Final answer:
The N 1/2 of the SW 1/2 of a section is equal to half of a quarter section of land, which amounts to 80 acres. This calculation uses the Public Land Survey System, where a section is typically 640 acres, a quarter section is 160 acres, and a quarter-quarter section is 40 acres.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to determining the size of a parcel of land that is described using the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), which is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. A section of land is usually one square mile, which is equal to 640 acres. This section can then be divided into quarters, and each of those quarters would be 160 acres (since 640 / 4 = 160). If we further divide a quarter section, we create quarter-quarter sections of 40 acres each (since 160 / 4 = 40).
Looking specifically at the question, the N 1/2 of the SW 1/2 means that we're looking at the northern half of the southwest quarter. Since the southwest quarter section is 160 acres, taking half of that would give us 80 acres. Therefore, the correct answer to the question "The N 1/2 of the SW 1/2 of a section contains how many acres?" is D. 80 acres.