What is the total current in a parallel circuit?

In a parallel circuit, the total current is indeed the sum of currents flowing through each individual path. This relationship is based on Kirchhoff's Current Law, which states that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction.

When resistors are connected in parallel, each resistor offers a separate path for the current to flow. Because the voltage across all parallel branches remains the same, the current through each resistor can vary according to its resistance, following Ohm's Law (I = V/R). Therefore, to find the total current, you simply add up the individual currents through each parallel path.

Understanding this principle is crucial for analyzing circuits and ensuring proper functionality and safety in electrical systems. The other options do not accurately describe the relationship in parallel circuits: currents do not simply equal half the voltage, nor are they defined by the currents through the smallest or largest resistors.