Mathematics 101 is intended for students who wish to upgrade their mathematics skills before or while attending a post-secondary institution. Students who successfully complete Mathematics 101 are generally permitted to pursue courses and programs that would otherwise require Pure Mathematics 30 as a prerequisite or corequisite.

The emphasis of this course is on using algebra and algebraic methods to solve mathematics problems. It also includes sections on functions of a single variable and trigonometry. As such, it provides a particular subset of mathematical skills that are often needed for study at the post-secondary level.