This text is designed, first, to provide a brief first course in the theory and applications of interest and annuities certain, considerably simplified by special devices and elimination of outdated content. The short course would be based on the first six chapters without omissions, where all annuity problems come under the simple case. Also, in Chapters 1-6, computational difficulties are minimized by the nature of the content and special care in selection of the data for the problems. These six chapters culminate in a comprehensive miscellaneous review exercise of about 100 problems. Thus, Chapters 1-6 may be considered as a relatively brief book with attained objectives, within the text as a whole. The content of this rounded unit facilitates a course of moderate extent including all topics of the mathematics of finance appropriate for the general student in a college of business administration, and especially for those students who will major in accounting and the theory of investments. The content also would be highly desirable in the training of prelegal students. In fact, the subject matter of the brief course would be very useful to the general student in his personal business affairs in later life.