\(\text{a) }\left(6x+1\right)^2+\left(6x-1\right)^2-2\left(6x+1\right)\left(6x-1\right)\\ =\left[\left(6x+1\right)-\left(6x-1\right)\right]^2\\ =\left[6x+1-6x+1\right]^2\\ =2^2\\ =4\)
\(\text{b) }3\left(2^2+1\right)\left(2^4+1\right)\left(2^8+1\right)\left(2^{16}+1\right)\\ =\left(2^2-1\right)\left(2^2+1\right)\left(2^4+1\right)\left(2^8+1\right)\left(2^{16}+1\right)\\ =\left(2^4-1\right)\left(2^4+1\right)\left(2^8+1\right)\left(2^{16}+1\right)\\ =\left(2^8-1\right)\left(2^8+1\right)\left(2^{16}+1\right)\\ =\left(2^{16}-1\right)\left(2^{16}+1\right)\\ =2^{32}-1\)