A site contains 40,000 square feet. The building footprint covers 10,000 square feet. What is the ratio of total site area to building footprint area? Express the result as a multiple of footprint area.
Correct Answer
B) 4 times footprint area
Site-area-to-footprint ratio = 40,000 SF / 10,000 SF = 4, or 4:1. The indicated result is 4 times footprint area. Common errors: inverting the ratio (footprint ÷ site area) gives 0.25 times footprint area; adding the footprint to the site area before dividing gives 5 times footprint area; misplacing the decimal in the footprint area gives 40 times footprint area.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B is correct because 40,000 SF ÷ 10,000 SF = 4, so the site is 4 times the footprint area, a 4:1 ratio. The ratio compares the entire site, including the footprint, to the footprint. This type of ratio helps relate site size to building coverage.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 0.25 times footprint area
Option A, 0.25 times footprint area, inverts the ratio: 10,000 ÷ 40,000 = 0.25. The ratio asked for puts total site area over footprint area, so it is 40,000 ÷ 10,000 = 4.
Option C: 5 times footprint area
Option C, 5 times footprint area, adds the footprint to the site area before dividing: (40,000 + 10,000) ÷ 10,000 = 5. The footprint is already inside the site area, so the ratio is 40,000 ÷ 10,000 = 4.
Option D: 40 times footprint area
Option D, 40 times footprint area, misplaces the decimal in the footprint: 40,000 ÷ 1,000 = 40. Using the stated 10,000 SF footprint gives 40,000 ÷ 10,000 = 4.
Whole Site Over Footprint
Put the whole site on top and the footprint on the bottom. Do not subtract or add the footprint first.
How to use: Use this to set up any site-to-footprint ratio problem.
Exam Tip
Put the total site area on top and the footprint underneath; dividing the other way, or adding the footprint again, gives a wrong multiple.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Inverting the ratio (footprint over site area)
- -Adding the footprint to the site area
- -Dropping a zero when dividing
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests calculating a land-to-building (site-to-footprint) ratio. Divide total site area by building footprint area. The result is expressed as a multiple of the footprint.
Background Knowledge
A land-to-building ratio compares site area to building area and is used to assess site utilization and compare properties. Zoning regulations on density, setbacks and height influence how much of a site a building can cover. Total site area already includes the area under the building.
Real-World Application
An appraiser compares two homes, one with a 4:1 site-to-footprint ratio and another closer to 2:1. The higher ratio indicates more room for a yard, driveway, detached garage or a future addition, which the appraiser considers in the comparison.
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