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GCSE Maths – Geometry and Measures

Geometric Arguments and Proof (Higher)


Worksheet

This worksheet will show you how to work out different types of geometric
arguments and proof questions. Each section contains a worked example, a
question with hints and then questions for you to work through on your own.

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc


https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Section A

Worked Example

�����⃗ = 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀


In triangle ABC, 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 �����⃗ = 𝐛𝐛. M and N are the midpoints of �����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 and �����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀
respectively. Prove that 𝐌𝐌𝐌𝐌�������⃗ is not parallel to �����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀.

������⃗ and CN
Step 1: Find AM �����⃗ in terms of 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐛𝐛.

�����⃗ = −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 �����⃗ + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
�����⃗ = −𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃

�����⃗ so:
M is halfway along 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
1 1
������⃗ = �𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗� = 𝒂𝒂
2 2

�����⃗ so:
N is halfway along 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
1 1
�����⃗ = �𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 �����⃗� = 𝒃𝒃
2 2

������⃗.
Step 2: Use these vectors to find the vector MN

1 1 1 3
�������⃗ = ������⃗
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 �����⃗ + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ = −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
������⃗ + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
�����⃗ + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
�����⃗ = − � 𝒂𝒂� + 𝒃𝒃 + 𝒃𝒃 = − 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃
2 2 2 2

�����⃗ and conclude what this means.


�������⃗ is not a multiple of AC
Step 3: Show that 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀

1 3
�− 2 𝒂𝒂 + 2 𝒃𝒃� ÷ 𝒃𝒃 ≠ a constant

�����⃗ and therefore 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀


�������⃗ is not a constant multiple of 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
We have shown that 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 �����⃗ are not
�������⃗ and 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
parallel.

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Guided Example

ABCD is a parallelogram, and �����⃗


𝐁𝐁𝐁𝐁 = �����⃗
𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂.
�����⃗ = 3𝐚𝐚 and 𝐃𝐃𝐃𝐃
𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 �����⃗ = 2𝐛𝐛.

Prove that �����⃗


𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 and �����⃗
𝐃𝐃𝐃𝐃 are parallel lines.

�����⃗ and 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴


Step 1: Find the vectors 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ in terms of a and b.

�����⃗ .
Step 2: Use these to find the vector 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷

�����⃗ is a multiple of 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷


Step 3: Show that 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ and conclude what this means.

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Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

�����⃗ and DA
1. Two triangles AMB and DMC are congruent. M is the midpoint of BC �����⃗. MA
������⃗ =
3𝐚𝐚 and ������⃗ �����⃗ and CD
MC = 3𝐛𝐛. Prove that AB �����⃗ are parallel.

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2. ABCD is a parallelogram.
�����⃗ = 8𝐚𝐚 and �����⃗
AB BC = 3𝐛𝐛.
����⃗
CE is an extension of BC �����⃗ such that �����⃗
BC = ����⃗
CE.
�����⃗ ������⃗ ������⃗
M splits AC such that AM ∶ MC = 3 ∶ 1 and N splits �����⃗ �����⃗ ∶ �����⃗
DE such that DN NE = 3 ∶ 1.
�����⃗ ������⃗
Prove that AD and MN are parallel.

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3. OBDF is a trapezium.
�����⃗ = 𝐚𝐚, OB
BC �����⃗ = 2𝐛𝐛 and �����⃗
OE = 3𝐚𝐚.
C is the midpoint of BD and E is the midpoint of �����⃗
�����⃗ OF.
����⃗
M is the midpoint of CE and N is the midpoint of �����⃗
DF.

����⃗ in terms of a and b.


a) Find the vector CE

�����⃗ in terms of a and b.


b) Find the vector DF

������⃗ is parallel to �����⃗


c) Prove that MN OF.

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Section B

Worked Example

�����⃗ is represented by the vector 𝐚𝐚 and ������⃗


The shape ABCD is a parallelogram. 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 is
�����⃗ �����⃗
represented by the vector 𝐛𝐛. M is the midpoint of 𝐁𝐁𝐁𝐁 and N is a point on 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 such that
������⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 ∶ �����⃗
𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍 = 𝟐𝟐 ∶ 𝟏𝟏. Prove that the points B, N and M lie on a straight line.

