This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. A key principle to apply: a /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A host uses address 192.168.5.126/25. Which address is the broadcast address for its subnet?
192.168.5.63
Why wrong: This is wrong because .63 would be the broadcast of a /26 block, not the /25 block containing .126.
192.168.5.127
This is correct because the lower /25 block runs from .0 through .127.
192.168.5.128
Why wrong: This is wrong because .128 is the network address of the upper /25 block.
192.168.5.255
Why wrong: This is wrong because .255 is the broadcast of the full /24, not the lower /25 block.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
192.168.5.127
A /25 divides the /24 into two halves: 0–127 and 128–255. In plain language, the host address 192.168.5.126 is in the lower half, which runs from .0 through .127. The last address in that block is the broadcast address, so the broadcast is 192.168.5.127. This is a classic subnetting question because it checks whether you can identify the correct block and then select the last address in that block as the broadcast address.
Key principle: A /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
192.168.5.63
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .63 would be the broadcast of a /26 block, not the /25 block containing .126.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of a subnet defined by 192.168.5.0/26, then option A (192.168.5.63) would be correct, as it would represent the broadcast address for that specific subnet range.
192.168.5.127
Why this is correct
This is correct because the lower /25 block runs from .0 through .127.
Related concept
A /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses.
192.168.5.128
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .128 is the network address of the upper /25 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified a subnet mask of /24 instead of /25, then 192.168.5.128 would be the correct broadcast address for the subnet 192.168.5.0/24, which ranges from 192.168.5.0 to 192.168.5.255.
192.168.5.255
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .255 is the broadcast of the full /24, not the lower /25 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the broadcast address of the 192.168.5.0/24 subnet instead of the /25 subnet, then option D would be correct, as it represents the highest address in that larger subnet.
Option-by-option analysis
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.
Why this is correct
This is correct because the lower /25 block runs from .0 through .127.
Why this is wrong here
Option A (192.168.5.63) is incorrect because it does not fall within the subnet defined by the address 192.168.5.126/25, which has a valid range of 192.168.5.128 to 192.168.5.255 for host addresses.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of a subnet defined by 192.168.5.0/26, then option A (192.168.5.63) would be correct, as it would represent the broadcast address for that specific subnet range.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by this option because they might confuse the subnet mask and miscalculate the broadcast address, mistakenly believing that the lower range of addresses is valid for the given subnet.
Why this is wrong here
The address 192.168.5.128 is incorrect because it falls outside the subnet defined by 192.168.5.126/25, which includes addresses from 192.168.5.0 to 192.168.5.127. The broadcast address for this subnet is 192.168.5.127.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified a subnet mask of /24 instead of /25, then 192.168.5.128 would be the correct broadcast address for the subnet 192.168.5.0/24, which ranges from 192.168.5.0 to 192.168.5.255.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose this option due to a misunderstanding of subnetting, mistakenly associating the higher address in the range with the broadcast address without calculating the correct subnet mask.
Why this is wrong here
Option D, 192.168.5.255, is incorrect because it is the broadcast address for the entire 192.168.5.0/24 subnet, not the /25 subnet specified in the question.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the broadcast address of the 192.168.5.0/24 subnet instead of the /25 subnet, then option D would be correct, as it represents the highest address in that larger subnet.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates might choose option D due to a misunderstanding of subnetting, confusing the broader /24 range with the specific /25 range, leading them to think of the highest address in the entire 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?”
Common exam traps
Remember that the broadcast address is the last address in the subnet, not the first address of the next subnet or the broadcast for the entire /24.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that divides a larger network into smaller, manageable segments called subnets. Each subnet has a network address, a range of usable host addresses, and a broadcast address. The subnet mask determines the size of the subnet by specifying how many bits are used for the network portion versus the host portion of the IP address. In this question, the subnet mask /25 means 25 bits are used for the network, leaving 7 bits for host addresses, effectively splitting a traditional /24 network into two equal halves. The /25 subnet mask (255.255.255.128) divides the 192.168.5.0/24 network into two subnets: 192.168.5.0 to 192.168.5.127 and 192.168.5.128 to 192.168.5.255. The broadcast address for each subnet is the highest address in that subnet range. Since the host IP 192.168.5.126 falls within the first subnet (0–127), the broadcast address is 192.168.5.127. This address is reserved to send packets to all hosts within that subnet. A common exam trap is confusing the broadcast address with the network address or the broadcast of the larger /24 block. For example, 192.168.5.255 is the broadcast for the entire /24 network, not the /25 subnet. Similarly, 192.168.5.128 is the network address of the second /25 subnet, not a broadcast address. Understanding how subnet boundaries and broadcast addresses are calculated is critical for Cisco CCNA exam success and practical network design.
Key takeaway
A /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses.
Real-world example
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
What to study next
Review a /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — A /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses..
The correct answer is: 192.168.5.127 — A /25 divides the /24 into two halves: 0–127 and 128–255. In plain language, the host address 192.168.5.126 is in the lower half, which runs from .0 through .127. The last address in that block is the broadcast address, so the broadcast is 192.168.5.127. This is a classic subnetting question because it checks whether you can identify the correct block and then select the last address in that block as the broadcast address.
Review a /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
A /25 subnet mask divides a /24 network into two equal subnets, each containing 128 IP addresses including network and broadcast addresses.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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