Department of Mathematics

Math 123: Vectors and Geometry

Exercise 1

TK/PA/PKO/JB/LFK/ALM
14/09/18

Solutions to the starred questions are to be handed in by Friday, 21st September 2018

1. ABCD is a square and P , Q are the midpoints of BC, CD respectively. If AP = a

and AQ = b, find in terms of a and b, the directed line segments (i) AB, (ii) AD,
(iii) BD and (iv) AC.

2. * OABC is a tetrahedron and OA = a, OB = b and OC = c. The points P and

Q are such that OA = AP and 2OB = BQ. The point M is the midpoint of P Q.
Find (i) AB, (ii) PQ, (iii) CQ, (iv) QM, (v) MB and (vi) OM in terms of a, b and
c.

3. In a quadrilateral OABC, D is the midpoint of BC and E is the point on AD such

that AE : ED = 2 : 1. Given that OA = a, OB = b and OC = c, express OD and
OE in terms of a, b and c.

4. Prove that the line joining the midpoint of a median to a vertex of the triangle trisects
the side opposite the vertex considered.

5. * In a parallogram ABCD, P divides AB in the ratio 2 : 5 and Q divides DC in

the ratio 3 : 2. If AC and P Q intersect at R, find the ratios AR : RC and P R : RQ.

6. D and E are any two points on the sides AB and AC respectively of the triangle
ABC. DG drawn parallel to BE meets AC in G and EF drawn parallel to CD
meets AB in F . Prove that F G is parallel to BC.

7. The points D, E and F divide the sides BC, CA and AB of a triangle in the ratios
1 : 4, 3 : 2 and 3 : 7 respectively. Show that there exists a point G such that the sum
of the vectors AD, BE, CF is parallel to CG. What ratio does G divide AB?

8. * ABCD is a plane quadrilateral and E is any point on AD. EF is drawn parallel

to DB to meet AB in F , and EG is drawn parallel to DC to meet AC in G. Prove
that F G is parallel to BC.

9. If a and b are two non-parallel vectors and the position vectors of P , Q and R are
1 3
a + 2b, a + b and λa + b, find the value of λ if P , Q and R lie on a straight line.
2 4
10. ABC is an equilateral triangle of side 3 units. The points P , Q lie on BC, CA
respectively and are such that AQ = CP = 2units. If the point R lies on AB
produced so that BR = 1unit, prove that P , Q, R are collinear.