What is the total resistance of the circuit?

Circuit diagram:

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1 Answer
Feb 26, 2017

The total resistance of the circuit is 175/2 Omega or 87.5~~88Omega.

Explanation:

This is a combination circuit. The best method of analysis in determining the total resistance of the circuit is to reduce it to its simplest representation, i.e. add up each of the individual resistances of each resistor. How we do this will depend on whether the resistors are connected in series or in parallel.

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Where every resistor has resistance R=100 Omega.

Let's start from the top of the circuit, with resistors 1 and 2. We can see that R_1 and R_2 are connected in parallel. The total resistance for resistors connected in parallel is found by:

R_12=(1/R_1+1/R_2+...+1/R_n)^-1

=(1/100Omega+1/100Omega)^-1

=(1/50Omega)^-1

=50Omega

We can now reduce R_1 and R_2 to one resistor with R=50Omega.

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Next, let's reduce R_4 and R_5. Again, they are connected in parallel.

R_(45)=(1/R_4+1/R_5)^-1

=(1/100Omega+1/100Omega)^-1

=(1/50Omega)^-1

=50Omega

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Now let's reduce R_3 and R_45. These resistors are connected in series. For resistors connected in series, the total resistance is found by simply adding up the resistances of each resistor.

For R_3 and R_(45):

R_345=R_3+R_45

=100Omega+50Omega

=150Omega

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Next, let's reduce R_(345), R_6, and R_7. These three resistors are all connected in parallel.

R_34567=(1/R_(345)+1/R_6+1/R_7)^-1

=(1/(150Omega)+1/(100Omega)+1/(100Omega))^-1

=(2/75Omega)^-1

=75/2Omega

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Lastly, we can add R_12 and R_34567 in series.

R_(t o t)=R_12+R_34567

=50Omega+75/2Omega

=175/2Omega

:. The total resistance of the circuit is 175/2 Omega or 87.5~~88Omega.