Question

What is the equivalent resistance of three resistances of 12 Ω each connected in parallel?

Answer 1

For the total resistance when the resistors are in parallel to each other, we use:

`1/(R_T) = 1/(R_1) + 1/(R_2) + ... + 1/(R_n)`

The situation you describe seems to be this:

So there are 3 resistors, meaning we will use:

`1/(R_T) = 1/(R_1) + 1/(R_2) + 1/(R_3)`

All resistors have a resistance of `12Omega`:

`1/(R_T) = 1/12 + 1/12 + 1/12`

Total up the Right Hand Side:

`1/(R_T) = 3/12`

At this point you cross multiply :

`3R_T = 12`

Then simply solve it:

`R_T = 12/3`

`R_T = 4Omega`