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 blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.. 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 is configured with 172.16.10.62/27. Which address is the broadcast address for that subnet?
172.16.10.31
Why wrong: This is wrong because .31 is the broadcast of the 0–31 block, not the block containing .62.
172.16.10.32
Why wrong: This is wrong because .32 is the network address of the 32–63 block.
172.16.10.63
This is correct because the host is in the 32–63 /27 block, whose broadcast is .63.
172.16.10.64
Why wrong: This is wrong because .64 is the start 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
172.16.10.63
A /27 uses blocks of 32 addresses. In plain language, the last-octet ranges are 0–31, 32–63, 64–95, and so on. Since the host address ends in 62, it belongs to the 32–63 block. The last address in that block is the broadcast address, so the broadcast is 172.16.10.63. This is a classic subnetting question because it requires you to place the host inside the correct block and then identify the last address in that block rather than guessing based on the host value alone.
Key principle: Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
172.16.10.31
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .31 is the broadcast of the 0–31 block, not the block containing .62.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of the subnet 172.16.10.0/27 instead, then option A (172.16.10.31) would be correct, as it would represent the broadcast address for that specific subnet range.
172.16.10.32
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .32 is the network address of the 32–63 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the first usable IP address in the subnet 172.16.10.32/27, then option B would be the correct answer. In this scenario, candidates would need to identify the first address available for assignment to hosts.
172.16.10.63
Why this is correct
This is correct because the host is in the 32–63 /27 block, whose broadcast is .63.
Related concept
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
172.16.10.64
Why it's wrong here
This is wrong because .64 is the start of the next /27 block.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question were to ask for the first usable address of the subnet 172.16.10.64/27, then option D (172.16.10.64) would be correct, as it represents the start of that subnet range.
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 host is in the 32–63 /27 block, whose broadcast is .63.
Why this is wrong here
The address 172.16.10.31 is the broadcast address for the /27 subnet 172.16.10.0–31, not for the subnet containing host 172.16.10.62. Since the host's IP is in the 32–63 range, the broadcast is .63, not .31.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the broadcast address of the subnet 172.16.10.0/27 instead, then option A (172.16.10.31) would be correct, as it would represent the broadcast address for that specific subnet range.
Why candidates choose this
Students often mistakenly calculate the broadcast address by looking at the last octet in binary and forgetting to consider the subnet boundaries. They might incorrectly assume that .31 is the broadcast because it is the last address before the next subnet, but they misidentify the subnet.
Why this is wrong here
172.16.10.32 is the network address (subnet ID) of the /27 subnet that includes hosts 32–63. It is not the broadcast address; the broadcast is the last address in the subnet, which is .63.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the first usable IP address in the subnet 172.16.10.32/27, then option B would be the correct answer. In this scenario, candidates would need to identify the first address available for assignment to hosts.
Why candidates choose this
Some test-takers confuse the network address with the broadcast address, especially when they see that .32 is a multiple of 32 (the block size for /27). They might think that the broadcast is the same as the network address or that it is the first address in the subnet.
Why this is wrong here
172.16.10.64 is the network address of the next /27 subnet (64–95), not the broadcast address for the subnet containing .62. The broadcast for the subnet containing .62 is .63.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question were to ask for the first usable address of the subnet 172.16.10.64/27, then option D (172.16.10.64) would be correct, as it represents the start of that subnet range.
Why candidates choose this
Students sometimes think that the broadcast address is the first address of the next subnet, confusing it with the concept that the broadcast is one less than the next network address. However, they might incorrectly pick the next network address itself instead of subtracting one.
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
Be careful not to confuse the broadcast address with the network address or the start of the next subnet.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting is a fundamental concept in IP networking that allows a large network to be divided into smaller, manageable segments called subnets. Each subnet has a defined range of IP addresses determined by the subnet mask. In this question, the /27 subnet mask means 27 bits are used for the network portion, leaving 5 bits for host addresses. This creates subnets with 32 total IP addresses (2^5), including the network and broadcast addresses. To determine the broadcast address for a host configured with 172.16.10.62/27, you first identify the subnet block it belongs to. Since each /27 block contains 32 addresses, the blocks start at .0, .32, .64, and so on. The host IP .62 falls within the 32–63 range. The broadcast address is the last IP in this range, which is 172.16.10.63. This address is reserved for broadcasting packets to all hosts in the subnet. A common exam trap is confusing the broadcast address with the network address or simply guessing based on the host IP’s last octet. For example, .31 is the broadcast for the 0–31 block, not the block containing .62. Cisco devices rely on accurate subnetting to route traffic correctly and to handle broadcasts properly. Misidentifying the broadcast address can cause communication failures within the subnet and incorrect routing behavior.
Key takeaway
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
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 blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges., 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 blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges..
The correct answer is: 172.16.10.63 — A /27 uses blocks of 32 addresses. In plain language, the last-octet ranges are 0–31, 32–63, 64–95, and so on. Since the host address ends in 62, it belongs to the 32–63 block. The last address in that block is the broadcast address, so the broadcast is 172.16.10.63. This is a classic subnetting question because it requires you to place the host inside the correct block and then identify the last address in that block rather than guessing based on the host value alone.
Review subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller blocks by borrowing bits from the host portion to create subnets with specific address ranges.
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Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
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