Final answer:
The number of hosts bits available for a class A network is 2,147,483,646.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a class A network, the number of host bits available can be calculated using the formula 2^n - 2, where n is the number of host bits. In class A, the first bit is reserved for the network ID, leaving 31 bits for hosts. So, the number of hosts bits available for a class A network is 2^31 - 2 = 2,147,483,646.