A framed photograph has outer dimensions of 64 cm by 40 cm, with a 2.5 cm border. Calculate the area of the frame and the dimensions of the photo.

$$A = L \times B$$ $$A = 64 \text{ cm} \times 40 \text{ cm}$$

$$A = 2560 \text{ cm}^2$$

The area of the wall covered by the framed photograph is $\boxed{\text{2560 cm}^2}$.

2.1.2 Determine the dimensions (length and breadth) of the photo that will fit in the photo part of the frame.
The outer frame has a length of $64 \text{ cm}$ and a breadth of $40 \text{ cm}$. The border width around the photo is $2.5 \text{ cm}$ on all sides.

$$\text{Length of photo} = \text{Outer length} - (2 \times \text{border width})$$ $$\text{Length of photo} = 64 \text{ cm} - (2 \times 2.5 \text{ cm})$$ $$\text{Length of photo} = 64 \text{ cm} - 5 \text{ cm}$$ $$\text{Length of photo} = 59 \text{ cm}$$

$$\text{Breadth of photo} = \text{Outer breadth} - (2 \times \text{border width})$$ $$\text{Breadth of photo} = 40 \text{ cm} - (2 \times 2.5 \text{ cm})$$ $$\text{Breadth of photo} = 40 \text{ cm} - 5 \text{ cm}$$ $$\text{Breadth of photo} = 35 \text{ cm}$$

The dimensions of the photo are $\boxed{\text{Length} = 59 \text{ cm}, \text{Breadth} = 35 \text{ cm}}$.

2.1.3 Determine the area of the frame (excluding the photo area) in cm$^2$.
The total area of the framed photograph is $2560 \text{ cm}^2$ (from 2.1.1).
The dimensions of the photo are $59 \text{ cm}$ by $35 \text{ cm}$ (from 2.1.2).

$$\text{Area of photo} = \text{Length of photo} \times \text{Breadth of photo}$$ $$\text{Area of photo} = 59 \text{ cm} \times 35 \text{ cm}$$ $$\text{Area of photo} = 2065 \text{ cm}^2$$

$$\text{Area of frame} = \text{Total area of framed photograph} - \text{Area of photo}$$ $$\text{Area of frame} = 2560 \text{ cm}^2 - 2065 \text{ cm}^2$$ $$\text{Area of frame} = 495 \text{ cm}^2$$

The area of the frame (excluding the photo area) is $\boxed{\text{495 cm}^2}$.