Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →- A
755
Why wrong: 755 corresponds to rwxr-xr-x.
- B
770
Why wrong: 770 is rwxrwx---.
- C
775
rwxrwxr-x = 775.
- D
777
Why wrong: 777 is rwxrwxrwx.
Question 238 of 513
LFCS Essential Commands Practice Question
This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of essential commands. 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. 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 junior admin runs 'ls -l' and sees permissions '-rwxrwxr-x' on a file. What is the octal representation?
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
✓
775
The permissions '-rwxrwxr-x' break down as: owner (rwx = 4+2+1 = 7), group (rwx = 4+2+1 = 7), others (r-x = 4+0+1 = 5). This gives the octal value 775. Option C is correct because it matches this calculation exactly.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
755
Why it's wrong here
755 corresponds to rwxr-xr-x.
- ✗
770
Why it's wrong here
770 is rwxrwx---.
- ✓
775
Why this is correct
rwxrwxr-x = 775.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
777
Why it's wrong here
777 is rwxrwxrwx.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often misread the last three characters 'r-x' as 'rwx' or 'r--', leading them to choose 777 or 755 instead of correctly calculating 775.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Octal representation maps each permission triad (owner, group, others) to a sum of read (4), write (2), and execute (1). The execute bit for others (x) is critical here; a common oversight is misreading the hyphen in the others triad as a missing execute bit, but the 'x' is present. In real-world scenarios, 775 is typical for shared scripts or directories where the group needs full access but others should only read and execute, not modify.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Essential Commands — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LFCS question test?
Essential Commands — This question tests Essential Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 775 — The permissions '-rwxrwxr-x' break down as: owner (rwx = 4+2+1 = 7), group (rwx = 4+2+1 = 7), others (r-x = 4+0+1 = 5). This gives the octal value 775. Option C is correct because it matches this calculation exactly.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.
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