$k=8-|$~$lo{g}_2(h+2)$~$|$

$h$ : Minimum number of hosts needed per subnet.

$k$ : Number of bits left for addressing within each

subnet.

$|$~$*$~$|$ : Ceiling function.

Calculation Steps:

Determine $h$ : Specify the minimum number of hosts

required per subnet.

Add $2$ to $h$ : Account for the network and broadcast

addresses, which are not assignable to hosts.

Calculate $lo{g}_2(h+2)$ : Find the base$-2$ logarithm of

$h+2$ to determine how many bits are needed to

represent all possible host addresses.

Apply the Ceiling Function: Round up to ensure

there are enough bits to address $h+2$ entities.

Subtract from $8$ : Since a Class C network originally

allows for $8$ bits for host addressing, subtract the

result from $8$ to find out how many bits are used for

the subnet portion.

Now apply the calculation process explained

above. Start by adding $10$ to today's date. For

instance, if today is the $24$th$,$ use the value $34.$

Supporting this number of hosts on each subnet

leaves $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$ bits to define the subnets.