An nmap command that includes the host specification of 202.176.56-57.* will scan _______ number of hosts.

2 only accounts for the two distinct third-octet values and completely ignores the 256-value wildcard expansion of the fourth octet.

256 would be correct only if a single third-octet value were combined with the wildcard fourth octet, but the range 56-57 contributes a factor of 2.

The range '56-57' in the third octet resolves to exactly 2 values (56 and 57), while the asterisk wildcard in the fourth octet resolves to all 256 possible values (0 through 255). Multiplying 2 by 256 yields exactly 512 hosts that nmap will scan.

Over 10,000 hosts would require much broader ranges or additional wildcards; this specification covers only two contiguous /24-equivalent address blocks.