In parallel circuits, the equivalent resistance is

In parallel circuits, the equivalent resistance is

• A. Equal to the largest resistance
• B. Greater than the largest resistance
• C. Less than the smallest resistance
• D. Equal to the sum of all resistances

Answer: (C)

In parallel circuits, all components share the same voltage, and currents add up through each path. This makes the total conductance larger as you add more resistors, so the total resistance falls. The relationship 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ... shows that adding more pathways increases the sum of conductances, driving Req below every individual resistor. So the equivalent resistance is always less than the smallest resistance. It isn’t equal to the largest, nor greater than it, and it isn’t the sum of all resistances—that would describe a series arrangement.

In parallel circuits, all components share the same voltage, and currents add up through each path. This makes the total conductance larger as you add more resistors, so the total resistance falls. The relationship 1/Req = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ... shows that adding more pathways increases the sum of conductances, driving Req below every individual resistor. So the equivalent resistance is always less than the smallest resistance. It isn’t equal to the largest, nor greater than it, and it isn’t the sum of all resistances—that would describe a series arrangement.