How do I solve this fraction question? If $a = -1/5$, how do I calculate:
$$3 a + 2 a^2$$
I did $3\times(-1/5) + (-1/5) \times (-1/5) \times 2$, but can't figure out what the right way to solve this is.

It might help you to add a denominator of $1$ to integers: $$\frac{3}{1} \times \frac{-1}{5} = \frac{-3}{5}.$$
So far so good, right? Next, $$\frac{2}{1} \times \left(\frac{-1}{5}\right)^2 = \frac{2}{1} \times \frac{1}{25} = \frac{2}{25}.$$
And then $$\frac{-3}{5} + \frac{2}{25} = \frac{-15}{25} + \frac{2}{25} = ?$$
