MEI Core 4

Vectors
Chapter Assessment
1. Find:
⎛1⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞
(i) 2 ⎜ ⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ [2]
⎝ 4 ⎠ ⎝ −1⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
(ii) ⎜ ⎟ . ⎜ ⎟ [2]
⎝ −3 ⎠ ⎝ 4 ⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −1⎞
⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
(iii) ⎜ 1 ⎟ . ⎜ 3 ⎟ [2]
⎜0⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠⎝ ⎠

2. (i) Work out the angle between the vectors:

⎛2⎞ ⎛ 3⎞
(a) ⎜ ⎟ and ⎜ ⎟ [3]
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠
⎛ 2⎞ ⎛1⎞
⎜ ⎟ and ⎜ ⎟
(b) ⎜1⎟ ⎜ −2 ⎟ [3]
⎜ 4⎟ ⎜ 3⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎛ 2⎞ ⎛ −1⎞ ⎛ −1⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
(ii) Show that the lines r = ⎜ 1 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 2 ⎟ and r = ⎜ 3 ⎟ + μ ⎜⎜ −5 ⎟⎟ are perpendicular to
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜0⎟ ⎜4⎟ ⎜2⎟ ⎜ 3⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
each other. [3]

3. The points A, B and C have coordinates (2, -1), (3, 2) and (-4, 0) respectively.
JJJG JJJG JJJG
(i) Write down the vectors AB , AC and BC . [3]
JJJG
(ii) Find BC . [2]
(iii) Find ∠ABC . [3]

4. (i) Find the vector equation of the line joining A(2, -1, 0) to B(3, -2, -5). [3]
(ii) Verify that A and B both lie on the plane 2 x − 3 y + z = 7 . [2]
(iii) Write down the vector equation of the line passing through A which is
perpendicular to the plane. [2]

5. The points A, B and C have coordinates (2, -1, 3), (4, -2, 0) and (1, -5, 0)
respectively.

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⎛1⎞ ⎛1⎞
JJJG ⎜ ⎟ JJJG ⎜ ⎟
(i) Work out AB. ⎜ −1⎟ and BC. ⎜ −1⎟ . [4]
⎜1⎟ ⎜1⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
(ii) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane ABC. [3]

⎛2⎞ ⎛ −4 ⎞
6. Work out the coordinates of the point where the lines r = ⎜ ⎟ + λ ⎜ ⎟ and
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3⎠
⎛5⎞ ⎛2⎞
r = ⎜ ⎟ + μ ⎜ ⎟ intersect. [6]
⎝ −3 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠

7. The position vectors of A and B are as follows:

A: a = i − 2 j + 3k
B: b = 2i + 4 j − k
(i) Find the vector equation of the line AB. [3]
(ii) The line AB meets the plane 6 x − y − 3z + 13 = 0 at the point C.
Find the position vector of C. [4]

Total 50 marks

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Solutions to Chapter Assessment

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛2⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 5 ⎞
1. (i) 2 ⎜ ⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ [2]
⎝ 4 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 8 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 7 ⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛2⎞
(ii) ⎜ ⎟ . ⎜ ⎟ = 2 × 2 + ( −3) × 4 = 4 + ( −12) = −8 [2]
⎝ −3 ⎠ ⎝ 4 ⎠
⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
(iii) ⎜ 1 ⎟ . ⎜ 3 ⎟ = 2 ×( −1) + 1 × 3 + 0 × 2 = −2 + 3 = 1 [2]
⎜0⎟ ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

a.b
2. (i) Using the formula: cos θ =
a b
⎛2⎞
(a) Let a = ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ a = 2 2 + ( −1)2 = 4 + 1 = 5
⎝ −1 ⎠
⎛ 3 ⎞
and b = ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ b = 3 2 + ( −2)2 = 9 + 4 = 13
⎝ −2 ⎠
⎛2⎞⎛ 3 ⎞
also a.b = ⎜ ⎟ . ⎜ ⎟ = 2 × 3 + ( −1) ×( −2) = 6 + 2 = 8
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠
8
So cos θ = = 0.992... ⇒ θ = 7.13° to 3 s.f. [3]
5 13
⎛2⎞
⎜ ⎟
(b) Let a = ⎜ 1 ⎟ ⇒ a = 2 2 + 1 2 + 42 = 4 + 1 + 16 = 21
⎜ 4⎟
⎝ ⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟
and b = ⎜ −2 ⎟ ⇒ b = 1 2 + ( −2)2 + 3 2 = 1 + 4 + 9 = 14
⎜ 3 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
also a.b = ⎜ 1 ⎟ . ⎜ −2 ⎟ = 2 × 1 + 1 ×( −2) + 4 × 3 = 2 + ( −2) + 12 = 12
⎜ 4⎟ ⎜ 3 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
12
So cos θ = = 0.699... ⇒ θ = 45.6° to 3 s.f. [3]
14 21

(ii) The lines are perpendicular if the angle between the two direction vectors is
90°. This means the dot (or scalar) product of the two direction vectors is 0.

