CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A host is configured with 172.16.10.62/27. Which address is the broadcast address for that subnet?
⚠ Common exam trap
Be careful not to confuse the broadcast address with the network address or the start of the next subnet.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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.
- ✗
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
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.
✓172.16.10.63Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is correct because the host is in the 32–63 /27 block, whose broadcast is .63.
✗172.16.10.31Wrong answer — click to see why▾
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.
✗172.16.10.32Wrong answer — click to see why▾
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.
✗172.16.10.64Wrong answer — click to see why▾
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?”
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Variable Length Subnet Mask
A Variable Length Subnet Mask (VLSM) allows network engineers to divide an IP address space into subnets of different sizes, using different subnet masks for each subnet to match the exact number of hosts needed.
Key term
Subnetting
Subnetting is the process of dividing a larger IP network into smaller, more manageable subnetworks (subnets) to improve performance, security, and efficient use of IP addresses.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.