Series vs. Parallel: Understanding Resistor Configurations

[Phrak]

Are these resistors in series or parallel?
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1043/seriesparallel.jpg

 

[chroot]

Neither. These two resistors together can be viewed as a three-terminal device. There's no way to combine them into a single resistor via the rules for parallel and series resistors, because that would create a two-terminal device, and it would no longer fit into the circuit.

- Warren

 

[Phrak]

Neither. These two resistors together can be viewed as a three-terminal device. There's no way to combine them into a single resistor via the rules for parallel and series resistors, because that would create a two-terminal device, and it would no longer fit into the circuit.

- Warren

Well, that's true, the two resistors don't combine by the rules for serial or parallel equivalence. I haven't been clever enough in obtaining the sort of ambiguous topology I have in mind, without changing the question.