To think about a symmetry is likely to provide us a drastically easy answer. The problems are also the two of such problems. The first one uses concentric symmetry. The second one uses translational symmetry.
Let the just after the next nodes of the first terminals (C) and (D) as follows
(C) (A)o---R---+-+-R---+---R--- ... | | R R ..... (repeat infinitely) | | (B)o-------+-+-----+------- ... (D)Then, cut the ladder at the points as follows.
(A)o---R---+-o (C) o--R---+---R--- ... | | R R ..... (repeat infinitely) | | (B)o-------+-o (D) o------+------- ...Since the obtained ladder is also infinite ladder, the equivalent resistance between (C) and (D) must equal to the one between (A) and (B) (thus
(C) (A)o---R---+-o--+ (A) o | | | R Rcd == Rab | | | (B)o-------+-o--+ (B) o (D) where Re=Rab=Rcd. ) Therefore, R x Re Re = R + --------. R + Re This leads to 2 2 Re - R x Re - R = 0 It follows that 1 + SQRT(5) Re = -------------R 2The ladder surely has irrational resistance.
Put a current source between (A) and infinity point which provides current I.
... _______________ | / | (I/4)R / (I) | / | ... ---R--(A)--R---... -----(infinity point) (I/4) | (I/4) --- R - |(I/4) ...In the next, put a current source between (B) and infinity point which provides negative current -I.
... _______________ | / | (-I/4)R / (-I) | / | ... ---R--(B)--R---... -----(infinity point) (-I/4) | (-I/4) --- R - |(-I/4) ...Since in a linear electric circuit, we can always superimpose several passive circuits of single active node, we obtain the amount of current between (A) and (B) by I/2.
... _______________ | / | R / (I) | / | ... ---R--(A)--R---... + (infinity point) | | | | R(I/4)-(-I/4)=I/2 | | ----------------+ | / ... ---R--(B)--R---... | R ## Note the direction of | the currents. Negative current has opposite direction. ... Therefore, the voltage between (A) and (B) is I V = R x ---. 2 Even if we substitute the infinite circuit by the equivalent resistance such that ________________ / | (A) (I) (infinity point) | | | | Re (I) | | | | ----------------+ | / (B) , the voltage between (A) and (B) should be the same as V. V = Re x I Therefore, from I V = Re x I = R x ---, 2 we get R Re = --- 2The network circuit has rational resistance.
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