Alabama Title Insurance Practice Test Prep - Practice Exam & Study Guide

To determine how many acres are in the S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4, it is essential to understand the way land is divided in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).

First, let's break it down step-by-step. The full section of land consists of 640 acres, which is typically a square mile (1 mile x 1 mile). Each quarter section of a section contains 160 acres. Therefore, the NW 1/4, being one quarter of the section, contains 160 acres.

Next, the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 refers to a further subdivision of the previous 160 acres. When you take the NW 1/4 of the 160 acres, you end up with 40 acres, since 160 divided by 4 equals 40.

Now, when the question specifies the S 1/2 of this 40 acres, it refers to half of that area. Taking half of the 40 acres gives you 20 acres. Therefore, the correct answer indicating how many acres are in the S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 is 20 acres