\[\left( a^{- 1} + b \right)\left( a + b^{- 1} \right)^{- 1} =\]
\[= \left( \frac{1}{a} + b \right)\left( a + \frac{1}{b} \right)^{- 1} =\]
\[= \frac{(1 + ab)}{a}\left( \frac{ab + 1}{b} \right)^{- 1} =\]
\[= \frac{1 + ab}{a} \cdot \frac{b}{ab + 1} = \frac{b}{a}.\]