$(1+i)^{-3}$
$\begin{aligned} & =\frac{1}{2(-1+i)} \\ & =\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{-1-i}{(-1+i)(-1-i)} \\ & =\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{(-1-i)}{1-i^2} \\ & =\frac{-(1+i)}{2[1-(-1)]} \quad \ldots\left[\because i^2=-1\right] \\ & =\frac{-1}{4}(1+i) \\ \therefore \quad(1+i)^{-3} & =\frac{-1}{4}-\frac{1}{4} i \\ \therefore \quad a=b & =\frac{-1}{4}\end{aligned}$
$a+(a+b) i+b(-1)=2+i \ldots \ldots .\left(\because i^2=-1\right)$
(a – b) + (a + b)i = 2 + i Equating real and imaginary parts, we get a – b = 2 ……(i) a + b = 1 …….(ii) Adding equations (i) and (ii), we get 2a = 3
$\therefore a=\frac{3}{2}$
Substituting $a=\frac{3}{2}$ in (ii), we get
$\frac{3}{2}+b=1$
$\therefore b=1-\frac{3}{2}=\frac{-1}{2}$
$\therefore a=\frac{3}{2}$ and $b=\frac{-1}{2}$