AHL 3.

13 Scalar Product [279

marks]

The lines l1 and l2 have the following vector equations where λ, μ ∈ R and
m ∈ R.
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛2⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
l1 : r1 =⎜ −2 ⎟+λ⎜ 1 ⎟l2 : r2 =⎜ −4 ⎟+μ⎜ −5 ⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝m ⎠ ⎝ −2m ⎠ ⎝ −m ⎠

1a. Show that l1 and l2 are never perpendicular to each other. [3 marks]

+4 − = ∈R
 The plane Π has Cartesian equation x + 4y − z = p where p ∈ R.
Given that l1 and Π have no points in common, find

1b. the value of m . [2 marks]

1c. the condition on the value of p. [2 marks]

A(5, −2, 5) B(5, 4, −1) C(−1, −2, −1) D(7, −4, −3)
 The points A(5, −2, 5), B(5, 4, −1), C(−1, −2, −1) and D(7, −4, −3) are
the vertices of a right-pyramid.

2a. −−→ −−→ [2 marks]

Find the vectors AB and AC .

2b. Use a vector method to show that BÂC = 60°. [3 marks]

2c. Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane Π that contains the [3 marks]
triangle ABC is −x + y + z = −2.

The line L passes through the point D and is perpendicular to Π .

2d. Find a vector equation of the line L. [1 mark]

D
2e. Hence determine the minimum distance, dmin , from D to Π . [4 marks]

ABCD
2f. Find the volume of right-pyramid ABCD. [4 marks]
 12
Consider the vectors a and b such that a =( ) and |b|= 15.
−5

3a. Find the possible range of values for |a + b| . [2 marks]

Consider the vector p such that p = a + b.

3b. Given that |a + b| is a minimum, find p. [2 marks]

 =( ), where x, y ∈ R+ .
x
Consider the vector q such that q
y

3c. Find q such that |q| = |b| and q is perpendicular to a. [5 marks]

O
 Two airplanes, A and B, have position vectors with respect to an origin O given
respectively by

⎛ 19 ⎞ ⎛ −6 ⎞
rA =⎜ −1 ⎟+t⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ 1 ⎠ ⎝ 4 ⎠

⎛1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
rB =⎜ 0 ⎟+t⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ 12 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠
where t represents the time in minutes and 0 ≤ t ≤ 2. 5.
Entries in each column vector give the displacement east of O , the displacement
north of O and the distance above sea level, all measured in kilometres.

4a. Find the three-figure bearing on which airplane B is travelling. [2 marks]

4b. Show that airplane A travels at a greater speed than airplane B. [2 marks]

4c. Find the acute angle between the two airplanes’ lines of flight. Give your [4 marks]
answer in degrees.

P
 The two airplanes’ lines of flight cross at point P .

4d. Find the coordinates of P. [5 marks]

4e. Determine the length of time between the first airplane arriving at P and [2 marks]
the second airplane arriving at P .
4f. LetD(t) represent the distance between airplane A and airplane B for [5 marks]
0 ≤ t ≤ 2. 5.
Find the minimum value of D(t).

A(3, 0, 0), B(0, − 2, 0) C(1, 1, − 7)

 Three points A(3, 0, 0), B(0, − 2, 0) and C(1, 1, − 7) lie on the plane Π1 .

5a. −−→ −−→ [2 marks]

Find the vector AB and the vector AC .
5b. Hence find the equation of Π 1 , expressing your answer in the form [5 marks]
ax + by + cz = d, where a, b, c, d ∈ Z.

3 − +2 =2
 Plane Π2 has equation 3x − y + 2z = 2.

5c. The line

L is the intersection of Π1 and Π2 . Verify that the vector [2 marks]
⎛ 0 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
equation of L can be written as r = ⎜ −2 ⎟+λ⎜ 1 ⎟.
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠

The plane Π 3 is given by 2x − 2z = 3. The line L and the plane Π3 intersect at

the point P.

5d. Show that at the point P, λ = 34 . [2 marks]

P
5e. Hence find the coordinates of P. [1 mark]

The point B(0, −2, 0) lies on L.

5f. Find the reflection of the point B in the plane Π 3 . [7 marks]

5g. Hence find the vector equation of the line formed when L is reflected in [2 marks]
the plane Π 3 .

6. Given any two non-zero vectors, a and b , show that [4 marks]

|a × b|2 = |a|2 |b|2 − (a ⋅ b)2 .

