Electrical resistors are said to be connected \"in series\" if the same current

Question

Electrical resistors are said to be connected "in series" if the same current passes through each and "in parallel" if the same voltage is applied across each. If in series, they are equivalent to a single resistor whose resistance is given by R = R_1 + R_2 + R_3 + R_4 + ... + R_n If in parallel, their equivalent resistance is given by 1/R = 1/R_1 + 1/R_2 + 1/R_3 + ... + 1/R_n Write an m-file that prompts the user for the type of connection (series or parallel), the number of resistors n, the values of resistors, and then computes the equivalent resistance.

Explanation / Answer

Matlab code

clc;clear all;% clearing the workspace and command window
% Prompting the user to enter the type of the connection
Connection = input('Enter the type of the connection (series or parallel): ','s');
% prompting the user to enter the number of resistors in the circut
N = input('Enter the number of resistors: ');
% Prompting the user to enter the values of resistors
fprintf('Enter the values of the resistors ');
for k =1:N
    Res(k) = input(': '); % reading the values of the resistance
end
ext =1; % loop exit parameters
while ext % Continue loop until user enteres a valid circuit type
   if strcmp(Connection,'series') % if the connection is series
        R = sum(Res); % The equivalent resistence is the sum of resistance
        ext = 0; % And exit the loop
   elseif strcmp(Connection,'parallel') % if the connection is parallel
        R = 1/(sum(1./Res)); % Compute the equivalent resistance
        ext = 0; % And exit the loop
   else % IF the connection entered is not parallel and serial then
       % prompting the user to enter a valid connection type
        Connection = input('Please enter series or parallel: ','s'); % Reading again
   end
end
fprintf('The equivalent resistance R = %f',R); % Printing the equivalent resistance val

Testing the code

Enter the type of the connection (series or parallel): parallel
Enter the number of resistors: 2
Enter the values of the resistors
: 4
: 4
The equivalent resistance R = 2.000000>>

Enter the type of the connection (series or parallel): series
Enter the number of resistors: 2
Enter the values of the resistors
: 4
: 4
The equivalent resistance R = 8.000000>>

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