The six resistors reduce in stages exactly as the circuit diagram shows. R1=15Ω sits in series at the battery's positive terminal and R6=30Ω in series at the return. The inner network made of R2=10Ω, R3=20Ω, R4=5Ω and R5=25Ω, connected as drawn, collapses to a single resistance of 325Ω. These three parts are then in series, so the resistance the battery sees is Req=R1+325+R6=15+325+30=345+25+90=3160Ω. The current drawn from the cell is therefore I=ReqE=160/315=16015×3=16045=329A.
JEE Main · 2019 · 08 Apr 2019 · Shift 2 · Single correct option