What is the total resistance of three 12-ohm resistors connected in parallel?

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Multiple Choice

What is the total resistance of three 12-ohm resistors connected in parallel?

Explanation:
When resistors are in parallel, the total resistance comes from adding the reciprocals of each resistance. The voltage across each resistor is the same, and the currents add, so adding more paths for current lowers the overall resistance. For three equal resistors of 12 ohms, 1/Rt = 1/12 + 1/12 + 1/12 = 3/12 = 1/4, which gives Rt = 4 ohms. This matches the idea that parallel combinations reduce resistance and is consistent with the result being smaller than any single 12-ohm resistor. The other values reflect different configurations: three in series would be 36 ohms; two in parallel would be 6 ohms; using just one resistor would be 12 ohms.

When resistors are in parallel, the total resistance comes from adding the reciprocals of each resistance. The voltage across each resistor is the same, and the currents add, so adding more paths for current lowers the overall resistance. For three equal resistors of 12 ohms, 1/Rt = 1/12 + 1/12 + 1/12 = 3/12 = 1/4, which gives Rt = 4 ohms. This matches the idea that parallel combinations reduce resistance and is consistent with the result being smaller than any single 12-ohm resistor. The other values reflect different configurations: three in series would be 36 ohms; two in parallel would be 6 ohms; using just one resistor would be 12 ohms.

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