You need to use two formulas - firstly a= propagation delay/transmission time. We'll denote this by tprop and ttrans.
tprop is given in the question, it is 20 x 10-3
ttrans is Distance/Data Rate
so ttrans = L / 4 x 103
ttrans = 80/L
(becasue the powers of ten cancel each other out so you just multiply 20 x 4.
we use powers of ten because we need the same format as the propogation delay
a = 80/L
2. Use the formula 1/1+2a >= .5 =
1/
1+ 160/L>=.5
First
1>=
.5(1+160/L)second
1>= .5
+ 80/Lthird
80/L >= 1 x .5
fourth .5 >= 80/L
L >= 80/.5
L >= 160