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⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
So ⎜ 2 ⎟ . ⎜ −5 ⎟ = ( −1) × 2 + 2 ×( −5 ) + 4 × 3 = −2 + ( −10) + 12 = 0
⎜4⎟⎜ 3 ⎟
⎝ ⎠⎝ ⎠
as required. [3]

JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞

3. (i) AB = OB − OA = ⎜ ⎟ − ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠
JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −6 ⎞
AC = OC − OA = ⎜ ⎟ − ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 1 ⎠
JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ −7 ⎞
BC = OC − OB = ⎜ ⎟ − ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ [3]
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠

JJJG
(ii) BC = ( −7)2 + ( −2)2 = 49 + 4 = 53 [2]

JJJG JJJG
(iii) ∠ABC is the angle between BC and BA
JJJG JJJG ⎛ −1 ⎞
BA = − AB = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ −3 ⎠
JJJG JJJG
BC.BA
Using the formula: cos θ = JJJG JJJG
BC BA
JJJG JJJG ⎛ −7 ⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞
BC.BA = ⎜ ⎟ . ⎜ ⎟ = ( −7) ×( −1) + ( −2) ×( −3) = 7 + 6 = 13
⎝ −2 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠
JJJG
BC = 53 (from part (ii))
JJJG
BA = ( −1)2 + ( −3)2 = 1 + 9 = 10
13
So cos θ = = 0.564... ⇒ θ = 55.6° to 3 s.f. [3]
53 10

JJJG JJJG
4. (i) The vector equation of a line is r = OA + λ AB
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
and AB = OB − OA = ⎜ −2 ⎟ − ⎜ −1 ⎟ = ⎜ −1 ⎟
⎜ −5 ⎟ ⎜ 0 ⎟ ⎜ −5 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
So the equation of the line is r = ⎜ −1 ⎟ + λ ⎜ −1 ⎟ [3]
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝0⎠ ⎝ −5 ⎠

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(ii) Substitute the coordinates into the equation of the plane:
A(2, -1, 0): 2 × 2 − 3 ×( −1) + 0 = 4 + 3 = 7
B(3, -2, -5): 2 × 3 − 3 ×( −2) + ( −5 ) = 6 + 6 − 5 = 7 as required. [2]

(iii) A vector normal to the plane is found by the coefficients of x, y and z in the
⎛2 ⎞
⎜ ⎟
equation of the plane ie. ⎜ −3 ⎟
⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
⎛2⎞ ⎛2 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
So the equation is: r = ⎜ −1 ⎟ + λ ⎜ −3 ⎟ . [2]
⎜0⎟ ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

⎛ 4⎞ ⎛2⎞ ⎛2 ⎞
JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
5. (i) AB = OB − OA = ⎜ −2 ⎟ − ⎜ −1 ⎟ = ⎜ −1 ⎟
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
JJJG ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
AB. ⎜ −1 ⎟ = ⎜ −1 ⎟ . ⎜ −1 ⎟ = 2 + 1 − 3 = 0
⎜ 1 ⎟ ⎜ −3 ⎟ ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞
JJJG JJJG JJJG ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
BC = OC − OB = ⎜ −5 ⎟ − ⎜ −2 ⎟ = ⎜ −3 ⎟
⎜ 0 ⎟ ⎜ 0 ⎟ ⎜ 0 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
JJJG ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
BC. ⎜ −1 ⎟ = ⎜ −3 ⎟ . ⎜ −1 ⎟ = −3 + 3 + 0 = 0
⎜ 1 ⎟ ⎜ 0 ⎟ ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
[4]
⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟
(ii) The vector ⎜ −1 ⎟ is perpendicular to two lines on the plane and so it must be
⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
perpendicular to the plane.
The equation of the plane is r.n = a.n
  
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛2⎞⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
r. ⎜ −1 ⎟ = ⎜ −1 ⎟ . ⎜ −1 ⎟ = 2 + 1 + 3 = 6
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎝ 1 ⎠ ⎝3⎠⎝ 1 ⎠
So the Cartesian equation of the plane is x − y + z = 6 [3]

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⎛2⎞ ⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛ 5 ⎞ ⎛2⎞
6. At intersection, ⎜ ⎟ + λ ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ + μ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠
Reading across: x: 2 − 4λ = 5 + 2 μ c
y: −1 + 3λ = −3 − μ d
Multiply d by 2: −2 + 6λ = −6 − 2 μ e
c+e 2 − 4λ = 5 + 2 μ
+ −2 + 6λ = −6 − 2 μ
2 λ = −1 ⇒ λ = − 21
⎛x⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −4 ⎞
Substitute λ = − 21 into r = ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ + λ ⎜ ⎟ :
⎝ y ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠
⎛x⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
r = ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟ − 21 ⎜ ⎟ = ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ y ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −2 2 ⎠
So the point of intersection is at (4, −2 21 ) . [6]

⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
7. (i) Direction vector is b − a = ⎜ 4 ⎟ − ⎜ −2 ⎟ = ⎜ 6 ⎟
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠ ⎝ −4 ⎠
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
The equation of the line is r = ⎜ −2 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 6 ⎟ . [3]
⎜ 3 ⎟ ⎜ −4 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

⎛x⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
(ii) The line AB is: r = ⎜ y ⎟ = ⎜ −2 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 6 ⎟
⎜z ⎟ ⎜ 3 ⎟ ⎜ −4 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
So reading across: x = 1 + λ
y = −2 + 6λ
z = 3 − 4λ
Substituting into the equation of the plane 6 x − y − 3z + 13 = 0 :
6(1 + λ ) − ( −2 + 6λ ) − 3( 3 − 4λ ) + 13 = 0
12 + 12 λ = 0
⇒ λ = −1
⎛x⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 0 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
Substitute λ = −1 into the line AB: r = ⎜ y ⎟ = ⎜ −2 ⎟ − 1 ⎜ 6 ⎟ = ⎜ −8 ⎟
⎜z ⎟ ⎜ 3 ⎟ ⎜ −4 ⎟ ⎜ 7 ⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
So the position vector of C is: c = −8 j + 7k [4]

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