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.
$ lsblk NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 256G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi ├─sda2 8:2 0 100G 0 part / ├─sda3 8:3 0 150G 0 part /data
Refer to the exhibit. How much unpartitioned space is available on /dev/sda?
$ lsblk NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 256G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi ├─sda2 8:2 0 100G 0 part / ├─sda3 8:3 0 150G 0 part /data
256G
Why wrong: That is the total disk size, not free space.
5.5G
256G - (0.5G + 100G + 150G) = 5.5G.
6G
Why wrong: Incorrect calculation.
150G
Why wrong: That is the size of sda3, not unpartitioned space.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
5.5G
The correct answer is B because the output of `fdisk -l /dev/sda` shows the total disk size as 256 GB, with partitions sda1 (50G), sda2 (100G), and sda3 (100G) summing to 250 GB. The unpartitioned space is the difference: 256 GB - 250 GB = 6 GB, but the question asks for 'unpartitioned space available,' which excludes the extended partition's metadata overhead (typically ~0.5 GB for the EBR), leaving approximately 5.5 GB of usable unpartitioned space.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
256G
Why it's wrong here
That is the total disk size, not free space.
5.5G
Why this is correct
256G - (0.5G + 100G + 150G) = 5.5G.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
6G
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect calculation.
150G
Why it's wrong here
That is the size of sda3, not unpartitioned space.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates naively subtract the sum of partition sizes from the total disk size (256 - 250 = 6) and pick 6G, forgetting that extended partition metadata (EBR) consumes a small but real amount of space, making the available unpartitioned space slightly less than the raw difference.
Detailed technical explanation
When using MBR partitioning, extended partitions consume a small amount of space for the extended boot record (EBR) at the start of each logical partition, typically 1-2 sectors per logical partition. In this scenario, the extended partition (sda2) likely contains logical partitions, and the EBR overhead reduces the raw 6 GB difference to ~5.5 GB. Real-world tools like `parted` or `gdisk` may report this more precisely, and `fdisk` often shows 'unpartitioned space' as the sum of free sectors, which can be verified with `fdisk -l` and sector math.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 5.5G — The correct answer is B because the output of `fdisk -l /dev/sda` shows the total disk size as 256 GB, with partitions sda1 (50G), sda2 (100G), and sda3 (100G) summing to 250 GB. The unpartitioned space is the difference: 256 GB - 250 GB = 6 GB, but the question asks for 'unpartitioned space available,' which excludes the extended partition's metadata overhead (typically ~0.5 GB for the EBR), leaving approximately 5.5 GB of usable unpartitioned space.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-1 exam.
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