Question

Which of the following arrangement, A or B, has the lower combined resistance? 

Answer 1

In figure A, the resistance, R_A = 10 Ω

In figure B, the resistors of 10 Ω and 1000 Ω are connected in parallel combination.
Therefore: 

`1/R=1/R_1+1/R_2` 

`1/R=1/10+1/1000`  

or `1/R=100/1000+1/1000` 

or`1/R=101/1000` 

`R=1000/101=9.9`Ω  

R_B = 9.9 Ω
So, the arrangement B has lower resistance.