How to Solve Parallel Circuit Resistance

In a parallel circuit, the resistors are arranged in a way that the resistors' heads are connected together and the resistors' tails are connected together. The voltage across each resistor is the same, but the current flow in a parallel circuit is divided across each resistor. The steps below explain the formula to calculate the total resistance in a parallel circuit when the resistance at each resistor is known.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get the resistance of each resistor. The resistance is expressed in ohms or higher ohm units like mega ohms. Make sure that all the resistances are in the same ohm units.

    • 2

      Label each of the resistance value as R1, R2 and so on until all the resistance is labeled. For example, if a parallel circuit has two resistors with resistances of 3 ohms and 6 ohms, R1=3 ohms and R2= 6 ohms.

    • 3

      Apply the formula to calculate the total resistance. One/total resistance = 1/R1+1/R2+...

    • 4

      Substitute the values and calculate the total resistance. In the example mentioned in step 2, 1/total resistance=1/3+1/6. The total resistance is 2 ohms.

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