How to calculate resistors in series and parallel

Resistors in series
When resistors are connected one after each other this is called connecting in series. This is shown
below.

R1 R2 R3

To calculate the total overall resistance of a number of resistors connected in this way you add
up the individual resistances. This is gives the following formula:

Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3 and so on

Example: To calculate the total resistance for these three resistors in series

100Ω 82Ω 1Ω Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3

= 100 Ω + 82 Ω +
1Ω
= 183 Ω

Task 1: Calculate the total resistance of the following resistor in

series

1000Ω 470Ω 22 Ω Rtotal = ………………...

= ………………...

27Ω 2200Ω 15 Ω Rtotal = ………………...

= ………………...

3300Ω 1500Ω 47 Ω Rtotal = ………………...

= ………………...
Resistors in
parallel
When resistors are connected across each other (side by side) this is called
connecting in parallel. This is shown below.

R1

R2

Two resistors in
parallel
To calculate the total overall resistance of a Rtotal =
R1 R2
of two resistors connected in this way you R1  R2
can use the following formula:
Example: To calculate the total resistance for these two
resistors in parallel
10Ω
R1 R2 10  220
Rtotal = = = = 6.87Ω
22 R2
R1 10  32
22Ω 22

Task 2: Calculate the total resistance of the following

resistors in parallel
10Ω
......... ........ ................
Rtotal = . = = …………...
10Ω ......... ................
 .........
220Ω ......... ........ ................
Rtotal = .
.........  ......... = ................ = …………...
10Ω

1000Ω ......... ........ ................

Rtotal = .
.........  ......... = ................ = …………...
330Ω
Three or more resistors in parallel

R1

R2

R3

To calculate the total overall resistance of a number of three or more

resistors connected in this way you can use the following formula:
1 = 1 1 1
+ + and so on
Rtotal R1 R2 + R3

Example: To calculate the total resistance for these three resistors in

parallel

10Ω 1 1 1 1
= + + = 0.1Ω + 0.1Ω + 0.03Ω = 0.23Ω
Rtotal 10 10
10Ω
33
1
33Ω Rtotal = = 4.35 Ω
0.23

Task 3: Calculate the total resistance of the following resistors in

parallel

10Ω
1
1 1 1
= + + = …….. + …….. + …….. = ………..
22Ω
Rtotal ......... ......... .........
47Ω
1
Rtotal = = …………..
.........

1
1 1 1
100Ω = + + = …….. + …….. + …….. = ………..
Rtotal ......... ......... .........
33Ω
1
560Ω Rtotal = = …………..
.........
Answers
Task 1
1 = 1492 Ω
2 = 2242 Ω
3 = 4847 Ω

Task 2
1=5Ω
2 = 9.57 Ω
3 = 248.12 Ω

Task 3
1 = 5.95 Ω
2 = 23.76 Ω