Add resistors and see the total resistance in series and in parallel — for any number of resistors.
Resistors in series add: R_total = R₁ + R₂ + … + Rₙ. The same current flows through all of them, and the total resistance is always higher than the largest individual value. Resistors in parallel combine as 1/R_total = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + … + 1/Rₙ. The total is always lower than the smallest individual value.
This calculator handles any number of resistors — just keep adding fields. It gives both results at once so you can compare. For two equal resistors of value R, series gives 2R and parallel gives R/2.
In practice, combining standard resistor values in series or parallel is how you hit a target resistance that is not available as a single component. The E12 series gives 10% steps; series/parallel combinations fill the gaps.
Series: R = R₁ + R₂ + … + Rₙ. Parallel: 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + … + 1/Rₙ.
Yes — adding a path in parallel always reduces the total resistance, because the current has more ways to flow.
The shortcut is R = R₁×R₂ / (R₁+R₂). For two equal resistors, the result is half of one.
No. The calculation runs locally.
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