The resistance of the series combination of two resistances is $S$. When they are joined in parallel through…

The resistance of the series combination of two resistances is $S$. When they are joined in parallel through total resistance is $P$. If $S=n P$, then the minimum possible value of $n$ is
  1. 4
  2. 3
  3. 2
  4. 1

Solution

Let resistances be $R_1$ and $R_2$ So, $S=R_1+R_2$; $ \begin{aligned} & \mathrm{P}=\frac{\mathrm{R}_1 \mathrm{R}_2}{\mathrm{R}_1+\mathrm{R}_2} \\ & \mathrm{~S}=\mathrm{nP} \\ & \mathrm{R}_1+\mathrm{R}_2=\frac{\mathrm{nR}_1 \mathrm{R}_2}{\mathrm{R}_1+\mathrm{R}_2} \\ & \left(\mathrm{R}_1+\mathrm{R}_2\right)^2=\mathrm{nR}_1 \mathrm{R}_2 \end{aligned} $ If $R_1=R_2$, so minimum value of $n=4$

Asked in: JEE Main 2004

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