Next, simplify these series resistors to their equivalent resistance of 6.4 kΩ.
6.4 kΩ (i.e., 6400 Ω) is the total resistance of the entire circuit. Because we know the total voltage of the
entire circuit to be 10 V, we can use Ohm’s law to get the total current
(more commonly written as 1.6 mA).
Now look at the previous diagram. The same current of 1.6 mA must go out of the battery, into the 2
kΩ resistor, and into the 4.4 kΩ resistor. The voltage across each resistor can thus be determined by V =
(1.6 mA)R for each resistor, giving 3.2 V across the 2 kΩ resistor and 6.8 V across the 4.4 kΩ resistor.
The 2 kΩ resistor is on the chart. However, the 4.4 kΩ resistor is the equivalent of two parallel
resistors. Because voltage is the same for resistors in parallel, there are 6.8 V across each of the two
parallel resistors in the original diagram. Fill that in the chart, and use Ohm’s law to find the current
through each: