Topic 4 Part 1 [437 marks]

[3 marks]
1a. Show that the points
O(0, 0, 0),
A(6, 0, 0),
−− −−
B(6, − √24 , √12 ),
−− −−
C(0, − √24 , √12 ) form a square.

1b. Find the coordinates of M, the mid-point of [OB]. [1 mark]

[3 marks]
1c. Show that an equation of the plane
Π, containing the square OABC, is
–
y + √2z = 0.

[3 marks]
1d. Find a vector equation of the line
L, through M, perpendicular to the plane
Π.

1e. Find the coordinates of D, the point of intersection of the line [3 marks]

L with the plane whose equation is

y = 0.

1f. Find the coordinates of E, the reflection of the point D in the plane [3 marks]
Π.

1g. (i) Find the angle [6 marks]

^ A.
OD
(ii) State what this tells you about the solid OABCDE.

PQRS is a rhombus. Given that [6 marks]

2.
−
−→
PQ =
a and
−→
−
QR =
b,
(a) express the vectors
−→
PR and
−→
QS in terms of
a and
b;
(b) hence show that the diagonals in a rhombus intersect at right angles.

[2 marks]
3a. Given the points A(1, 0, 4), B(2, 3, −1) and C(0, 1, − 2) , find the vector equation of the line
L1 passing through the points A and B.
 [5 marks]
3b. The line
L2 has Cartesian equation
x−1 y+2 z−1
3
= 1
= −2
.
Show that
L1 and
L2 are skew lines.

Consider the plane

Π1, parallel to both lines
L1 and
L2. Point C lies in the plane
Π1.

[4 marks]
3c. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane
Π1 .

The line
L3 has vector equation
⎛3⎞ ⎛ k ⎞
r = ⎜ 0 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 1 ⎟.
⎝1⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠
The plane
Π2 has Cartesian equation
x + y = 12.
The angle between the line
L3 and the plane
Π2 is 60°.

[7 marks]
3d. (i) Find the value of
k.
(ii) Find the point of intersection P of the line
L3 and the plane
Π2.

Consider the points

A(1, 0, 0),
B(2, 2, 2) and
C(0, 2, 1).

4a. Find the vector [4 marks]

−
−→ −→
CA × CB .

4b. Find an exact value for the area of the triangle ABC. [3 marks]

4c. Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane [3 marks]

Π1 , containing the triangle ABC, is

2x + 3y − 4z = 2.
4d. A second plane [5 marks]

Π2 is defined by the Cartesian equation

Π2 : 4x − y − z = 4.
L1 is the line of intersection of the planes
Π1 and
Π2 .
Find a vector equation for
L1.

A third plane
Π3 is defined by the Cartesian equation
16x + αy − 3z = β.

4e. Find the value of [3 marks]

α if all three planes contain
L1 .

4f. Find conditions on [2 marks]

α and
β if the plane
Π3 does not intersect with
L1.

The vectors a and b are such that a

= (3 cos θ + 6)i
+7 j and b
= (cos θ − 2)i
+(1 + sin θ)j.
Given that a and b are perpendicular,

[3 marks]
5a. show that
2
3sin θ − 7 sin θ + 2 = 0;

5b. find the smallest possible positive value of [3 marks]

θ.

A line [7 marks]
6.
L1 has equation r =
⎛ −5 ⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞
⎜ −3 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 2 ⎟.
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
A line
L2 passing through the origin intersects
L1 and is perpendicular to
L1.
(a) Find a vector equation of
L2.
(b) Determine the shortest distance from the origin to
L1.

⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎠
 −→ ⎛ 1 + s ⎞
[5 marks]
7. −
A point P , relative to an origin O, has position vector OP = ⎜ 3 + 2s ⎟ , s ∈ R.
⎝ 1−s ⎠
−
−→
Find the minimum length of OP.

The position vectors of the points A, B and C are a , b and c respectively, relative to an origin O. The following
diagram shows the triangle ABC and points M , R , S and T .

M is the midpoint of [AC].

−
−→ −
−→
R is a point on [AB] such that AR = 13 AB.
−→ −
−→
S is a point on [AC] such that AS = 23 AC.
−
−→ −→
T is a point on [RS] such that RT = 23 RS .

−→
− [4 marks]
8a. (i) Express AM in terms of
a and c.
−→
−
(ii) Hence show that BM = 12 a – b+ 12 c.

−
−→
 −
−→ [5 marks]
8b. (i) Express RA in terms of
a and
b.
−
−→
(ii) Show that RT = − 29 a − 29 b + 49 c.

Prove that T lies on [BM ]. [5 marks]

8c.

9. Consider the two planes [6 marks]

π1 : 4x + 2y − z = 8
π2 : x + 3y + 3z = 3.
Find the angle between π1 and π2 , giving your answer correct to the nearest degree.
 The lines l1 and l2 are defined as
x−1 y−5 z−12
l1 : 3
= 2
= −2
x−1 y−5 z−12
l2 : 8
= 11
= 6
.

The plane π contains both l1 and l2 .

Find the Cartesian equation of π. [4 marks]

10a.

10b. The line l3 passing through the point (4, 0, 8) is perpendicular to π. [4 marks]

Find the coordinates of the point where l3 meets π.

A curve is defined x2 − 5xy + y 2 = 7.

dy 5y−2x [3 marks]
11a. Show that
dx
= 2y−5x
.

(6, 1)
 Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point (6, 1). [4 marks]
11b.

11c.
Find the distance between the two points on the curve where each tangent is parallel to the line y = x. [8 marks]

The equations of the lines L1 and L2 are

⎛1⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞
L1 : r1 = ⎜ 2 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝2⎠ ⎝2 ⎠

⎛1⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞
L2 : r2 = ⎜ 2 ⎟ + μ ⎜ 1 ⎟.
⎝4⎠ ⎝6 ⎠

Show that the lines L1 and L2 are skew. [4 marks]

12a.
 Find the acute angle between the lines L1 and L2 . [4 marks]
12b.

13.
The planes [5 marks]
2x + 3y − z = 5 and
x − y + 2z = k intersect in the line
5x + 1 = 9 − 5y = −5z .
Find the value of k .

The coordinates of points A, B and C are given as

(5, −2, 5) ,
(5, 4, −1) and
(−1, −2, −1) respectively.

14a.
Show that AB = AC and that [4 marks]
BA^ C = 60∘ .

14b.
Find the Cartesian equation of [4 marks]
Π, the plane passing through A, B, and C.

14c.
(i) Find the Cartesian equation of [4 marks]
Π1 , the plane perpendicular to (AB) passing through the midpoint of [AB] .
(ii) Find the Cartesian equation of
Π2 , the plane perpendicular to (AC) passing through the midpoint of [AC].

14d.
Find the vector equation of L , the line of intersection of [3 marks]
Π1 and
Π2 , and show that it is perpendicular to
Π.

14e.
A methane molecule consists of a carbon atom with four hydrogen atoms symmetrically placed around it in three dimensions. [3 marks]

The positions of the centres of three of the hydrogen atoms are A, B and C as given. The position of the centre of the fourth hydrogen
atom is D.

Using the fact that

AB = AD , show that the coordinates of one of the possible positions of the fourth hydrogen atom is
(−1, 4, 5) .
14f.
A methane molecule consists of a carbon atom with four hydrogen atoms symmetrically placed around it in three dimensions. [6 marks]

The positions of the centres of three of the hydrogen atoms are A, B and C as given. The position of the centre of the fourth hydrogen
atom is D.

Letting D be
(−1, 4, 5) , show that the coordinates of G, the position of the centre of the carbon atom, are
(2, 1, 2) . Hence calculate
DG^ A , the bonding angle of carbon.

15.
Find the values of x for which the vectors [5 marks]
⎛ 1 ⎞
⎜ 2 cos x ⎟ and
⎝ 0 ⎠
⎛ −1 ⎞
⎜ 2 sin x ⎟ are perpendicular,
⎝ 1 ⎠
0 ⩽ x ⩽ π2 .

16a.
Find the values of k for which the following system of equations has no solutions and the value of k for the system to have an [5 marks]
infinite number of solutions.

x − 3y + z = 3

x + 5y − 2z = 1

16y − 6z = k

16b. Given that the system of equations can be solved, find the solutions in the form of a vector equation of a line, r = a + λb ,
[7 marks]
where the components of b are integers.

16c.
The plane [5 marks]
÷ is parallel to both the line in part (b) and the line
x−4 y−6
3
= −2 = z−2 0
.
Given that
÷ contains the point (1, 2, 0) , show that the Cartesian equation of ÷ is 16x + 24y − 11z = 64 .

16d.
The z-axis meets the plane [2 marks]
÷ at the point P. Find the coordinates of P.

16e.
Find the angle between the line [5 marks]
x−2 y+5
3
= 4 = z2 and the plane
÷.

Two boats, A and B , move so that at time t hours, their position vectors, in kilometres, are r
A = (9t)i + (3 – 6t)j and r
B = (7 – 4t)i + (7t – 6)j .

17a.
Find the coordinates of the common point of the paths of the two boats. [4 marks]
17b.
Show that the boats do not collide. [2 marks]

Consider the planes

π1 : x − 2y − 3z = 2 and π2 : 2x − y − z = k .

18a.
Find the angle between the planes [4 marks]
π1 and
π2 .

18b.
The planes [5 marks]
π1 and
π2 intersect in the line
L1 . Show that the vector equation of
L1 is
⎛ 0 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
r = ⎜ 2 − 3k ⎟ + t ⎜ 5 ⎟
⎝ 2k − 2 ⎠ ⎝ −3 ⎠

18c.
The line [5 marks]
L2 has Cartesian equation
5 − x = y + 3 = 2 − 2z . The lines
L1 and
L2 intersect at a point X. Find the coordinates of X.

18d.
Determine a Cartesian equation of the plane [5 marks]
π3 containing both lines
L1 and
L2 .

18e.
Let Y be a point on [5 marks]
L1 and Z be a point on
L2 such that XY is perpendicular to YZ and the area of the triangle XYZ is 3. Find the perimeter of the triangle XYZ.

Consider the points A(1, 2, 3), B(1, 0, 5) and C(2, −1, 4).

[4 marks]
19a. Find
−
−→ − −→
AB × AC.

[2 marks]
19b. Hence find the area of the triangle ABC.

Consider the points P(−3, −1, 2) and Q(5, 5, 6).

[3 marks]
20a. Find a vector equation for the line,

L1, which passes through the points P and Q.

The line
L2 has equation

⎛ −4 ⎞ ⎛5⎞
r = ⎜ 0 ⎟ +s⎜2⎟.
⎝ 4 ⎠ ⎝0⎠
 [4 marks]
20b. Show that

L1 and

L2 intersect at the point R(1, 2, 4).

[3 marks]
20c. Find the acute angle between

L1 and
L2.

[6 marks]
20d. Let S be a point on

L2 such that
∣ →∣ ∣−→∣
−
∣RP ∣ = ∣RS ∣.
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣
Show that one of the possible positions for S is

S1 (−4, 0, 4) and find the coordinates of the other possible position,

S2 .

[4 marks]
20e. Let S be a point on

L2 such that
∣−→∣ ∣−→∣
∣RP ∣ = ∣RS ∣.
∣ ∣ ∣ ∣
Find a vector equation of the line which passes through R and bisects
^ S1 .
PR

The vertices of a triangle ABC have coordinates given by A(−1, 2, 3), B(4, 1, 1) and C(3, −2, 2).

[6 marks]
21a.
(i) Find the lengths of the sides of the triangle.

(ii) Find
^ C.
cos BA

[5 marks]
21b. (i) Show that
−→ − −→
BC × CA = −7i − 3j − 16k.

(ii) Hence, show that the area of the triangle ABC is

1 − −−
2
√314 .

[3 marks]
21c. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane containing the triangle ABC.

[2 marks]
21d.
Find a vector equation of (AB).
21e. The point D on (AB) is such that [5 marks]
−→
−
OD is perpendicular to
−→
BC where O is the origin.

(i) Find the coordinates of D.

(ii) Show that D does not lie between A and B.

In the diagram below, [AB] is a diameter of the circle with centre O. Point C is on the circumference of the circle. Let
−−→
OB = b and
−−→
OC = c .

[2 marks]
22a. Find an expression for
−→
CB and for
−
−→
AC in terms of
b and
c.

[3 marks]
22b. Hence prove that

^ B is a right angle.
AC

The points P(−1, 2, − 3), Q(−2, 1, 0), R(0, 5, 1) and S form a parallelogram, where S is diagonally opposite Q.

[2 marks]
23a.
Find the coordinates of S.

[2 marks]
23b. The vector product

−→ −→ ⎛ −13 ⎞
−
PQ × PS = ⎜ 7 ⎟. Find the value of m .
⎝ m ⎠

[2 marks]
23c. Hence calculate the area of parallelogram PQRS.

[3 marks]
23d. Find the Cartesian equation of the plane,

∏1 , containing the parallelogram PQRS.

23e. Write down the vector equation of the line through the origin (0, 0, 0) that is perpendicular to the plane [1 mark]

∏1 .

[3 marks]
23f. Hence find the point on the plane that is closest to the origin.

[4 marks]
23g. A second plane,

∏2 , has equation x − 2y + z = 3. Calculate the angle between the two planes.

[7 marks]
24.
(a) Show that the two planes

π1 : x + 2y − z = 1

π2 : x + z = −2

are perpendicular.

(b) Find the equation of the plane

π3 that passes through the origin and is perpendicular to both

π1 and

π2 .

[4 marks]
25. Consider the vectors
−→
−
OA = a,
−
−→
OB = b and
−
−→
OC = a + b. Show that if

|a

|=

|b

| then (a + b)

⋅(a − b) = 0. Comment on what this tells us about the parallelogram OACB.

 [20 marks]
26. A plane
π has vector equation r = (−2i + 3j − 2k) +
λ(2i + 3j + 2k) +
μ(6i − 3j + 2k).
(a) Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane
π is 3x + 2y − 6z = 12.
(b) The plane
π meets the x, y and z axes at A, B and C respectively. Find the coordinates of A, B and C.
(c) Find the volume of the pyramid OABC.
(d) Find the angle between the plane
π and the x-axis.
(e) Hence, or otherwise, find the distance from the origin to the plane
π.
(f) Using your answers from (c) and (e), find the area of the triangle ABC.

[5 marks]
27.
The three vectors

a,

b and

c are given by

⎛ 2y ⎞ ⎛ 4x ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
a = ⎜ −3x ⎟ , b = ⎜ y ⎟ , c = ⎜ −7 ⎟ where x,y ∈ R .
⎝ 2x ⎠ ⎝3 −x ⎠ ⎝ 6 ⎠

(a) If a + 2b − c = 0, find the value of x and of y.

(b) Find the exact value of

|a + 2b

|.

[11 marks]
28a. Consider the vectors a = 6i + 3j + 2k, b = −3j + 4k.

(i) Find the cosine of the angle between vectors a and b.

(ii) Find a

× b.

(iii) Hence find the Cartesian equation of the plane

∏ containing the vectors a and b and passing through the point (1, 1, −1).

(iv) The plane

∏ intersects the x-y plane in the line l. Find the area of the finite triangular region enclosed by l, the x-axis and the y-axis.
 [8 marks]
28b. Given two vectors p and q,

(i) show that p

⋅p =

|p

|2 ;

(ii) hence, or otherwise, show that

|p + q

|2 =

|p

|2 + 2p

⋅q +

|q

|2 ;

(iii) deduce that

|p + q

|≤

|p

|+

|q

|.

