Final answer:
The total power supplied in a circuit is calculated using the formula P = IV, and it should match the sum of the powers dissipated by resistors to conform with energy conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the magnitude of the total power supplied in the circuit, one can use the formula P = IV, where P is the power in watts, I is the current in amperes, and V is the voltage in volts. The total power dissipated by the circuit is also equal to the sum of the powers dissipated in each branch, as indicated by P = Pleft + Pmiddle + Pright. To validate the analysis, the power supplied by the source should be compared with the power dissipated by the resistors, as they should be equal. This principle confirms the law of conservation of energy within an electric circuit.
In one example, using Ohm's law to find the total current, I = V / Rtot, and with the given voltage V and total resistance Rtot, one can calculate I and subsequently find the power supplied by the source using the original formula, thus completing the check