Which technology company acquired the professional networking site LinkedIn for about 26.2 billion United States dollars?

Introduction / Context:
Mergers and acquisitions involving large global technology companies are frequently highlighted in business news and often become important exam questions. LinkedIn is a major professional networking platform, and its acquisition by a leading software company was a headline making deal. This question checks whether you remember which company bought LinkedIn for around 26.2 billion United States dollars.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The company acquired is LinkedIn, a professional networking site.
• The purchase price was about 26.2 billion US dollars.
• Options list Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and IBM as potential buyers.
• We assume the well known deal completed in the mid twenty tens.

Concept / Approach:
In 2016, Microsoft announced and later completed the acquisition of LinkedIn in a cash deal valued at approximately 26.2 billion dollars. The acquisition was significant because it allowed Microsoft to integrate LinkedIn data and services with its productivity tools such as Office and Dynamics. Facebook, Apple, and IBM have made other acquisitions but are not associated with buying LinkedIn. Remembering this specific pairing is key.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall reading in business news that a major software company acquired LinkedIn in a multi billion dollar deal. Step 2: Remember that this company was Microsoft, which saw LinkedIn as a way to strengthen its presence in professional networking and enterprise services. Step 3: Check the options and identify Microsoft among them. Step 4: Recognise that Facebook runs its own social network and was not the buyer in this deal. Step 5: Select Microsoft as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official press releases, financial news websites, and exam oriented business awareness notes all state clearly that Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for about 26.2 billion dollars. The deal has been widely analysed for its strategic impact on Microsoft s ecosystem. Because this information appears consistently across multiple credible sources, there is no doubt that Microsoft is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Apple: Known for hardware devices and services like the App Store and iCloud, but it did not buy LinkedIn.
Facebook: This company acquired platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, but not LinkedIn.
IBM: A big technology and consulting company, but again not the acquirer of LinkedIn.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes guess Facebook because they associate it strongly with social networking. However, LinkedIn is a professional network and the deal was actually part of Microsoft s strategy to build a professional cloud. The best way to avoid confusion is to pair specific deals in memory, for example Facebook with WhatsApp and Instagram, and Microsoft with LinkedIn.

Final Answer:
The company that acquired LinkedIn for about 26.2 billion US dollars is Microsoft.