[8 marks]
29. Consider the plane with equation

4x − 2y − z = 1 and the line given by the parametric equations

x = 3 − 2λ

y = (2k − 1) + λ

z = −1 + kλ.

Given that the line is perpendicular to the plane, find

(a) the value of k;

(b) the coordinates of the point of intersection of the line and the plane.
 [5 marks]
30.
Let

α be the angle between the unit vectors a and b, where

0 ⩽ α ⩽ π.

(a) Express

|a − b

| and

|a + b

| in terms of

α.

(b) Hence determine the value of

cos α for which

|a + b

|=3

|a − b

|.

[8 marks]
31. Consider the vectors a

= sin(2α)i

− cos(2α)j + k and b

= cos αi

− sin αj − k, where

0 < α < 2π.

Let

θ be the angle between the vectors a and b.

(a) Express

cos θ in terms of

α.

(b) Find the acute angle

α for which the two vectors are perpendicular.

(c) For
7π
α= 6
, determine the vector product of a and b and comment on the geometrical significance of this result.
 [20 marks]
32. The diagram shows a cube OABCDEFG.

Let O be the origin, (OA) the x-axis, (OC) the y-axis and (OD) the z-axis.

Let M, N and P be the midpoints of [FG], [DG] and [CG], respectively.

The coordinates of F are (2, 2, 2).

(a) Find the position vectors

−→
−
OM,
−→
−
ON and
−−→
OP in component form.

(b) Find
−→
− −→
−
MP × MN.

(c) Hence,

(i) calculate the area of the triangle MNP;

(ii) show that the line (AG) is perpendicular to the plane MNP;

(iii) find the equation of the plane MNP.

(d) Determine the coordinates of the point where the line (AG) meets the plane MNP.

[8 marks]
33a. For non-zero vectors

a and

b, show that

(i) if

|a − b| = |a + b|, then

a and

b are perpendicular;

(ii)
2
|a × b| = |a| 2 |b| 2 − (a ⋅ b)2 .
 [7 marks]
33b. The points A, B and C have position vectors

a,

b and

c.

(i) Show that the area of triangle ABC is

1
2
|a × b + b × c + c × a|.

(ii) Hence, show that the shortest distance from B to AC is

|a × b + b × c + c × a|
.
|c − a|

Two planes Π1 and Π2 have equations 2x + y + z = 1 and 3x + y − z = 2 respectively.

[6 marks]
34a. Find the vector equation of L, the line of intersection of

Π1 and

Π2 .

[4 marks]
34b. Show that the plane

Π3 which is perpendicular to

Π1 and contains L, has equation

x − 2z = 1.

[6 marks]
34c.
The point P has coordinates (−2, 4, 1) , the point Q lies on

Π3 and PQ is perpendicular to

Π2 . Find the coordinates of Q.

 The diagram below shows a circle with centre O. The points A, B, C lie on the circumference of the circle and [AC] is a diameter.

Let
−→
−
OA = a and
−
−→
OB = b .

35a.
Write down expressions for [2 marks]
−−→
AB and
−→
CB in terms of the vectors
a and
b.

35b.
Hence prove that angle [3 marks]
^ C is a right angle.
AB

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

36a.
Find the vectors [2 marks]
−
−→
AB and
−
−→
AC.

36b.
Find the Cartesian equation of the plane [4 marks]
∏​ that contains the face ABC.

37.
Port A is defined to be the origin of a set of coordinate axes and port B is located at the point (70, 30), where distances are [7 marks]
measured in kilometres. A ship S1 sails from port A at 10:00 in a straight line such that its position
t hours after 10:00 is given by
10
r = t ( ).
20
A speedboat S2 is capable of three times the speed of S1 and is to meet S1 by travelling the shortest possible distance. What is the latest
time that S2 can leave port B?

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