\(a)\dfrac{{8{{\rm{x}}^2} + 4{\rm{x}}}}{{1 - 4{{\rm{x}}^2}}} = \dfrac{{4{\rm{x}}.\left( {2{\rm{x}} + 1} \right)}}{{\left( {1 - 2{\rm{x}}} \right).\left( {1 + 2{\rm{x}}} \right)}} = \dfrac{{4{\rm{x}}}}{{1 - 2{\rm{x}}}}\)
\(b)\dfrac{{{x^3} - x{y^2}}}{{2{{\rm{x}}^2} + 2{\rm{x}}y}} = \dfrac{{x\left( {{x^2} - {y^2}} \right)}}{{2{\rm{x}}\left( {x + y} \right)}} = \dfrac{{x\left( {x + y} \right)\left( {x - y} \right)}}{{2{\rm{x}}\left( {x + y} \right)}} = \dfrac{{x - y}}{2}\)