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1) Ratio Theorem (RT) : Case 1: If The Point Lies BETWEEN Two Known Position Vectors
1) Ratio Theorem (RT) : Case 1: If The Point Lies BETWEEN Two Known Position Vectors
1)
This theorem is used to find any points (or position vectors) on a given line (direction vector). Two
ways RT can be applied:
Case 1: If the point lies BETWEEN two known position vectors
For example, if a point X lies along AB (ie position vectors of A and B are known), position vectors
of X can be found if the ratio of AX: XB is known.
For AX: XB = : as shown in the diagram below, OX =
OA + OB
using RT.
+
O
Case 2: If the point lies OUTSIDE two known position vectors
This applies to the scenario where the point X lies on the line AB produced as shown in the figure
below:
A
Summary: Vectors
OA + OX
. Do note that the subject (i.e. OB) is always the
+
point in the middle. The point X can be found by making OX as the subject, i.e.
OX =
( + ) OB OA
Note:
(1) The use of RT is very common in A Levels question.
(2) If = , RT becomes the mid-point theorem
(3) The vectors used in the RT are always POSITION VECTORS!
2)
a1 b1
a b = a 2 b2 = a1b1 + a 2 b2 + a 3b3
a b
3 3
&
a1 b1 a 2 b3 a 3b2
a b = a 2 b2 = (a1b3 a 3b1 )
a b a b a b
2 1
3 3 1 2
Note:
(1) Both vectors a & b must point in the same direction. Refer to lecture notes to check what I
mean!
(2) a x b will produce a vector that is mutually perpendicular to a and b. This is very useful in
application problems involving planes.
3)
Vector line equation
A vector line equation can be obtained in two ways using:
(1) Two known position vectors OR
(2) A position vector and a vector (or direction vector) parallel to the line.
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Summary: Vectors
A vector line equation can be expressed in two forms:
(1) Parametric form i.e. l : r = a + b , where r is any point on the line, a is a given point on the
line, b is a direction vector parallel to the line and is the parameter.
Note: the vector line equation resembles the straight line equation i.e. y = mx + c from A Math.
x
(2) Cartesian form i.e. by letting r = y and rearranging the parametric form by making the
z
subject, the Cartesian equation of the line can be obtained.
For example,
1
3
x 1
3
If l : r = 2 + 2 y = 2 + 2
3
1
z 3
1
x = 1 + 3
= ( x 1) / 3
y = 2 + 2 = ( y 2) / 2
z = 3+
= z 3
x 1 y 2
=
= z 3
3
2
Note: Students are advised to know how to convert between the two forms of the vector line
equations.
4)
OR
Summary: Vectors
vector). This is the most useful and easiest to use of the three forms. Most applications
require the plane to be in this form.
Special Note:
It is very useful to know how to change the forms of the vector plane equation, especially when
solving applications problems involving vectors. Students can convert the vector plane equations in
the following manner:
Parametric form
Cartesian form
Parametric form
Cartesian form
Note: It also means that there is no way to convert scalar product form to parametric form!
Conversions (a) to (c) are relatively easy, which should be documented in most lecture notes. Here, I
will present the conversion of Cartesian form directly to parametric form.
Summary: Vectors
Note: Students can also make y or z as the subject.
Now, we can let y = & z = which will give us the two parameters in the parametric form.
Equation (*) thus becomes,
x=
3 4 + 5
2
( 3 4 + 5) 5 3 2
x
x
2 2 2
=
Since r = y y =
z
z
5 3
3
5
x 2
2
2
2 2
2
y = 0 + + 0 : r = 0 + 1 + 0
z 0 0
1
0
0
5
2
Hence, a = 0 which is a point on the plane. The two vectors parallel to the plane are
0
3
2
2
1 & 0 .
0 1
5)
Applications of vectors
a)
Finding angles
The key to finding angles is to use the direction vectors of the line and the plane (i.e. normal vector).
To determine the angles, students should use the scalar dot product formula i.e. a b = a b cos
cos =
a b
ab
Note: Usually acute angles are required, hence the formula can be modified to
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Summary: Vectors
cos =
a b
ab
Students should recall that if cos is positive, the angle must lie in the first quadrant (from A Math
trigonometry) i.e. acute angle. To find the angle, simply replace vectors a and b with the appropriate
directional and/or normal vectors.
Line
Angle
required
Summary: Vectors
will imply that there is no intersection between the two lines. Lecture notes should contain this
example (please refer).
