Final answer:
Dividing a network based on the number of hosts per subnet depends on the class of IP addresses used. Class A, B, and C can be used for varying numbers of hosts, whereas Class D is not used for this purpose. The right class depends on the total required hosts per subnet.
Step-by-step explanation:
To divide a network based on the number of hosts per subnet, you need to consider the class of the IP address and how many available host addresses are needed for each subnet. When you are subnetting with Class A addresses, you get a very large number of possible hosts, as Class A supports up to 16 million hosts (224 - 2 addresses per subnet). With Class B addresses, you have support for up to 65,534 hosts (216 - 2 addresses per subnet), while Class C addresses offer up to 254 hosts (28 - 2 addresses per subnet).
Class D addresses are reserved for multicasting and are not used for standard host-to-host communication; therefore, they are not pertinent to subnetting for the purpose of dividing a network based on the number of hosts.
The correct answer to the question depends on the specific requirements of the network, such as how many subnets are desired and what the exact number of hosts per subnet will be. Without these details, it's impossible to definitively choose from options a), b), c), or d).