Consider a network of n resistors R_i so that R_2 may be connected in series or parallel with R_1, R_3 may be connected in series or parallel with the network consisting of R_1 and R_2, and so on. The resistance of two resistors in series is given by R_(net, series) = R_1 + R_2, and of two resistors in parallel by R_(net, parallel) = 1/(1/R_1 + 1/R_2).