1
3
For example, if the intersect lie on l : r = 2 + 2 , the position vector of the point of intersect
3
1
1 + 3
must be 2 + 2 .
3+
To find the point of intersect, students are advised to change the vector plane equation (if given
in the cartesian or parametric form) to the scalar dot product form i.e. r n = a n .
For example, to find the point of intersection between the line and plane below,
1
3
l : r = 2 + 2
2x + 3y + 4z = 5
&
3
1
1 + 3
By first changing the vector plane equation to the scalar dot product form
2
r 3 = 5
i.e.
2x + 3y + 4z = 5
4
1 + 3
Next, r can be replaced by 2 + 2 since the point will also lie on the plane.
3+
Thus, 2 + 2 3 = 5 , where can be found.
3 + 4
Summary: Vectors
iii) Between two planes
When two planes intersect, they will form a vector line.
To find the line, the plane equations should be in
Scalar dot product form &
Parametric form
2
For example, if we have 1 : r 3 = 7
1
&
0
2
6
2 : r = 2 + 0 + 1
8
1
9
2 6
2 6 2
2 3 = 7
8 + 9 1
Here, we will get a relationship between and . By either making or as the subject and
substituting it back into equation of 2 (i.e. parametric form), the line of intersection can be
found
Note: This method reduces the equation of 2 to a single parameter, which now defines a vector
line equation.
Alternatively, students can change the plane equations into the Cartesian form and use GC
applets to define the equation of the intersection.
iv) Between three planes
When 3 planes intersect, there are three possible outcomes
They form a point (i.e. position vector)
They form a line (i.e. vector line equation)
There is no intersect
Students can determine the intersection between three planes using GC applets.
Note: This section is related to system of linear equations. Under that chapter, there is usually a
unique solution (i.e. they intersect to form a point), but under vectors, either one of the 3
outcomes is possible.
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Summary: Vectors
c)
Given point
Foot of
perpendicular
To find the foot of perpendicular, we first must construct a direction vector between the point
(i.e. position vector) and the foot of perpendicular (i.e. red point). Since the foot of perpendicular
lies on the line, it must take the equation of the line.
1
3
For example, if the line equation is l : r = 2 + 2 and the given point (i.e. OA) is
3
1
5
5 .
5
1 + 3
1 + 3 5 4 + 3
3
Since AN is perpendicular to the line AN 2 = 0 , which allows you to solve for and
1
subsequently solve for ON.
Summary: Vectors
3
Note: 2 is the direction vector of the line. Once the foot of perpendicular is found, the shortest
1
distance (i.e. perpendicular distance) can also be found, by taking the modulus of the direction
vector.
Normal
vector
Foot of
perpendicular,
ON
To find the foot of perpendicular (ON) to the plane, we can first construct a line containing the
given point and parallel to the normal vector of the plane. Since the foot of perpendicular is also
a point on the line, it must take the equation of the line.
The same point (i.e. foot of perpendicular) is also a point on the plane, hence we can now
substitute the equation into the equation of the plane, which should be in the scalar dot product
form.
2
For example, if equation of plane is : r 3 = 5 and the point is
4
5
5 .
5
5
To find foot of perpendicular, first construct the line containing 5 and parallel to
5
5
2
i.e. l : r = 5 + 3
5
4
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2
3
4
Summary: Vectors
5 + 2
Since ON lies on the line, ON = 5 + 3 . Also, since ON also lies on the plane, thus
5 + 4
5 + 2 2
5 + 3 3 = 5 . The position vector of the foot of perpendicular can be found once is
5 + 4 4
solved.
Note: The vector line is intentionally introduced to determine the foot of perpendicular by means
of intersecting a line with a plane.
d)
Miscellaneous
These are other points which may also appear in exam, but not as popular as those mentioned above:
i) Finding distance of a plane from the origin
By modifying the scalar dot product form of the plane, the distance between the plane and the
origin can be found
e.g.
:rn = an
rn an
=
or
r n = a n , where n is the unit vector
Dividing both sides by |n|,
n
n
of normal vector of the plane.
The distance between the plane and the origin is thus a n . If the distance is negative, it implies
that the plane is below the origin.
Note: This approach can also be used to determine the perpendicular distance between two planes
i.e. by knowing the distance of each plane from the origin, the perpendicular distance is simply the
difference between the two distances. Can you visualize?
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Summary: Vectors
ii) Finding area of triangle using vector product
Area of triangle =
1
1
( a )( b ) sin = a x b
2
2
Axis or point of
reflection
Reflected
point