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Rin and Rout of the

Inverting Amplifier
We can use the concept of the virtual short to easily determine
the input resistance of the inverting amplifier. Recall that the
input resistance of an amplifier is:

vin
Rin =
iin

For the inverting amplifier, it is evident that the input current

iin is equal to i1 : R2

i2

R1
v-
vin -
iin = i1 vout
oc

v+
+

From Ohm’s Law, we know that this current is:

vin - v1
iin = i1 =
R1
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The non-inverting terminal is “connected” to virtual ground:

v- = 0

and thus the input current is:

vin
iin = i1 =
R1

We now can determine the input resistance:

vin
Rin =
iin
�R �
= vin � 1 �
�vin �
= R1

The input resistance of this inverting amplifier is therefore

Rin = R1 !

Now, let’s attempt to determine the output resistance Rout.

Recall that we need to determine two values: the short-circuit

( ) (
output current iout and the open-circuit output voltage vout .
sc oc
)
To accomplish this, we must replace the op-amp in the circuit
with its linear circuit model:
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R2

i2

R1
vin - v- vout = 0
Rout
op
ii = i1
+ v + i op
out iout
sc
+ -
Aop (v + - v - )

From KCL, we find that:

iout
sc
= i2 + iout
op

where:

-Aop v - - vout
oc
-Aop v -
iout
op
= =
Roop Roop
and:
v - - vout v -
i2 = =
R2 R2

Therefore, the short-circuit output current is:

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v - Aop v -
iout
sc
= - op
R2 Rout
�Rout
op
- R2 Aop �
=� v
�
� R2 Routop �-
� �
Aop
@ - op v -
Rout

The open-circuit output voltage can likewise be determined in

terms of Aop and v- :

R2

i2

R1
vin - v-
Rout
op
ii = i1
iout =0 +
+ v + iout
op

+ -
Aop (v + - v - ) -

Here, it is evident that since iout = 0:

i2 = -iout
op

where we find from Ohm’s Law:

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v - - ( - Aopv - )
i2 =
R2 + Rout
op

�1 + Aop �
=� op �-
v
R
�2 + R out �

and thus vout is:

oc

vout
oc
= v - - R2 i2
�1 + Aop �
= v - - R2 � v
op �-
�R2 + Rout �
�R + R op R2 1 + Aop
= �2 out
-
( )�
�v
�R2 + Routop
R2 + Rout
op -
�
� �
�Roop - R2 Aop �
=� �v -
� R2 + Rout op �
� �
R2 Aop
@- v-
R2 + Rout
op

Now, we can find the output resistance of this amplifier:

vout
oc
Rout = sc
iout
-1
�-R2 Aop ��- Aop �
=� op �� op �
R
�2 + R o � �Ro �
R2 Roop
=
R2 + Roop
= R2 Roop
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In other words, the inverting amplifier output resistance is

simply equal to the value of the feedback resistor R2 in parallel
with op-amp output resistance Rout .
op

Ideally, of course, the op-amp output resistance is zero, so that

the output resistance of the inverting amplifier is likewise zero:

Rout = R2 Rout
op

= R2 0
=0

Note for this case—where the output resistance is zero—the

output voltage will be the same, regardless of what load is
attached at the output (e.g., regardless of iout )!

R2

i2

R1
vin - v- iout �0
ii = i1
+ v + i op
out
+
+ -
Aop (v + - v - )
-

Thus, if Rout = 0 , then the output voltage is equal to the open-

circuit output voltage—even when the output is not open
circuited:
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R2
vout = - v for all iout !!
R1 in

Recall that it is this property that made Rout = 0 an “ideal”

amplifier characteristic.

We will find that real (i.e., non-ideal!) op-amps typically have an

output resistance that is very small ( Rout = R2 ), so that the
op

inverting amplifier output resistance is approximately equal to

the op-amp output resistance:

Rout = R2 Rout
op

�Rout
op

Summarizing, we have found that for the inverting amplifier:

Rin = R1

Rout �Rout
op
(ideally zero)

Thus, this inverting amplifier:

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R2
iin ( t )
R1
- iout ( t )
+
vin ( t ) +
- + vout ( t )
-

has the equivalent circuit:

iin ( t ) iout ( t )

+ Rout
op +
vin ( t ) + vout ( t )
- - -
- ( ) v (t )
R2
R1 in