Final answer:
The total resistance in a parallel circuit is determined by the sum of the reciprocals of individual resistances, resulting in a value that is lower than the smallest individual resistor due to the additional paths available for current to flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total resistance of a parallel circuit is calculated using the sum of the reciprocals of individual resistances. If we have two resistors in parallel, marked as R1 and R2, the formula for equivalent resistance (Reqv) is given as 1/Reqv = 1/R1 + 1/R2.
This formula indicates that the total resistance in a parallel circuit is always less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor, because you will be adding reciprocals of resistance, which decreases the overall resistance value.
To understand this intuitively, consider that in a parallel circuit, each resistor provides an additional path for the current to pass through.
The more paths available, the easier it is for current to flow, thus the lower the total resistance. This stands in contrast to a series circuit, where the current must flow through each resistor consecutively, hence the total resistance is simply the sum of individual resistances.