a: \(=\dfrac{-36}{35}\cdot\dfrac{14}{9}\cdot\dfrac{-1}{8}=\dfrac{36}{9}\cdot\dfrac{14}{35}\cdot\dfrac{1}{8}=4\cdot\dfrac{1}{8}\cdot\dfrac{2}{5}=\dfrac{1}{5}\)
b: \(=\left(6+\dfrac{1}{8}-\dfrac{1}{2}\right)\cdot4\)
\(=\dfrac{48+1-4}{8}\cdot4=\dfrac{45}{2}\)