Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →- A
754
Correct: rwxr-xr-- corresponds to 754.
- B
755
Why wrong: rwxr-xr-x, not r-- for others.
- C
754
Same as A, but duplicate; corrected.
- D
744
Why wrong: rwxr--r--, group has r-- not r-x.
Question 100 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 user wants to set the permissions of a file to 'rwxr-xr--'. Which octal permission value should they use with chmod?
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
✓
754
The permissions 'rwxr-xr--' correspond to owner: rwx (7), group: r-x (5), others: r-- (4). The octal value 754 is derived by summing the binary bits for each triad: read (4), write (2), execute (1). Thus, chmod 754 sets the exact permissions requested.
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.
- ✓
754
Why this is correct
Correct: rwxr-xr-- corresponds to 754.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
755
Why it's wrong here
rwxr-xr-x, not r-- for others.
- ✓
754
Why this is correct
Same as A, but duplicate; corrected.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
744
Why it's wrong here
rwxr--r--, group has r-- not r-x.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the order of the octal digits (owner, group, others) or miscompute the group/others values, leading them to pick 755 (granting extra execute) or 744 (missing group execute).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Octal permissions are a compact representation of the 9-bit permission mask in Unix/Linux. Each digit (0-7) maps to a 3-bit set: read (4), write (2), execute (1). The chmod command directly interprets these octal values without needing symbolic mode parsing, making it efficient for scripting. In practice, 754 is common for executable files that should be readable by all but writable only by the owner.
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: 754 — The permissions 'rwxr-xr--' correspond to owner: rwx (7), group: r-x (5), others: r-- (4). The octal value 754 is derived by summing the binary bits for each triad: read (4), write (2), execute (1). Thus, chmod 754 sets the exact permissions requested.
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 11, 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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