$a.$ `x^2 -1 = 3`
`x^2=3+1`
`x^2=4`
`=> x^2=2^2=(-2)^2`
`=> x=2` `\text{hoặc}` `x=-2`
`\text{Vậy}` `x\in {-2; 2}.`
$b.$ `(x - 1)^2 - 1 = 3`
`(x-1)^2=3+1`
`(x-1)^2=4`
`=> (x-1)^2=2^2=(-2)^2`
`=> x-1=2` `\text{hoặc}` `x-1=-2`
$+)$ `x-1=2`
`x=2+1`
`x=3`
$+)$ `x-1=-2`
`x=-2+1`
`x=-1`
`\text{Vậy}` `x\in {-1; 3}.`