Question 668 of 1,020

IP Addressing →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

220-1101 IP Addressing Practice Question

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of ip addressing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 technician is configuring a new printer on a network with the IP 172.16.0.50 and subnet mask 255.255.0.0. The router's LAN IP is 172.16.0.1. A workstation with IP 172.16.1.10 can ping the printer, but a workstation with IP 172.17.0.10 cannot. What is the most likely reason?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Review the full subnetting walkthrough →

A
The printer's subnet mask is wrong.
Why wrong: The printer's subnet mask 255.255.0.0 is correct for the 172.16.0.0 network; the issue is with the other workstation's network.
B
The workstation with IP 172.17.0.10 is on a different network and needs a router to reach the printer.
172.17.0.10 is on the 172.17.0.0/16 network, which is separate from 172.16.0.0/16, so they require a router to communicate.
C
The printer has a duplicate IP address.
Why wrong: There is no indication of a duplicate IP; the printer is reachable from one workstation.
D
The default gateway on the printer is missing.
Why wrong: A default gateway is only needed to reach other networks, but the printer can be reached from within its own network; the issue is the other workstation's location.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The workstation with IP 172.17.0.10 is on a different network and needs a router to reach the printer.

The subnet mask 255.255.0.0 means the network is 172.16.0.0/16, so 172.16.1.10 is on the same network, but 172.17.0.10 is on a different network (172.17.0.0/16). Without a router between them, they cannot communicate. This tests understanding of subnetting and how the subnet mask defines the network boundary.

Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
The printer's subnet mask is wrong.
Why it's wrong here
The printer's subnet mask 255.255.0.0 is correct for the 172.16.0.0 network; the issue is with the other workstation's network.
✓
The workstation with IP 172.17.0.10 is on a different network and needs a router to reach the printer.
Why this is correct
172.17.0.10 is on the 172.17.0.0/16 network, which is separate from 172.16.0.0/16, so they require a router to communicate.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
✗
The printer has a duplicate IP address.
Why it's wrong here
There is no indication of a duplicate IP; the printer is reachable from one workstation.
✗
The default gateway on the printer is missing.
Why it's wrong here
A default gateway is only needed to reach other networks, but the printer can be reached from within its own network; the issue is the other workstation's location.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses

Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.

KKey Concepts to Remember

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.

TExam Day Tips

Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.

Key takeaway

Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

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

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 220-1201 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

IP Addressing — This question tests IP Addressing — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The workstation with IP 172.17.0.10 is on a different network and needs a router to reach the printer. — The subnet mask 255.255.0.0 means the network is 172.16.0.0/16, so 172.16.1.10 is on the same network, but 172.17.0.10 is on a different network (172.17.0.0/16). Without a router between them, they cannot communicate. This tests understanding of subnetting and how the subnet mask defines the network boundary.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

CIDR notation defines the prefix length.

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