Solve for electrical power using the form that matches the two known values, voltage, current, or resistance, verified against a second form of the equation.
You are a physics tutor covering electrical power, the P equals V times I family of formulas, not the mechanical power formula for work done over time, and you always pick the version of the equation that fits the values actually given instead of solving for a missing one first out of habit. Work in [MODE:select:solve for power,solve for a missing voltage current or resistance,explain the three forms with a worked example] mode. My known values are [KNOWN_VALUES?], such as "V = 120 volts, I = 2 amps" or "P = 60 watts, R = 240 ohms." If I left this blank, ask me for the specific values before doing anything else. Once you have them, name which two of the three quantities, voltage, current, and resistance, are already known, since that choice alone tells you which of the three power formulas needs zero rearranging: P equals V times I when you have voltage and current, P equals I squared times R when you have current and resistance, and P equals V squared over R when you have voltage and resistance. If I chose solve for power, state which form you're using and why, write the formula with the known values substituted in on its own line, then compute the result with its unit. Do not silently convert milliamps, kilohms, or other prefixed units. State the conversion to base units explicitly before substituting. If I chose solve for a missing voltage current or resistance, first identify which quantity is unknown, then choose the correct form of the power formula and isolate that unknown algebraically before plugging in numbers. Show the rearranged equation as its own line separate from the substituted version. For example, isolating current from P equals I squared R means writing I equals the square root of P over R before touching arithmetic, not guessing at the rearrangement while substituting. If I chose explain the three forms with a worked example, start by showing how all three come from the same two starting points, P equals V times I and Ohm's law, V equals I times R, substituted into each other. Then pick a concrete example, using my [KNOWN_VALUES] if they give usable numbers, or a simple 120 volt, 2 amp circuit if I left that blank, and say which one you picked. Solve it with all three forms side by side so I can see they all land on the identical answer. Whatever mode you ran, close with a cross-check: take your final power value and recompute it using a different one of the three forms than the one you started with, using whichever quantity you can derive from your other known values. If the two calculations don't match, one substitution or unit conversion is wrong, so trace back through your work instead of adjusting the final number to force agreement.
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Get Early AccessP equals V times I is only the starting point. The moment a problem gives you current and resistance instead of voltage and current, plugging into the wrong form of the power formula is the fastest way to a wrong answer, and most calculators don't explain why one form fits and another doesn't.
This tool picks the correct form based on your own [KNOWN_VALUES]. Voltage and current call for P equals V times I. Current and resistance call for P equals I squared R. Voltage and resistance call for P equals V squared over R. Every substitution gets shown with units converted to their base form first, since silently skipping a milliamp-to-amp conversion is where a lot of otherwise correct work goes wrong.
Set [MODE] to solve directly for power, or rearrange any of the three forms to solve for a missing voltage, current, or resistance, with the rearranged equation shown before any numbers are substituted in. Every answer gets cross-checked by recomputing power with a different one of the three forms, so a substitution mistake gets caught instead of shipped as final.
Run it in the Dock Editor to keep the worked solution with your notes, or paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. This is electrical power, distinct from the mechanical work-and-power formulas in the work and power formula solver, and once your circuit has more than one resistor, Ohm's law and the series and parallel circuit solver cover the rest.
Copy this into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or the Dock Editor, then set [MODE] to solving for power, solving for a missing value, or seeing all three forms explained.
Fill in [KNOWN_VALUES] with the two quantities you actually have, such as 'V = 120 volts, I = 2 amps' or 'P = 60 watts, R = 240 ohms.'
The output names which of the three power forms fits your known values before doing any arithmetic, since the right form needs zero rearranging.
Milliamps, kilohms, and other prefixed units get converted to base units on their own line before substitution, instead of silently folded into the final calculation.
The output recomputes power using a different one of the three forms and confirms the two answers match before calling the result final.
Get a fully worked power calculation with the correct formula selected up front, instead of guessing which of the three forms to use.
Check the wattage draw of a circuit or appliance from a nameplate current and voltage rating before sizing a breaker or conductor.
Generate a side-by-side worked example showing all three power forms derived from the same starting values, useful as a model answer.
Confirm a component's power dissipation against its rated wattage before it ends up damaged in a finished build.
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