How do you calculate the total resistance in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, the total resistance is calculated by summing all individual resistances together. This is because, in a series configuration, the current that flows through each resistor is the same, and the overall resistance that the current encounters is simply the addition of each resistor's resistance value.

Mathematically, this is expressed as:

[ R_{total} = R_1 + R_2 + R_3 + ... + R_n ]

where ( R_1, R_2, R_3, ..., R_n ) are the individual resistances. This approach reflects how each resistor adds to the overall opposition to current flow, leading to a total resistance that is greater than any individual resistor within the circuit.

The other methods described for calculating resistance do not apply in the context of a series circuit. Averaging the individual resistances would not accurately reflect how the resistors interact with the circuit; similarly, multiplying the resistance values applies to situations involving parallel circuits or specific computations but does not represent the total resistance in a series setting. Selecting the highest individual resistance ignores the contributions of the other resistors entirely, which doesn't provide a true reflection of the total resistance faced by the current in the series circuit.