Final answer:
The equivalent resistance of parallel resistors is less than the smallest resistor because adding resistors in parallel creates more paths for current to flow, leading to decreased overall resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why the equivalent resistance of a parallel combination of resistors is always less than the smallest of the resistors is due to the current paths that are created when resistors are connected in parallel. As more resistors are added in parallel, more paths for the current to flow are created, which in turn decreases the overall resistance.
Each resistor carries its own current, and since the potential drop across each resistor is the same, the overall current supplied from the source is the sum of the currents through each resistor. This means that more current can flow with less resistance than any of the individual resistors would allow.
When resistors are connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance is always less than the smallest of the parallel resistors. This is because adding resistors in parallel provides multiple paths through which the current can flow, decreasing the overall resistance of the circuit. In parallel combination, the potential drop across each resistor is the same and the current through each resistor may be different, depending on the resistor value.