Final answer:
When you subdivide a Class B network into 256 subnets, each subnet can have a maximum of 254 hosts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In networking, when you subnet a network, you divide it into smaller subnets to create more network addresses. In this case, if you subdivide your Class B network into 256 subnets, you are creating 256 smaller subnets. To determine the maximum number of hosts you can assign to any single subnet, you need to use the formula 2n - 2, where 'n' is the number of host bits.
In a Class B network, the default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0, which provides 16 bits for the network address and 16 bits for the host address. By subnetting this network into 256 subnets, you are borrowing 8 bits from the host address space. This leaves 8 bits for the network address and 8 bits for the host address within each subnet.
Using the formula, 2n - 2, where 'n' is 8, we calculate that each subnet can have a maximum of 254 hosts (28 - 2 = 256 - 2 = 254). Therefore, the maximum number of hosts you can assign to any single subnet when you subdivide your Class B network into 256 subnets is 254 hosts.