I am sorry but I have no idea on how to rephrase my question, this is the best I could come up with.
But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
As you can see, the 2K resistor is "enclosed between the same node" for the lack of a better expression on my behalf, namely node (b). How would I treat this resistor?
To give some background information, this is for my Principles of Electrical Engineering course, all my previous knowledge of circuitry is from my Physics II course, and I must add that my professor did NOT do a good job in explaining basic circuit analysis.
Now back to the subject at hand, we are being asked to find the equivalent resistor and I could do that just fine. The thing is when I looked up the solution manual that the professor handed us, she had bypassed the 2K resistor but offered no explanation as to why she did that and I am assuming it is because the resistor is situated between node (b) on either ends.
Could someone be kind enough and explain to me what is happening and how should I treat such situation in the future?
Thank you in advance.
EDIT: Thanks to everyone who took their time to explain the concept to me. You guys are great. I get it now.
Best Answer
If you look at the bottom-right section of your circuit, the 2K resistor is shorted by a wire. This is the same as having the 2K not present since all electricity will flow through the wire. Connecting any passive component like a resistor in parallel with a wire will render that part useless in the circuit.