, ∈R
 The lines l1 and l2 have the following vector equations where λ, μ ∈ R.
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
l1 : r1 =⎜ 2 ⎟+λ⎜ −2 ⎟
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
l2 : r2 =⎜ 0 ⎟+μ⎜ −1 ⎟
⎝4⎠ ⎝ 1 ⎠

7a. Show that l1 and l2 do not intersect. [3 marks]

7b. Find the minimum distance between l1 and l2 . [5 marks]

⎛ −2 ⎞ ⎛6⎞
 ⎛ −2 ⎞ ⎛6⎞
The points A and B have position vectors ⎜ 4 ⎟ and ⎜ 8 ⎟ respectively.
⎝ −4 ⎠ ⎝0⎠

⎛ −1 ⎞
Point C has position vector ⎜ k ⎟. Let O be the origin.
⎝ 0 ⎠

Find, in terms of k,

8a. −−→ −−→ [2 marks]

OA ∙ OC .

8b. −
−→ −−→ [1 mark]
OB ∙ OC .

ˆ ˆ
8c. Given that AÔC = BÔC, show that k = 7. [8 marks]

AOC
8d. Calculate the area of triangle AOC. [6 marks]

√3
9. The magnitudes of two vectors, u and v, are 4 and √3 respectively. The [7 marks]
angle between u and v is π6 .

Let w = u − v. Find the magnitude of w.

⎛0⎞ ⎛0 ⎞
 ⎛0⎞ ⎛0 ⎞
Consider the vectors a = ⎜ 3 ⎟ and b = ⎜ 6 ⎟.
⎝p⎠ ⎝ 18 ⎠
Find the value of p for which a and b are

10a. parallel. [2 marks]

10b. perpendicular. [4 marks]

⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞
 ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞
11. [4 marks]
Let a = ⎜ k ⎟ and b = ⎜ k + 2 ⎟, k ∈ R.
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ k ⎠
Given that a and b are perpendicular, find the possible values of k.

⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
 ⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
12. [6 marks]
The vector equation of line L is given by r = ⎜ 3 ⎟ + t ⎜ 5 ⎟.
⎝ 8 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠
Point P is the point on L that is closest to the origin. Find the coordinates of P.
13. 3 p+1 [6 marks]
Consider the vectors a = ( ) and b = ( ).
2p 8
Find the possible values of p for which a and b are parallel.

⎛1⎞ ⎛ 0 ⎞
 ⎛1⎞ ⎛ 0 ⎞
The vectors a and b are defined by a = ⎜ 1 ⎟, b = ⎜ −t ⎟, where t ∈ R.
⎝t⎠ ⎝ 4t ⎠

14a. Find and simplify an expression for a • b in terms of t. [2 marks]

14b. Hence or otherwise, find the values of t for which the angle between a [4 marks]
and b is obtuse .
 Consider the points A(−3, 4, 2) and B(8, −1, 5).

15a. −−→ [2 marks]

Find AB .

15b. ∣−−→∣ [2 marks]

Find ∣AB ∣.
∣ ∣

⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
 ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
A line L has vector equation r = ⎜ 0 ⎟ + t ⎜ −2 ⎟. The point C (5, y, 1) lies on
⎝ −5 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
line L.

15c. Find the value of y. [3 marks]

−−→ ⎛
15d. 8 ⎞ [2 marks]
Show that AC = ⎜ −10 ⎟.
⎝ −1 ⎠

−−→ −−→
15e. −−→ −−→ [5 marks]
Find the angle between AB and AC .

15f. Find the area of triangle ABC. [2 marks]

16. Six equilateral triangles, each with side length 3 cm, are arranged to [6 marks]
form a hexagon.
This is shown in the following diagram.

The vectors p , q and r are shown on the diagram.

Find p•(p + q + r).
 Point A has coordinates (−4, −12, 1) and point B has coordinates (2, −4, −4).

17a.
⎛ 6 ⎞ [1 mark]
→ =
Show that AB
⎝ −5 ⎠
8

The line L passes through A and B.

17b. Find a vector equation for L. [2 marks]

17c. Point C (k , 12 , −k) is on L. Show that k = 14. [4 marks]

17d. Find → ∙ AB
OB → . [2 marks]
17e. Write down the value of angle OBA. [1 mark]

17f. Point D is also on L and has coordinates (8, 4, −9). [6 marks]

Find the area of triangle OCD.
 ⎛2⎞ ⎛1⎞
→ = 1 and AB
Let OA → = 3 , where O is the origin. L1 is the line that
⎝3⎠ ⎝1⎠
passes through A and B.

