IGCSE Edexcel Maths 3 hours 50 questions

Exam Questions

Vectors
Introduction to Column Vectors / Representing Vectors as Diagrams / Magnitude of
a Vector / Position & Displacement Vectors / Finding Vector Paths / Vector Proof

Medium (16 questions) /47 Scan here to return to the course

or visit savemyexams.com
Hard (18 questions) /72

Very Hard (16 questions) /74

Total Marks /193

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 1
Medium Questions
1 (a) The vector a and the vector b are shown on the grid.

On the grid, draw and label vector −2a

(1 mark)

(b) Work out a + 2 b as a column vector.

(2 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 2
2 (a)

OAB is a triangle.
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA =a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = b

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Find AB in terms of a and b .

(1 mark)

(b) P is the point on AB such that AP : PB = 3:1

⎯⎯⎯
Find OP in terms of a and b.
Give your answer in its simplest form.

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 3
3 (a)

PQRS is a parallelogram.
N is the point on SQ such that SN : NQ = 3:2
⎯⎯⎯
PQ =a
⎯⎯⎯
PS = b
⎯⎯⎯
Write down, in terms of a and b , an expression for SQ .

(1 mark)

⎯⎯⎯⎯
(b) Express NR in terms of a and b .

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 4
4

OAB is a triangle.
M is the midpoint of OA .
N is the midpoint of OB .
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
OM =m
⎯⎯⎯⎯
ON = n

Show that AB is parallel to MN .

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 5
5 (a)

OAYB is a quadrilateral.
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 3a
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = 6b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
Express AB in terms of a and b .

(1 mark)

⎯⎯⎯⎯
(b) X is the point on AB such that AX : XB = 1 :2 and BY = 5a − b
⎯⎯⎯⎯ 2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯
Prove that OX =5 OY

(4 marks)

6 Here are two vectors.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 6
 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ 5 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ −2
AB = ⎜⎜⎜ CB = ⎜⎜⎜
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎟ ⎟
⎟ ⎟
⎟ ⎟

⎝
3 ⎠ ⎝
4 ⎠

⎯⎯⎯⎯
Find, as a column vector, AC

(2 marks)

7 ABCDEF and GHIJKL are regular hexagons each with centre O .

GHIJKL is an enlargement of ABCDEF , with centre O and scale factor 2

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA =a OB =b
Write the following vectors, in terms of a and b . Simplify your answers.
⎯⎯⎯⎯
i) AB

[1]

⎯⎯
ii) KI

[2]

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 7
 ⎯⎯⎯⎯
iii) LD

[2]

(1 mark)

8 ABCDEF is a regular hexagon.

ABX and DCX are straight lines.

⎯⎯⎯
AB
=a ⎯⎯⎯
BC
=b
Find ⎯⎯⎯
EX
in terms of a and b .

Give your answer in its simplest form.

(4 marks)

9 Here are two vectors.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 8
 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 6 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ 1
= −9 =
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞

AB ⎜
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟
⎟ CB ⎜
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟
⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝
3 ⎠

⎯⎯⎯⎯
Find the magnitude of AC .

(3 marks)

10 (a) Vectors a and 4b are drawn on the grid.

Write vector a as a column vector.

(2 marks)

(b) Find vector b as a column vector.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 9
 (2 marks)

a = −31 b= 1
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
11 Vector ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟ and vector ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝
3 ⎠

5
a + 2b =
⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
Gavin starts to draw a diagram to show that ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝
5 ⎠

Complete Gavin’s diagram.

(3 marks)

12 b is a vector.
5 ⎞⎟ ⎛ 2 ⎞

b+ ⎟ , find two possible answers for b .

⎛
⎜ ⎜ ⎟
Given that ⎜
⎜
⎟ is parallel to ⎜
⎟ ⎜ ⎟

⎝
2 ⎠ ⎝
1 ⎠

b=
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟ or ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 10
 (3 marks)

13 Here is vector . a

Circle the column vector that represents . a

⎛
⎜
3 ⎞
⎟
⎛
⎜
−3 ⎞
⎟
⎛
⎜
3 ⎞
⎟
⎛
⎜
−3 ⎞
⎟

−2 −2
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟

⎝
2 ⎠ ⎝
2 ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

(1 mark)

a = −23 b = −15
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
14 ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟ and ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

Work out a – 3 b Circle your answer.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 11
 ⎛
⎜
−6 ⎞
⎟
⎛
⎜
−6 ⎞
⎟
⎛
⎜
0 ⎞⎟ ⎛
⎜
0 ⎞⎟
−13 −
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟

⎝
17 ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝
17 ⎠ ⎝
13 ⎠

(1 mark)

2 ⎞⎟ ⎛ −2 ⎞

a= ⎟ , vector b = ⎜
⎛
⎜ ⎜ ⎟
15 (a) Vector ⎜
⎜ ⎟ ⎜
⎟.
⎟

⎝
1 ⎠ ⎝
1 ⎠

On each grid below, draw a vector to represent

(2 marks)

(b) Emma says that if she draws vector a and vector b they will be the same.
Explain why this is incorrect.

(1 mark)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 12
16 Vectors a, b, c, d and e are drawn on an isometric grid.

Write each of the vectors c, d and e in terms of a and/or b.

c = ....................

d = ....................

e = ....................

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 13
Hard Questions
1 (a)

APB is a triangle.
N is a point on AP .
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
AB =a AN = 2b NP =b
⎯⎯⎯
Find the vector PB , in terms of a and b .

(1 mark)

(b) B is the midpoint of AC .

M is the midpoint of PB .

Show that NMC is a straight line.

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 14
2 (a)

OPTR is a trapezium.
⎯⎯⎯
OP = a
⎯⎯⎯
PT = b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OR = 3b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
i) Find OT in terms of a and b
[1]

⎯⎯⎯
ii) Find PR in terms of a and b
Give your answer in its simplest form.

[1]

(2 marks)

(b) S is the point on PR such that PS : SR = 1 : 3

⎯⎯⎯
Find OS in terms of a and b .
Give your answer in its simplest form.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 15
 (2 marks)

(c) What does your answer to part (b) tell you about the position of point S?

(2 marks)

OAB is a triangle.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 5a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = 2 b

T is the point on AB such that AT : TB = 5 : 1

Show that OT is parallel to the vector a + 2b

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 16
4 (a)

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 6a and OB = 6 b
M is the midpoint of AB .
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Write OM in terms of a and b.
Give your answer in its simplest form.

(2 marks)

(b) N is the midpoint of OB .

G is the point on OM such that OG : GM = 2 : 1

Show that AGN is a straight line.

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 17
5

CAYB is a quadrilateral.
⎯⎯⎯⎯
CA = 3a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
CB = 6 b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
BY = 5a − b
X is the point on AB such that AX : XB = 1:2
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ 2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯
Prove that CX = 5
CY

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 18
6

OAB is a triangle. P is the point on AB such that AP : PB = 5:3

⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 2a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = 2b
⎯⎯⎯
OP = k 3a + 5 b
( ) where k is a scalar quantity.

Find the value of k .

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 19
7

ABC is a triangle.
The midpoint of BC is M.
P is a point on AM .
⎯⎯⎯⎯
AB = 4a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
AC = 2 b
⎯⎯⎯ 3 3
AP = 2a + 4b

Find the ratio AP : PM

(3 marks)

8 OAB is a triangle.
⎯⎯⎯
OA
= a ⎯⎯⎯
OB
=b
The point C lies on OA such that OC : CA = 1 : 2
The point D lies on OB such that OD : DB = 1 : 2

Using a vector method, prove that ABDC is a trapezium.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 20
 (3 marks)

9 (a) The diagram shows parallelogram ABCD .

⎯⎯⎯⎯ 2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ 10 ⎞⎟
AB = ⎜⎜⎜ AC = ⎜⎜⎜
⎛ ⎞ ⎛
⎟
⎟ ⎟
⎟ ⎟

⎝
7 ⎠ ⎝
11 ⎠

The point B has coordinates (5, 8)

Work out the coordinates of the point C.

(3 marks)

(b) The point E has coordinates (63, 211)

Use a vector method to prove that ABE is a straight line.

(2 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 21
10 (a) The diagram shows triangle ABD .

N is the midpoint of BC .

C is the midpoint of AD .

M is the point on AB such that AM: MB = 3 :1

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
AB =p and AC =q
Express, in terms of p and q,
⎯⎯⎯⎯
i) BD
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
ii) MN

[3]

(3 marks)

(b) State, giving reasons, two different geometric facts relating MN and BD .

(2 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 22
11 In triangle JKL

M is the midpoint of JK
JN : NL = 3 : 2
⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
KL = 7a NL = 4 b

⎯⎯⎯
Work out JM in terms of a and b.
Give your answer in its simplest form.

(3 marks)

12 PQR is a straight line.

PQ : QR = 3:1
⎯⎯⎯
PQ =a

⎯⎯⎯⎯
Circle the vector RQ

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 23
 1 1 1 1
3
a 4
a −3a −4a

(1 mark)

a = −610 b = −21 c = −74

⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
13 (a) ⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠

Work out a+b+c

(2 marks)

(b) Show that a + 2c is parallel to b

(2 marks)

14

Is BCD a straight line?

Show working to support your answer.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 24
 (3 marks)

15 Given that

4 5 12 ⎞⎟
+n =
⎛ ⎞ ⎛ ⎞ ⎛

m ⎜⎜⎜ ⎟
⎟
⎟
⎜
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟
⎟
⎜
⎜
⎜
⎟
⎟

⎝
1 ⎠ ⎝
2 ⎠ ⎝
6 ⎠

find the value of m and the value of n .

m = .......................

n = .......................

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 25
16 Two vectors, a and b, are shown on the 1 centimetre grid below.

Show that the vector a + 2b has length 7cm.

You may use the grid below.

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 26
 2 ⎞⎟ ⎛ −2 ⎞

a= ⎟ , vector b = ⎜
⎛
⎜ ⎜ ⎟
17 Vector ⎜
⎜ ⎟ ⎜
⎟.
⎟

⎝
1 ⎠ ⎝
1 ⎠

c = −012
⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟

⎝ ⎠

Find the value k so that k ( a−b =c

)

k = .....................................................

(2 marks)

18 P, Q, R and S are the midpoints of OX, XY, YZ and OZ respectively.

⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯
OP = a , XQ = b and ⎯⎯⎯
OS = c .

Show that PQ is parallel to SR .

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 27
 (5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 28
Very Hard Questions
1 (a) OACB is a parallelogram.

⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = a and ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
D is the point such that AC = ⎯⎯⎯⎯
CD
The point N divides AB in the ratio 2: 1

⎯⎯⎯⎯
Write an expression for ON in terms of a and b.

(3 marks)

(b) Prove that OND is a straight line.

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 29
2

ABC is a straight line.

AB : BC = 2:5
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 2a + b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OB = 3a + 2 b
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Express OC in terms of a and b .
Give your answer in its simplest form.

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 30
3

ACEF is a parallelogram.
B is the midpoint of AC .
M is the midpoint of BE .
⎯⎯⎯⎯
CB = a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
ED = b
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
DC = 2b

Show that AMD is a straight line.

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 31
4

OABC is a parallelogram.
⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = a and OC = c
X is the midpoint of the line AC .

OCD is a straight line so that OC : CD = k : 1

⎯⎯⎯⎯ 1
Given that XD = 3c − 2 a

find the value of k .

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 32
5

OAN , OMB and APB are straight lines.

AN = 2OA .
M is the midpoint of OB .
⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = a OB =b
⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
AP = k AB where k is a scalar quantity.

Given that MPN is a straight line, find the value of k .

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 33
6

OMA , ONB and ABC are straight lines.

M is the midpoint of OA .
B is the midpoint of AC .
⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 6a OB = 6b ON = k b where k is a scalar quantity.
Given that MNC is a straight line, find the value of k .

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 34
7 (a) CDEF is a quadrilateral.

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯

CD = a, DE =b and FC = a − b.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Express FE in terms of a and/or b.
Give your answer in its simplest form.

(2 marks)

(b) M is the midpoint of DE .

X is the point on FM such that FX : XM = n : 1
CXE is a straight line.

Work out the value of n .

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 35
8 The diagram shows triangle OAB

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
OA = 8a OB = 6 b

M is the point on OB such that OM: MB = 1 :2

N is the midpoint of AB
P is the point of intersection of ON and AM
⎯⎯⎯
Using a vector method, find OP as a simplified expression in terms of a and b
Show your working clearly.

⎯⎯⎯
OP = ...................................

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 36
9 OXYZ is a trapezium.

⎯⎯⎯⎯
OX = a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
XY = b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
OZ = 3 b

M is the midpoint of OX
N is the point such that MNZ and ONY are straight lines.

Given that ON : OY =λ:1

use a vector method to find the value of λ

λ = ....................................................

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 37
 10 OACB is a trapezium.

⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯

OA = 2a OB = 5 b AC = 3 b

The diagonals, OC and AB, of the trapezium intersect at the point P .

⎯⎯⎯
Find and simplify an expression, in terms of a and b, for OP Show your working clearly.

⎯⎯⎯
OP = ...............................

(5 marks)

11 (a) In the diagram

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 38
 ⎯⎯⎯⎯
DE = a
⎯⎯⎯⎯
DH = b
⎯⎯⎯⎯
HG = 8 b
EX : XH = 3:1
EF: FG = 1:3

⎯⎯⎯⎯ 1 3
Show that DX =
4
a + 4
b

(2 marks)

(b) Is DXF a straight line?

Show working to support your answer.

(4 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 39
12 Here is quadrilateral PQRS .

⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯

PS = a SR = b RQ = c

X is a point on PS where PX : XS = 1:2

Y is a point on RQ where RY : YQ = 2:1

Is XY parallel to PQ

Show working to support your answer.

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 40
 (3 marks)

13 ABCDE is a pentagon.

Show that BCDE is a parallelogram.

(3 marks)

⎛
⎜
2 ⎞⎟ ⎛ 3 ⎞
⎜ ⎟
14 Vector m= ⎜⎜ ⎟ and vector n = ⎜ ⎟

⎝
k ⎟

⎠
⎜

⎝
11
⎟

⎛
⎜
1 ⎞
⎟
Vector 2m + n is parallel to
−1
⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟

⎝ ⎠

Find the value of k .

k = .........................................

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 41
 (4 marks)

15 The diagram shows triangle OAB and points C and D.

⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯
a
OA = 3 and OB = 3b.
C lies on AB such that AC = 2CB.
⎯⎯⎯
a
D is such that BD = + 2 + b.
Show, using vectors, that OCD is a straight line.

(5 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 42
16 ABCD is a parallelogram.

⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯
BD =
a and AD b . =
F is the midpoint of BC .
G is the midpoint of DC .
AE =
3EB .
⎯⎯⎯ ⎯⎯⎯⎯
Prove that EF and AG are parallel.

(3 marks)

© 2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. Get more and ace your exams at savemyexams.com 43