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C. Geometric Arguments and Proof (H) PDF
C. Geometric Arguments and Proof (H) PDF
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.
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Section A
Worked Example
������⃗ 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
1 3
�− 2 𝒂𝒂 + 2 𝒃𝒃� ÷ 𝒃𝒃 ≠ a constant
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Guided Example
�����⃗ .
Step 2: Use these to find the vector 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
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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.
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Section B
Worked Example
������⃗, ������⃗
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
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
3 3 1 2 1
������⃗ = �− 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃� = − 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃 = 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 ������⃗
2 2 3 3 2
������⃗ = 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 2: Use the ratios given to find �����⃗ ����⃗ in terms of a and b.
DX and CE
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.
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5. The triangle AOC lies on a straight line OB.
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6. ABCD is a parallelogram.
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