18a. Find a vector equation for L1. [2 marks]

⎛2⎞
18b. [3 marks]
The vector ⎜ p ⎟ is perpendicular to AB
→ . Find the value of p.
⎝0⎠
19. The acute angle between the vectors 3i − 4j − 5k and 5i − 4j + 3k is [4 marks]
denoted by θ.
Find cos θ.

Two points P and Q have coordinates (3, 2, 5) and (7, 4, 9) respectively.

20a. Find → .
PQ [2 marks]

∣ ∣
20b. Find ∣∣PQ
→ ∣∣. [2 marks]

Let PR
→ = 6i − j + 3k.

20c. Find the angle between PQ and PR. [4 marks]

20d. Find the area of triangle PQR. [2 marks]

20e. Hence or otherwise find the shortest distance from R to the line through [3 marks]
P and Q.

A(−3, 4, 2) B(−1, 3, 3)
 A line L passes through points A(−3, 4, 2) and B(−1, 3, 3).

−−→ ⎛
21a. 2 ⎞ [1 mark]
Show that AB = ⎜ −1 ⎟.
⎝ 1 ⎠

21b. Find a vector equation for L. [2 marks]

C(3, 1, )
 The line L also passes through the point C(3, 1, p).

21c. Find the value of p. [5 marks]

21d. −−→ [7 marks]

The point D has coordinates (q 2 , 0, q). Given that DC is perpendicular
to L , find the possible values of q.

⎛4⎞
 −−→ ⎛ ⎞
4
Let AB = ⎜ 1 ⎟.
⎝2⎠

22a. ∣−−→∣ [2 marks]

Find ∣AB ∣.
∣ ∣

−−→ ⎛ ⎞
22b. 3 [4 marks]
Let AC = ⎜ 0 ⎟. Find BAC
^ .
⎝0⎠

A line L1 passes through the points A(0, 1, 8) and B(3, 5, 2).

23a. −−→ [2 marks]

Find AB .
23b. Hence, write down a vector equation for L1 . [2 marks]

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛p⎞
23c. [3 marks]
A second line L2 , has equation r = ⎜ 13 ⎟ + s ⎜ 0 ⎟.
⎝ −14 ⎠ ⎝1⎠
Given that L1 and L2 are perpendicular, show that p = 2.

=2
 Given that L1 and L2 are perpendicular, show that p = 2.

23d. The lines L1 and L1 intersect at C(9, 13, z). Find z. [5 marks]

23e. Find a unit vector in the direction of L 2 . [2 marks]

√5
23f. Hence or otherwise, find one point on L 2 which is √5 units from C. [3 marks]

4 k+3
The vectors a = ( ) and b = ( ) are perpendicular to each other.
2 k

24a. Find the value of k. [4 marks]

24b. Given that c = a + 2b, find c. [3 marks]

−−→ −−→
ABCD is a parallelogram, where AB = –i + 2j + 3k and AD = 4i – j – 2k.

25a. Find the area of the parallelogram ABCD. [3 marks]

25b. By using a suitable scalar product of two vectors, determine whether [4 marks]
AB^ C is acute or obtuse.

The points A, B and C have the following position vectors with respect to an origin
O.
−−→
OA = 2i + j – 2k
−−→
OB = 2i – j + 2k
−−→
OC = i + 3j + 3k

26a. Find the vector equation of the line (BC). [3 marks]

26b. Determine whether or not the lines (OA) and (BC) intersect. [6 marks]

26c. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane Π1 , which passes through C [3 marks]
−−→
and is perpendicular to OA .
26d. Show that the line (BC) lies in the plane Π1 . [2 marks]

The plane Π2 contains the points O, A and B and the plane Π3 contains the points
O, A and C.

26e. Verify that 2j + k is perpendicular to the plane Π2 . [3 marks]

26f. Find a vector perpendicular to the plane Π3 . [1 mark]

26g. Find the acute angle between the planes Π2 and Π3 . [4 marks]

+ − + −
 The position vectors of points P and Q are i + 2 j − k and 7i + 3j − 4k
respectively.

27a. Find a vector equation of the line that passes through P and Q. [4 marks]

+
 27b. The line through P and Q is perpendicular to the vector 2i + nk. Find [3 marks]
the value of n.

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