This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask.. 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.
An interface is configured with 10.24.7.158/27. What is the broadcast address of that subnet?
10.24.7.159
Correct. It is the last address in the /27 block.
10.24.7.191
Why wrong: That is the end of the next larger /26 range, not this /27 block.
10.24.7.127
Why wrong: That is the end of the previous /27 block.
10.24.7.160
Why wrong: That is the network address of the next /27 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
10.24.7.159
A /27 uses blocks of 32 addresses. The block containing .158 is 10.24.7.128 through 10.24.7.159, so .159 is the broadcast address.
Key principle: Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
10.24.7.159
Why this is correct
Correct. It is the last address in the /27 block.
Related concept
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask.
10.24.7.191
Why it's wrong here
That is the end of the next larger /26 range, not this /27 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of a different subnet, such as 10.24.7.128/26, then option B (10.24.7.191) would be correct, as it would be the last address in that subnet range from 10.24.7.128 to 10.24.7.191.
10.24.7.127
Why it's wrong here
That is the end of the previous /27 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for the broadcast address of the subnet 10.24.7.96/25, then option C (10.24.7.127) would be correct. In this case, the subnet mask would allow for a broadcast address of 10.24.7.127.
10.24.7.160
Why it's wrong here
That is the network address of the next /27 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the first usable IP address in the subnet 10.24.7.160/27, then option D would be correct. In this case, 10.24.7.160 would be the first usable address after the network address of 10.24.7.159.
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
Correct. It is the last address in the /27 block.
Why this is wrong here
10.24.7.191 is the broadcast address of the /26 subnet 10.24.7.128/26, not the /27 subnet. The /27 subnet has a block size of 32, so the broadcast for the subnet containing .158 is .159, not .191.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of a different subnet, such as 10.24.7.128/26, then option B (10.24.7.191) would be correct, as it would be the last address in that subnet range from 10.24.7.128 to 10.24.7.191.
Why candidates choose this
Students may mistakenly calculate the broadcast by adding the subnet size (32) to the network address (128) and subtracting 1, but incorrectly use 64 (the /26 block size) instead of 32.
Why this is wrong here
10.24.7.127 is the broadcast address of the previous /27 subnet (10.24.7.96/27), not the one containing .158. The subnet with .158 starts at 10.24.7.128, so its broadcast is .159.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for the broadcast address of the subnet 10.24.7.96/25, then option C (10.24.7.127) would be correct. In this case, the subnet mask would allow for a broadcast address of 10.24.7.127.
Why candidates choose this
A common error is to assume the broadcast is the last address of the previous subnet, especially when the IP is near a boundary. However, the broadcast must be within the same subnet as the IP.
Why this is wrong here
10.24.7.160 is the network address of the next /27 subnet (10.24.7.160/27), not the broadcast. The broadcast address is always the last address in the subnet, which is one less than the next network address.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the first usable IP address in the subnet 10.24.7.160/27, then option D would be correct. In this case, 10.24.7.160 would be the first usable address after the network address of 10.24.7.159.
Why candidates choose this
Students often confuse network and broadcast addresses. Since .160 is the next network, they might think it is the broadcast, but the broadcast is actually .159.
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
A frequent exam trap is mistaking the broadcast address for the network address of the next subnet or the last address of a different subnet block. For example, 10.24.7.160 is the network address of the next /27 subnet, not the broadcast address of the current subnet. Candidates often confuse the last usable host address with the broadcast address or select an address from an adjacent subnet block. This mistake leads to incorrect subnetting answers and can cause interface misconfigurations in real networks, resulting in communication failures.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that breaks a larger network into smaller, manageable segments called subnets. Each subnet has a unique network address, a range of usable host addresses, and a broadcast address. The subnet mask determines the size of each subnet. For a /27 mask, which is 255.255.255.224, the subnet contains 32 IP addresses (2^5), including the network and broadcast addresses. This subnetting allows efficient use of IP addresses and better network organization. To determine the broadcast address for an IP configured with 10.24.7.158/27, first identify the subnet range. Since /27 means blocks of 32 addresses, the subnet ranges start at multiples of 32 in the last octet: 0, 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, etc. The IP 10.24.7.158 falls within the 10.24.7.128 to 10.24.7.159 block. The broadcast address is the highest address in this block, which is 10.24.7.159. This address is reserved for broadcasting to all hosts in the subnet. A common exam trap is confusing the broadcast address with the network address of the next subnet or the last address of a different subnet block. For example, 10.24.7.160 is the network address of the next /27 subnet, not the broadcast of the current one. Cisco routers and switches rely on correct subnetting to forward traffic properly, so misidentifying broadcast addresses can lead to routing errors or failed communications. Understanding subnet boundaries and broadcast address calculation is critical for CCNA success and practical network design.
Key takeaway
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask.
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 subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask., 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 — Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask..
The correct answer is: 10.24.7.159 — A /27 uses blocks of 32 addresses. The block containing .158 is 10.24.7.128 through 10.24.7.159, so .159 is the broadcast address.
Review subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller address blocks, each with a defined network, broadcast, and host range based on the subnet mask.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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