a, \(\sqrt{17-12\sqrt{2}}-\sqrt{17+12\sqrt{2}}\)
\(=\sqrt{17-2.3.2\sqrt{2}}-\sqrt{17+2.3.2\sqrt{2}}\)
\(=\sqrt{9-2.3.2\sqrt{2}+8}-\sqrt{9+2.3.2\sqrt{2}+8}\)
\(=\sqrt{\left(3-2\sqrt{2}\right)^2}-\sqrt{\left(3+2\sqrt{2}\right)^2}=\left|3-2\sqrt{2}\right|-\left|3+2\sqrt{2}\right|\)
\(=3-2\sqrt{2}-3-2\sqrt{2}=-4\sqrt{2}\)
b, \(\sqrt{31-12\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{31+12\sqrt{3}}\)
\(=\sqrt{31-2.2.3\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{31+2.2.3\sqrt{3}}\)
\(=\sqrt{\left(3\sqrt{3}-2\right)^2}-\sqrt{\left(3\sqrt{3}+2\right)^2}=\left|3\sqrt{3}-2\right|-\left|3\sqrt{3}+2\right|\)
\(=3\sqrt{3}-2-3\sqrt{3}-2=-4\)
