not strong enough for this - please recommend what other areas of math I should study.

Try Neftzi , maybe a little too advanced at First yr undergrad but its a good introduction. If you have qs feel free to post them in the forum. Mathematical finance does not require you just to solve equations. its important to be intuitive in understanding why is it that something works better one way than the other...anyway try neftzi or else you can also look with the Math with Riaz topics ( part of Paul Wilmott's CQF) and brush them up /learn them up thoroughly. Cheers

Is "Neftzi" spelled correctly? I can't find anything on amazon.

QuoteOriginally posted by: wandererIs "Neftzi" spelled correctly? I can't find anything on amazon.Try "Neftci".

My suggestion:Based on your current background, so you develop the correct basic understanding foundations..I would get:1) Mathematics for Finance : An Introduction to Financial Engineering (Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series) (Paperback) byMarek Capinski, Tomasz Zastawniak . Very easy to follow, not expensive (for an unedrgrad, a most important thing...about $30.00 used book price in amazon).2) Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets (5th Edition) (Prentice Hall Finance) (Hardcover) .by John C. Hull . I think this is its solution manula but I am not sure (too many editions): a)Fundamentals of the Future and Option Markets: Student's Solutions Manual (Paperback) by Hull.Once you mastered these two; then you go ahead with Necfti, Hull's book (graduate version), Wimotts, etc. etc.

For mathematical side of the story, start with Martin Baxter and Andew Rennie, "Financial calculus : An introduction to derivative pricing", Cambridge University press.Good luck.