Step-by-step walkthrough

Series/Parallel Resistors Guide

Use this companion guide beside the interactive calculator to make sure you understand the “why” behind every click. Each section includes the classroom explanation, student-friendly language, and quick practice prompts.

Before you start

Collect the data points listed below and double-check their units. Keeping an organized “givens” list is one of the fastest ways to reduce math errors and impress exam graders.

  • resistors
  • series
  • parallel

Detailed procedure

  1. Step 1

    Type resistor values separated by commas, spaces, or new lines.

  2. Step 2

    Keep everything in ohms (use kilo/mega-ohms converted to ohms if needed).

  3. Step 3

    Read the total for both wiring styles and confirm the number of branches processed.

Teaching & troubleshooting tips

Can I mix kilo-ohms and ohms?

Convert everything to ohms before entering the list. Example: 4.7 kΩ becomes 4700.

What happens with a zero-ohm jumper?

Parallel resistance collapses to zero if any branch is 0 Ω. The calculator reports the result as undefined in that case.

Next steps