解:$(1) -\frac 12x\ \mathrm {·}(-2x^2 + 4) = (-\frac 12x)\ \mathrm {·}(-2x^2) + (-\frac 12x)\ \mathrm {·}4 = x^3 - 2x$
$(2) 4xy\ \mathrm {·}(-2y) + 2y(6xy + 2) = -8xy^2 + 12xy^2 + 4y = 4xy^2 + 4y$
$(3) (-\frac 12a^2b)^2(4a - b^2) = \frac 14a^4b^2\ \mathrm {·}4a - \frac 14a^4b^2\ \mathrm {·}b^2 = a^5b^2 - \frac 14a^4b^4$
$(4) x^2(x - 1) - x(x^2 - x - 1) = x^3 - x^2 - x^3 + x^2 + x = x$