I understand that to correct the power factor you have to choose a capacitance such that the reactive power from the circuit is cancelled by the reactive power of the circuit using this method.

http://sub.allaboutcircuits.com/images/02223.png

Circuit with power factor corrected:

capacitor placed in parallel http://sub.allaboutcircuits.com/images/02222.png

Why does one place the capacitor in parallel (as opposed to series)?

Thanks in advance

I understand that to correct the power factor you have to choose a capacitance such that the reactive power from the circuit is cancelled by the reactive power of the circuit using this method.

Circuit with power factor corrected:

Why does one place the capacitor in parallel (as opposed to series)?

Thanks in advance