On Paper: Understanding Voltage Dividing using Resistors or a Potentiometer

A voltage divider is a way to decrease a voltage to a proportion of the circuit voltage using two resistors or a potentiometer. The proportion of two resistors will create that proportion output of voltage between the resistors (or the wiper in the case of a potentiometer).

The formula for a voltage divider is: Vout = ( R1/(R1 + R2) ) * Vin Example: Resistors are the same on both sides. Vout = ( 100 ohm / (100 ohm + 100 ohm)) * 5v Vout = (100/200)*5v Vout = 1/2 * 5V Vout = 2.5V as expected.