John starts with 100ft of rope that he cuts in half, meaning he has 100/2= <<100/2=50>>50-foot sections of rope.
He then takes one of these sections and cuts it in half again, leaving him with two 50/2= <<50/2=25>>25-foot sections of rope.
He then takes one of these sections and cuts it into fifths, leaving him with 25/5= <<25/5=5>>5 foot sections of rope, one of which he is now holding.
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