So last year each of her side lengths were 1m. This year she wants to increase the 1m by 50%. To do that you convert 50% into a decimal which is 0.5. Then you find 50% of 1 and add the result to 1m.
0.5 x 1 = 0.5
0.5 + 1 = 1.5 m
Next you find the new area:
1.5 x 1.5 = 2.25 m^2