Which of the following is an example of positive-transfer of learning?

Concept. Transfer of learning is the influence that earlier learning exerts on the learning or performance of a later task. Its direction defines the type: transfer is positive when the earlier learning makes the new task easier, negative when the earlier learning makes the new task harder, and zero when the earlier learning leaves the new task unaffected.

Positive transfer is expected where the two tasks share common elements — the same concepts, symbols, principles or motor patterns (Thorndike’s identical-elements view). Negative transfer is expected where two tasks resemble each other but demand conflicting responses, so an already-established habit competes with the response the new task needs.

Application. Each situation is tested with a single question: does the earlier learning make the later task easier or harder?

1. Identify the earlier learning and the later task in the statement.

2. Ask whether the elements of the earlier task are reused by the later task, or whether they demand a conflicting response.

3. Reuse of shared elements means facilitation, which is the positive direction; a conflicting response means interference, which is the negative direction.

Applying this to algebra and calculus: calculus is stated and worked entirely in algebraic language — functions, factoring, simplifying expressions, solving equations and manipulating inequalities. A learner who already commands those operations reuses them directly while learning limits, derivatives and integrals, so the earlier learning makes the later task easier. That is facilitation, so mastering algebra helps in understanding calculus is the example of positive transfer.

Cross-check — the remaining situations. Each of the other statements describes the earlier learning making the later task harder, which is the negative direction:

• Piano and violin: the piano supplies each pitch at a fixed key, while the violin requires the finger to be placed on an unmarked string for pitch and the bow to be drawn for tone, so the settled keyboard response conflicts with the new one.

• Car and bicycle: a car is stable on four wheels and is turned by a steering wheel, while a bicycle must be balanced continuously and is turned by leaning, so the driving habit conflicts with the balance response cycling needs.

• French and Spanish: the statement asserts hindrance of the later language by the earlier one, which places it on the negative direction. (Close Romance languages in fact carry transfer in both directions — cognates help, while false friends and French phonetic habits interfere — but this statement as written asserts hindrance.)

Result. The situation in which mastering algebra helps in understanding calculus is the example of positive transfer of learning.