How Can You Calculate the Total Equivalent Resistance in a Circuit?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the total equivalent resistance in a circuit, identify pairs of resistors in parallel and series. Start by replacing the parallel resistors with a single equivalent resistor using the formula 1/R_eq = 1/R1 + 1/R2. After simplifying the circuit, look for series resistors and combine them using R_eq = R1 + R2. The discussion highlights the importance of redrawing the circuit after each calculation step to visualize the changes. Ultimately, understanding the relationships between resistors is key to determining the total equivalent resistance.
HEYJOHN
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What single, equivalent resistor could replace all of the resistors in this circuit?

Rtot = Ω
2 NO

HELP: If you study the diagram, you will see one pair of resistors which is in parallel. Replace this pair with a single equivalent resistor and re-draw the circuit.

HELP: If you have followed the previous suggestion, you will now see a pair of resistors which is in series. Replace this pair with a single equivalent resistor and re-draw the circuit again.

here is an image of the circuit: https://tycho-s.physics.wisc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys104/fall09/homework/04/r2/ex1s95p3.gif

Req parallel: 1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/Req

Req series: R1 + R2 =Req

R1=2 R2=5 R3=13 R4=8

I've tried to redraw the circuit where Req= R1 + R2 + [1/(1/R3)+(1/R4)] but that didn't work, any suggestions to which two resistors in the image are parallel to one another to get me started on redrawing the circuit to solve the problem?
 
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Just figured it out, thanks!
 
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