a, \(x^3-4x=0\\ \Leftrightarrow x\left(x^2-4\right)=0\\ \Leftrightarrow x\left(x-2\right)\left(x+2\right)=0\\ \Leftrightarrow\left[{}\begin{matrix}x=0\\x=2\\x=-2\end{matrix}\right.\)
b, \(\left(x+1\right)^2-x-1=0\\ \Leftrightarrow\left(x+1\right)\left(x+1-1\right)=0\\ \Leftrightarrow\left[{}\begin{matrix}x=0\\x=-1\end{matrix}\right.\)