(a) If \(y = (2x + 3)^{7} + \frac{x + 1}{2x - 1}\), find the value of \(\frac{\mathrm d y}{\mathrm d x}\) at x = -1.

(b) Using the substitution, \(u = x + 2\), evaluate \(\int_{1} ^{2} \frac{x - 1}{(x + 2)^{4}} \mathrm d x\).