LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sda1 * 2048 2099199 2097152 1G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2099200 41943039 39843840 19G 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 41943040 83886079 41943040 20G 83 Linux
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator wants to add a new partition that uses the remaining space on /dev/sda (total 40GB). What is the next free sector for the start of the new partition?
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sda1 * 2048 2099199 2097152 1G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2099200 41943039 39843840 19G 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 41943040 83886079 41943040 20G 83 Linux
A
83886080
The next free sector after the last used sector.
B
83886079
Why wrong: This is the last sector of the existing partition, not free.
C
83886078
Why wrong: This is the second last sector, not free.
D
0
Why wrong: Sector 0 is the MBR, not free for a new partition.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
83886080
The correct next free sector is 83886080 because the existing partition(s) on /dev/sda end at sector 83886079, and the next sector after that is 83886080. Since the disk has a total of 40 GB (which is 40 × 1024 × 1024 × 1024 / 512 = 83886080 sectors), sector 83886080 is also the last sector on the disk, meaning the new partition would start at the very end of the available space. This aligns with the standard practice of starting a partition at the next free sector after the last used one.
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.
✓
83886080
Why this is correct
The next free sector after the last used sector.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
83886079
Why it's wrong here
This is the last sector of the existing partition, not free.
✗
83886078
Why it's wrong here
This is the second last sector, not free.
✗
0
Why it's wrong here
Sector 0 is the MBR, not free for a new partition.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the last sector number (83886079) with the next free sector, forgetting that sectors are zero-indexed and the next free sector is one greater than the last used sector, which in this case equals the total sector count and indicates no space remains.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In MBR partitioning, the first sector (sector 0) contains the boot code and partition table, so it is never available for data. The total number of 512-byte sectors on a 40 GB disk is calculated as (40 × 1024^3) / 512 = 83886080, so sector numbers range from 0 to 83886079. The next free sector after the last used sector (83886079) would be 83886080, but since that exceeds the maximum sector number, the only way to use the remaining space is to start the new partition at sector 83886080, which is actually beyond the disk — this indicates that the remaining space is exactly 0 sectors, so no new partition can be created unless the existing partition is resized.
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 LPIC-1 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.
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 83886080 — The correct next free sector is 83886080 because the existing partition(s) on /dev/sda end at sector 83886079, and the next sector after that is 83886080. Since the disk has a total of 40 GB (which is 40 × 1024 × 1024 × 1024 / 512 = 83886080 sectors), sector 83886080 is also the last sector on the disk, meaning the new partition would start at the very end of the available space. This aligns with the standard practice of starting a partition at the next free sector after the last used one.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 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.
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Question Discussion
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