# Voltage Divider - Voltage Division Rule

The voltage division rule (voltage divider) is a simple rule which can be used in solving circuits to simplify the solution. Applying the voltage division rule can also solve simple circuits thoroughly. The statement of the rule is simple:

Voltage Division Rule: The voltage is divided between two series resistors in direct proportion to their resistance.

It is easy to prove this. In the following circuit

Voltage Divider

the Ohm's law implies that
$v_1(t)=R_1 i(t)$ (I)
$v_2(t)=R_2 i(t)$ (II)

Applying KVL
$-v(t)+v_1(t)+v_2(t)=0 \rightarrow v(t)=v_1(t)+v_2(t)$ .

Therefore
$v(t) = R_1 i(t)+R_2 i(t)= (R_1 +R_2) i(t)$ .

Hence
$i(t) = \frac{v(t)}{R_1 +R_2}$ .

Substituting in I and II
$v_1(t)=R_1 \frac{v(t)}{R_1 +R_2}$ ,
$v_2(t)=R_2 \frac{v(t)}{R_1 +R_2}$ .

Consequently

$v_1(t)= \frac{R_1}{R_1 +R_2} v(t)$ ,
$v_2(t)=\frac{R_2}{R_1 +R_2} v(t)$ .

which shows that the voltage is divided between two series resistors in direct proportion to their resistance. The rule can be easily extended to circuits with more than two resistors. For example,

Voltage Division among four resistors

$v_1(t)= \frac{R_1}{R_1 +R_2+R_3+R_4} v(t)$ ,
$v_2(t)=\frac{R_2}{R_1 +R_2+R_3+R_4} v(t)$ ,
$v_3(t)=\frac{R_3}{R_1 +R_2+R_3+R_4} v(t)$ ,
$v_4(t)=\frac{R_4}{R_1 +R_2+R_3+R_4} v(t)$ .

The voltage division rule can be used solve simple circuits or to simplify solving complicated circuits.
For example, check out this problem.

One of the common mistakes in using the voltage division rule is to use the formula for resistors which are in parallel with other elements. For example, the voltage division rule cannot be used in the following circuit directly.

It will be incorrect if one tries to find $V_x$ using voltage divider by neglecting the other $6 \Omega$ resistor as

So, $V_x \neq \frac{6 \Omega}{2 \Omega + 6 \Omega} 15 V$ . However, if solving other parts of a circuits confirms that the current of the other element/branch is zero, the voltage division rule can be still applied. For example, suppose that the following network is a piece of a larger circuit.

Let's assume that the analysis of the circuit shows that $I_x=0$ . In this case, $V_x= \frac{6 \Omega}{2 \Omega + 6 \Omega} 12 V = 9 V$ regardless of where A and B are connected.

The voltage devision rule can be used to ease solving problems. For example, the voltage division rule is used in the following problem to find the Thévenin voltage:
Thévenin’s Theorem – Circuit with An Independent Source
.

## 10 thoughts on “Voltage Divider - Voltage Division Rule”

1. malikana nyambe s says:

a parallel plate capacitor has area=2 mm and plate separation distance, d=1 mm. find how much charge is stored when the capacitor si connected to a 10 volts battery.

1. Fox says:

C = epsilonr*epsilon0*A/d
Q=C*V

Work it out for yourself!

2. Josh says:

Really usefull.Especially the voltage divider thing, I struggle with it in Polytechnic and Iam still struggling with it but thanks, I have cleared the confusion after going through your information.

3. sidd says:

really sooorry for last one. That is my younger brother's deeds.valuable information. but you didnt mention any thing about parallel circuits.

4. Anand says:

Super

5. Sunil kumar.T says:

The voltage divider formulas and the solved problems are very useful to me. I corrected several circuits in our company. Thanks a lot for the support.

6. Tei says:

This is very helpful and easy to follow I can now complete my assignment

7. Rajiv says:

Thank uu so much

8. ALBERTO CHERU says:

the questions are very challenging and concept oriented...hence keep it up!!!

9. David says:

Confused about the line 'now substitute in I and II' what exactly is substituted? I cannot see where this step came from.