a: \(=-\left[\left(\dfrac{1}{3}ab^2+2a^3b\right)^3\right]\)
\(=\dfrac{-1}{27}a^3b^6-3\cdot\dfrac{1}{9}a^2b^4\cdot2a^3b-3\cdot\dfrac{1}{3}ab^2\cdot4a^6b^2-8a^9b^3\)
\(=\dfrac{-1}{27}a^3b^6-\dfrac{2}{3}a^5b^5-4a^7b^4-8a^9b^3\)
b: \(=x^3+3x^2+3x+1-x^3+3x^2-3x+1-6\left(x^2-1\right)\)
\(=6x^2+2-6x^2+6\)
=8