CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A host address is 10.10.10.14/29. Which address is the broadcast address for its subnet?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid confusing the network address or a host address with the broadcast address. Remember, the broadcast address is the last address in the subnet range.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
10.10.10.15
A /29 subnet has a block size of 8. In practical terms, the fourth-octet ranges are 0–7, 8–15, 16–23, and so on. Since 14 falls in the 8–15 block, the broadcast address is the last address in that block, which is 10.10.10.15. This is a classic subnetting question that checks whether you can find the block first and then identify the final address in that block.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
10.10.10.7
Why it's wrong here
10.10.10.7 is the broadcast address of the previous /29 subnet, which spans .0 through .7. Since the host 10.10.10.14/29 resides in the .8 to .15 block, its broadcast address must be .15. The address .7 belongs to an entirely different subnet and cannot function as the broadcast for the host's subnet.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different question, if the subnet mask were /28 and the host address were 10.10.10.0, then 10.10.10.7 could be the broadcast address for a subnet that includes 10.10.10.0/28, where the valid host range is 10.10.10.1 to 10.10.10.14.
- ✓
10.10.10.15
Why this is correct
The /29 CIDR notation specifies that the first 29 bits define the network portion, leaving 3 bits for host addresses. For the 10.10.10.14/29 subnet, the network address is 10.10.10.8. The broadcast address is always the last address within a subnet, derived by setting all host bits to one. In this scenario, setting the three host bits of the 10.10.10.8 network to one results in 10.10.10.15, which functions as the broadcast address for this specific subnet, satisfying the constraint of the /29 mask.
- ✗
10.10.10.8
Why it's wrong here
10.10.10.8 is the network address of the /29 subnet to which the host belongs. The /29 mask (255.255.255.248) creates a block of 8 addresses, and because 10.10.10.14 falls within the .8 to .15 range, the network address is .8. A broadcast address is always the last address in the block, not the first, so .8 identifies the subnet itself rather than serving as its broadcast.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the network address of the subnet that includes 10.10.10.14/29, then 10.10.10.8 would be the correct answer, as it represents the first address in that subnet range.
- ✗
10.10.10.16
Why it's wrong here
10.10.10.16 is the network address of the next /29 subnet, not the broadcast. Since a /29 mask leaves only 3 host bits, each subnet spans 8 addresses, so the block containing 10.10.10.14 ranges from .8 to .15, and .16 begins the following block. The broadcast address must be the last address within the same subnet as the host, so .16 cannot be correct.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a different subnet, such as 10.10.10.16/29, then 10.10.10.16 would be the broadcast address for that subnet. This would change the range of valid addresses and make D the correct answer.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓10.10.10.15Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The /29 CIDR notation specifies that the first 29 bits define the network portion, leaving 3 bits for host addresses. For the 10.10.10.14/29 subnet, the network address is 10.10.10.8. The broadcast address is always the last address within a subnet, derived by setting all host bits to one. In this scenario, setting the three host bits of the 10.10.10.8 network to one results in 10.10.10.15, which functions as the broadcast address for this specific subnet, satisfying the constraint of the /29 mask.
✗10.10.10.7Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Option A, 10.10.10.7, is incorrect because it does not represent the broadcast address for the subnet defined by 10.10.10.14/29. The correct broadcast address is 10.10.10.15, which is the highest address in the subnet range.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question, if the subnet mask were /28 and the host address were 10.10.10.0, then 10.10.10.7 could be the broadcast address for a subnet that includes 10.10.10.0/28, where the valid host range is 10.10.10.1 to 10.10.10.14.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose option A because they might misinterpret the subnetting rules and mistakenly calculate the broadcast address based on an incorrect understanding of subnet ranges.
✗10.10.10.8Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The address 10.10.10.8 is not the broadcast address for the subnet 10.10.10.14/29. The correct broadcast address is 10.10.10.15, which is the highest address in the subnet range from 10.10.10.8 to 10.10.10.15.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the network address of the subnet that includes 10.10.10.14/29, then 10.10.10.8 would be the correct answer, as it represents the first address in that subnet range.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to confusion between the concepts of broadcast and network addresses, mistakenly associating the address with a common subnet boundary.
✗10.10.10.16Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The address 10.10.10.16 is outside the subnet defined by 10.10.10.14/29, which includes addresses from 10.10.10.8 to 10.10.10.15. Therefore, it cannot be the broadcast address for this subnet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a different subnet, such as 10.10.10.16/29, then 10.10.10.16 would be the broadcast address for that subnet. This would change the range of valid addresses and make D the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might confuse the subnetting boundaries and mistakenly think that 10.10.10.16 could be a valid broadcast address due to its proximity to the range of addresses in the original subnet.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Classless Inter-domain Routing
Classless Inter-domain Routing (CIDR) is a method for allocating IP addresses and routing IP packets more efficiently by replacing the old class-based system with variable-length subnet masks.
Key term
Broadcast address
A broadcast address is a special network address used to send data to every device on a local network segment simultaneously.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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