This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. 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.
Which two commands can be used to display the amount of free and used memory in the system?
Displays amount of free and used memory in the system.
B
uptime
Why wrong: Shows system load, uptime, and users, not memory details.
C
ps
Why wrong: Reports process status, not memory usage.
D
top
Shows memory usage in its header along with process information.
E
vmstat
Why wrong: Provides virtual memory statistics but also includes other system information; typically used for performance analysis, but not a simple memory display like free or top.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
free
The `free` command displays the total amount of free and used physical memory and swap space in the system, along with buffers and cache. The `top` command provides a real-time, dynamic view of running processes and includes a summary of memory usage (both physical and swap) at the top of its output. Both commands are standard Linux utilities for monitoring memory consumption.
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.
✓
free
Why this is correct
Displays amount of free and used memory in the system.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
uptime
Why it's wrong here
Shows system load, uptime, and users, not memory details.
✗
ps
Why it's wrong here
Reports process status, not memory usage.
✓
top
Why this is correct
Shows memory usage in its header along with process information.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
vmstat
Why it's wrong here
Provides virtual memory statistics but also includes other system information; typically used for performance analysis, but not a simple memory display like free or top.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
LPI often tests the distinction between commands that show system-wide memory summary (`free`, `top`) versus those that show per-process memory usage (`ps`) or system load/uptime (`uptime`), leading candidates to mistakenly select `ps` because it shows a %MEM column.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows system load, uptime, and users, not memory details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `free` command reads memory information from `/proc/meminfo`, which contains raw kernel memory statistics. The `top` command also reads from `/proc/meminfo` and `/proc/stat`, but it refreshes periodically (default every 3 seconds) and provides a process-oriented view. A subtle behavior: `free` shows 'available' memory (a more accurate estimate of memory available for starting new applications) in newer versions, while `top` shows 'avail Mem' in its summary line — both account for reclaimable cache and buffers, which can confuse candidates who think 'free' memory is the only usable memory.
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.
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: free — The `free` command displays the total amount of free and used physical memory and swap space in the system, along with buffers and cache. The `top` command provides a real-time, dynamic view of running processes and includes a summary of memory usage (both physical and swap) at the top of its output. Both commands are standard Linux utilities for monitoring memory consumption.
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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