������⃗, ������⃗
Step 1: Find simplified expressions for the vectors 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴, ������⃗ ������⃗. To prove that B, N and M
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 and 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
are on a straight line, you must show through a series of logical steps that their vectors are
multiples of each other.

�����⃗ = �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 and �����⃗ �����⃗ because the shape is a parallelogram.
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵

�����⃗ = 𝒂𝒂 and 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵


Therefore, 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 �����⃗ = 𝒃𝒃.

2
N is of the way along �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 , so:
3
2
������⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = �����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
3

�����⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃

2 2 2
������⃗
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = (𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃) = 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃
3 3 3
�����⃗ so:
M is halfway along 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
1
������⃗ = 𝒂𝒂
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
2

2 2 1 2
������⃗ �����⃗ + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ������⃗ = −𝒂𝒂 + 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = − 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃
3 3 3 3
1 1
������⃗ �����⃗ + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = −𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 �����⃗ + 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
������⃗ = −𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 + 𝒂𝒂 = − 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃
2 2

������⃗ is a multiple of 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵


Step 2: To prove that the points lie on a straight line, show that 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 ������⃗.

3 3 1 2 1
������⃗ = �− 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃� = − 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 ������⃗
2 2 3 3 2

Step 3: Conclude your proof.

������⃗ = 3 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
Since 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 ������⃗, 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
������⃗ and 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
������⃗ are parallel. They also share a common point B so the points
2
B, N and M lie on a straight line.

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Guided Example

ABCD is a parallelogram.
�����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 = 𝟔𝟔𝐛𝐛 and �����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 = 𝟔𝟔𝐚𝐚
�����⃗ is an extension of the line �����⃗
𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 �����⃗ ∶ �����⃗
𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 such that 𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 = 𝟏𝟏 ∶ 𝟐𝟐.
The point X splits the line 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂�����⃗ such that �����⃗
𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂 ∶ �����⃗
𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐗 = 𝟐𝟐 ∶ 𝟏𝟏.
Prove that the points B, X and E lie on a straight line.

Step 1: Deduce �����⃗ �����⃗ in terms of a and b.


CD and BD

Step 2: Use the ratios given to find �����⃗ ����⃗ in terms of a and b.
DX and CE

Step 3: Combine these vectors to find �����⃗


BX and ����⃗ �����⃗) in terms of a and b.
XE (or BE

Step 4: Write a conclusion, showing that the vectors are multiples of each other and stating the
common point. Explain what this means about the points.

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Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

4. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon with


centre O.
�����⃗ = 𝒂𝒂 and �����⃗
OE OD = 𝒃𝒃
The point X lies on an extension of
ED, such that ����⃗ �����⃗ = 2 ∶ 1.
EX ∶ DX
����⃗ = −2𝑎𝑎 + 2𝑏𝑏
EX

G is the midpoint of CD.

�����⃗ and label it in terms of 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐛𝐛.


a) Draw the vector AO

b) Label all 6 sides of the hexagon in terms of 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐛𝐛.

�����⃗ in terms of 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐛𝐛.


c) Find the vector DG

�����⃗ in terms of 𝐚𝐚 and 𝐛𝐛


d) Find the vector DX

e) Hence, prove that O, G and X lie on a straight line.

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5. The triangle AOC lies on a straight line OB.

�����⃗ �����⃗ = 3𝒃𝒃


OC = 5𝒂𝒂 and OA

D is the point such that �����⃗


OD ∶ �����⃗
DC = 4 ∶ 1
M is the midpoint of �����⃗
AC
B is the point such that OA �����⃗ ∶ AB
�����⃗ = 3 ∶ 1

Show that D, M and B lie on the same straight line.

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6. ABCD is a parallelogram.

�����⃗ = 12𝐚𝐚 + 20𝐛𝐛 and �����⃗


DA DC = 8𝐚𝐚 + 4𝐛𝐛.
X lies on the line AB �����⃗ ∶ �����⃗
�����⃗ such that AX XB = 1 ∶ 3
M is the midpoint of �����⃗DB
����⃗ is an extension of BC
CE �����⃗
Y lies on the line CE ����⃗ = − 1 DA
����⃗ such that CY �����⃗.
2

Prove that X, M and Y are collinear.

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