## New Problem: Infinite Resistors

This is a classic problem, which you may have encountered (or seen a variation on it) if you are into these kinds of things.

What is the equivalent resistance between A and B in this infinite series of resistors? (I stole the picture from somebody else, since the problem is common enough I knew the internet would have a diagram ready for me.)

### 4 Responses to “New Problem: Infinite Resistors”

1. Answer: Infinite Resistors « Arcsecond Says:

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2. Paul Murray Says:

Ok, I’ll have a bash, using the usual infinite series trick:
R = (R in parallel with R2) in series with R1
R = 1/(1/R + 1/R2) + R1
Multiply out
R = 1/(R2/R.R2 + R/R.R2) + R1
R = 1/[(R2+R)/(R.R2)] + R1
R = (R.R2)/(R2+R) + R1
R = (R.R2)/(R2+R) + [R1(R2+R)]/(R2+R)
R = [(R.R2)+R1(R2+R)]/(R2+R)
R(R2+R) = [(R.R2)+R1(R2+R)]
R^2 + R.R2 = R.R2 + R1.R2 + R1.R
R^2 – R R1 – R1.R2 = 0

R = [R1 +/- sqrt(R1^2 + 4.R1.R2)]/2

So if r1 is 2 and r2 is 1.5 (to pick an example entirely at random), then R is 3 ohms. 3 in parallel with 1.5 is 1, in series with 2 is 3 oms again. QED.

3. Mark Eichenlaub Says:

Thanks, Paul. I forgot the picture left $R_1$ and $R_2$ unspecified. Looks like you got the general answer.

4. Kenneth Finnegan Says:

Paul is close, but it can be slightly reduced. Consider that the sqrt term will always be greater than R1, so subtracting it from R1 never makes any sense. Negative resistance is a no-no, as is two distinct solutions to any resistance equation in general.

R = [R1 + sqrt(R1^2 + 4R1R2)]/2