When resistors are connected in series, how does the total resistance compare to individual resistances?

When resistors are connected in series, the total resistance is calculated by summing the individual resistances together. This is due to the nature of how current flows through series circuits: the same current flows through each resistor one after the other. As a result, each resistor adds to the overall opposition to current flow, leading to a total resistance that is greater than any single branch resistance.

The formula for calculating total resistance in a series circuit is expressed as ( R_{\text{total}} = R_1 + R_2 + R_3 + ... + R_n ). This means if you have multiple resistors connected in series, their total resistance is simply the arithmetic sum of their values. This principle is fundamental in circuit design and analysis, making it essential for understanding how series circuits function.

Other choices misrepresent the relationship between series resistances. Options suggesting that the total resistance is less than or equal to any single resistance do not reflect the actual behavior of series circuits. Additionally, determining the total resistance cannot be ambiguous or indeterminate in this case, because the series connection provides a clear and definitive method for calculating total resistance.