\[x^{3} - 8y^{3} + 2x^{2}y - 4xy^{2} =\]
\[= (x - 2y)\left( x^{2} + 2xy + 4y^{2} \right) + 2xy(x - 2y) =\]
\[= (x - 2y)\left( x^{2} + 2xy + 4y^{2} + 2xy \right) =\]
\[= (x - 2y)\left( x^{2} + 4xy + 4y^{2} \right) =\]
\[= (x - 2y)(x + 2y)^{2}\]
\[Пусть\ \text{x\ }лет - брату;\text{y\ }лет - сестре.\]
\[Составим\ систему\ уравнений:\]
\[\left\{ \begin{matrix} x - 4 = 3 \cdot (y - 4) \\ x = 2y\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \end{matrix} \right.\ \]
\[\left\{ \begin{matrix} x - 4 = 3y - 12 \\ x = 2y\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \end{matrix} \right.\ \Longrightarrow \left\{ \begin{matrix} x = 3y + 8 \\ x = 2y\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \end{matrix} \right.\ \]
\[3y + 8 = 2y\]
\[3y - 2y = 8\]
\[y = 8\ (лет) - сестре.\]
\[8 \cdot 2 = 16\ (лет) - брату.\]
\[Ответ:16\ лет.\]