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# In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are

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In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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20 Aug 2008, 22:33
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In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are connected in parallel. In this case, if r is the combined resistance of these two resistors, then the reciprocal of r is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of x and y. What is r in terms of x and y?

(A) xy
(B) x + y
(C) 1/(x + y)
(D) xy/(x + y)
(E) (x + y)/xy

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: in-an-electric-circuit-two-resistors-with-resistances-x-and-144899.html
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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20 Aug 2008, 23:05
its simple ..

1/r=1/x+1/y
1/r=x+y/xy
r=xy/x+y

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2008, 11:51
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The beginning of question is confusing...

two resistors with resistances x and y are connected in parallel. In this case, if r is the combined resistance of these two resistors

Does this have anything to do w/ the questions b/c to me, it seems the latter is purpose of question..

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2008, 12:01
droopy57 wrote:
The beginning of question is confusing...

two resistors with resistances x and y are connected in parallel. In this case, if r is the combined resistance of these two resistors

Does this have anything to do w/ the questions b/c to me, it seems the latter is purpose of question..

It just means r = value of (x//y)
Basically... this is EE101 of finding the equivalent resistor value.
1/r = 1/x + 1/y is the starting equation
1/r = (x+y)/xy
and r = xy/(x+y)
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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2008, 12:08
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That's great for all of those EE's out there...oh wait, they're actually a small % of MBA seekers.

For the rest of us

reciprocal of x = 1/x
reciprocal of r = 1/r
reciprocal of y = 1/y

1/r = 1/x + 1/y

To get the same denominator
$$\frac{1}{r} = \frac{y}{y}*\frac{1}{x} + \frac{x}{x}*\frac{1}{y}$$

becomes

$$\frac{1}{r} = \frac{y}{xy} + \frac{x}{xy}$$

$$\frac{1}{r} = \frac{X + y}{xy}$$

Now you can get rid of the fraction with $$r$$ by cross multiplying
r * (x+y) = 1*xy
and then dividing to get r alone
r = xy/x+y
fatb wrote:
droopy57 wrote:
The beginning of question is confusing...

two resistors with resistances x and y are connected in parallel. In this case, if r is the combined resistance of these two resistors

Does this have anything to do w/ the questions b/c to me, it seems the latter is purpose of question..

It just means r = value of (x//y)
Basically... this is EE101 of finding the equivalent resistor value.
1/r = 1/x + 1/y is the starting equation
1/r = (x+y)/xy
and r = xy/(x+y)

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2008, 12:51
ok. i see where i went wrong. i did this:

1/r = 2/ x+y

wasn't thinking that i couldnt combine unless it was like terms...

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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13 Mar 2015, 11:55
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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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13 Mar 2015, 12:18
Hi All,

While this question looks a little "crazy", it can be solved with TESTing VALUES.

We're told that the reciprocal of R is equal to the SUM of the reciprocals of X and Y. This means….

1/R = 1/X + 1/Y

We're asked for the value of R in terms of X and Y

IF...
X = 2 and Y = 3, then we have…

1/R = 1/2 + 1/3

1/R = 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6

R = 6/5

So we need an answer that = 6/5 when X = 2 and Y = 3.

The only answer that matches is
[Reveal] Spoiler:
D

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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23 Apr 2016, 10:51
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are [#permalink]

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24 Apr 2016, 03:36
droopy57 wrote:
In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are connected in parallel. In this case, if r is the combined resistance of these two resistors, then the reciprocal of r is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of x and y. What is r in terms of x and y?

(A) xy
(B) x + y
(C) 1/(x + y)
(D) xy/(x + y)
(E) (x + y)/xy

The wording is a bit confusing, though basically we are told that 1/r = 1/x + 1/y, from which it follows that r=xy/(x + y).

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: in-an-electric-circuit-two-resistors-with-resistances-x-and-144899.html
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Re: In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are   [#permalink] 24 Apr 2016, 03:36
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# In an electric circuit, two resistors with resistances x and y are

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