Using a 4-band color code, what is the color code for a 470 Ω resistor with ±5% tolerance?

• A. Yellow-Blue-Brown-Gold
• B. Orange-Violet-Black-Gold
• C. Yellow-Violet-Brown-Gold
• D. Yellow-Gray-Brown-Silver

Answer: (C)

In a 4-band resistor color code, the first two bands are the significant digits, the third is the multiplier (power of ten), and the fourth is the tolerance. Here, Yellow is 4 and Violet is 7, giving 47. The third band Brown means multiply by 10, so 47 × 10 = 470 ohms. The fourth band Gold indicates a tolerance of ±5%. So the sequence Yellow-Violet-Brown-Gold represents 470 Ω with ±5% tolerance.

For context, the other color sequences would yield different values or tolerances: for example, a sequence with 46 as the digits and Brown as the multiplier would be 460 Ω, one with 37 digits and a 1× multiplier would be 37 Ω, and one with 48 digits and a Silver tolerance would be 480 Ω with ±10% tolerance.