Suppose $$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 0} {{F(x)} \over {{x^3}}}$$ exists and is equal to L, where

$$F(x) = \left| {\matrix{ {a + \sin {x \over 2}} & { - b\cos x} & 0 \cr { - b\cos x} & 0 & {a + \sin {x \over 2}} \cr 0 & {a + \sin {x \over 2}} & { - b\cos x} \cr } } \right|$$.

Then, $$-$$112 L is equal to ___________.

If $$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 1} {{\sin (3{x^2} - 4x + 1) - {x^2} + 1} \over {2{x^3} - 7{x^2} + ax + b}} = - 2$$, then the value of (a $$-$$ b) is equal to ___________.

Let [t] denote the greatest integer $$\le$$ t and {t} denote the fractional part of t. The integral value of $$\alpha$$ for which the left hand limit of the function

$$f(x) = [1 + x] + {{{\alpha ^{2[x] + {\{x\}}}} + [x] - 1} \over {2[x] + \{ x\} }}$$ at x = 0 is equal to $$\alpha - {4 \over 3}$$, is _____________.

Let $$f(x) = \left[ {2{x^2} + 1} \right]$$ and $$g(x) = \left\{ {\matrix{ {2x - 3,} & {x < 0} \cr {2x + 3,} & {x \ge 0} \cr } } \right.$$, where [t] is the greatest integer $$\le$$ t. Then, in the open interval ($$-$$1, 1), the number of points where fog is discontinuous is equal to ______________.