Final answer:
The exterior dimensions of a house, less the garage area, are calculated by determining the total exterior square footage and subtracting the square footage of the garage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exterior dimensions of a rectangular house structure can be calculated by adding the length and width and then multiplying by two, to account for both pairs of opposite sides. This gives the perimeter of the house. To determine the square footage of the exterior minus the garage, one would subtract the area of the garage from the total exterior area of the house.
For example, if a house has a length of 50 feet and a width of 30 feet, the exterior dimensions would be (50 + 30) * 2 = 160 feet, forming the perimeter. If the walls are 8 feet high, the total exterior square footage would be 160 feet * 8 feet = 1,280 square feet. If the garage occupies a 20 feet by 20 feet area, its square footage would be 400 square feet. Subsequently, the exterior dimensions less the garage would be 1,280 square feet - 400 square feet = 880 square feet.