This book is the result of the authors' desire to provide a comprehensive text on financial derivatives that explains their functioning mechanisms, valuation methods, and applications in a simple and understandable way.

This text aims to demystify the concepts related to these modern products and the properties or difficulties attributed to them, so that the reader or student has a clear understanding of their role in an investment environment.

The book includes the main types of derivatives, such as: futures contracts, forward contracts, options, swaps, and the most well-known valuation methods, accompanied by examples.

It also examines and analyzes their function as investment tools, as well as their usefulness as hedging instruments and in general risk management.

It is intended for readers who are interested in understanding the derivatives market and for undergraduate or graduate students of universities and technical institutions who choose related courses.