How do you find the total resistance in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, the total resistance is calculated by adding the individual resistances of each component connected in that circuit. This is because, in a series configuration, the current flows through each resistor one after the other, and the total opposition to that current is the sum of all the resistances.

For example, if there are three resistors with values of 2 ohms, 3 ohms, and 5 ohms, the total resistance would be 2 + 3 + 5, resulting in a total of 10 ohms. This direct addition reflects the cumulative effect of each resistor on the overall current flow in the circuit.

The other methods mentioned, such as multiplying the resistances or using the power formula, do not apply in the context of a series circuit for determining total resistance. The choice to divide total voltage by total current would give you the equivalent resistance in a circuit but is specifically based on Ohm's Law, which is not the method for directly finding the total resistance in series. Thus, the correct procedure is simply to sum all individual resistances to obtain the total resistance in the circuit.