Answer:
48 sq ft
Step-by-step
I am pretty sure they mean what is the new area if the current area is expanded so: 100% + 50% = 150%
4 times 8 = current area = 32 sq ft
32 times 1.5 = new area = 48 sq ft
in the circumstance in which they were talking about the side lengths and not the original then it would be
8 times 1.5 = 12
4 times 1.5 = 6
6 times 12 = area = 72 sq ft
