National Junior College Mathematics Department 2016

National Junior College

2015 – 2016 H2 Mathematics
Vectors II: Tutorial 2 Tutorial Solutions

Basic Mastery Questions

6 1 5 2
1(a) l1 : r 4 0 and l2 : r 2 2
0 1 0 1
1 2
0 2 3 1
cos 45
1 1 3 2 2
2 9

2 2 4 2
(b) l1 : r 3 3 and l2 : r 1 1
1 1 1 2
2 2
3 1 4 3 2
cos 36.7
1 2 14 9
14 9

(c) r i j k (i j k ), and r ( i j k ), are parallel lines since their

direction vectors are parallel. The angle between them is 0 .

2 3 0
2. Let denote the angle of between l : r 4 5 , and p : r 1 1.
5 4 0
3 0
5 1
4 0 5 1
sin 45 .
3 0 50 2
5 1
4 0

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2 1
3. Let denote the angle of between r 3 6 and r 2 8.
4 5
2 1
3 2
4 5 24
cos 35.5 (to 1 d.p).
2 1 29 30
3 2
4 5

3 4 1 3 3
1
4. AQ 2 0 2 ,m ˆ
4 and m 4 .
5
1 2 1 0 0
Method 1:
1 3 4
1 1 29
QN ˆ
AQ m 2 4 3 .
5 5 5
1 0 2
Method 2:
1 3
1 11 121 29
AN AQ ˆ
m 2 4 , QN = AQ 2 AN 2 6 .
5 5 25 5
1 0
Method 3:
1 3 3 3
1 1 11
AN AQ ˆ m
m ˆ 2 4 4 4 .
5 5 25
1 0 0 0
3 1 8
11 1
QN AN AQ 4 2 6 a better method to find vector component of
25 25 Q onto the line
0 1 25
1 2 5 29 29
QN 8 62 252 .
25 25 5

P(3, 3, 6)
8 3
5(i) r 7 2 , .
2 2

l
N lies on line (8, 7, 2) N
3
8 3
2
ON 7 2 for some .
2
2 2

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5 3
PN ON OP 10 2
8 2
3
PN is perpendicular to 2
2
5 3 3
10 2 2 0
8 2 2
15 9 20 4 16 4 0
17 51
3
1 4
ON 1 , PN 4 and PN 16 16 4 6.
4 2 P
(ii) Since N is the midpoint of PP’, by Ratio Theorem,
1 O
1
ON OP OP ' 1
2
4 N
1 3 5
OP ' 2ON OP 2 1 3 5 .
4 6 2 P’

6. A point A 2, 0, 0 lies on the plane x 2 y z 2 , the perpendicular distance is equal to

2 1
the length of projection of OA 0 onto a normal vector 2 .
0 1

2 1
1 2
Perpendicular distance OA n 0 2 .
12 2
2
12 6
0 1

2 1
7. Equation of line PQ: r 0 1 , .
1 2
To find the point of intersection P between the line PQ and the plane p:

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2 1
1 3
1 2 2
2 2 4 3
6 3 0.5
Therefore coordinates of P is (2.5, 0.5, 0) .

Shortest distance from P to p

QP
2.5 2
0.5 0
0 1
0.5
0.5
1
3 6
.
2 2

Practice Questions

2 1 3 1
1(i) BA 1 4 3 3 1 P 4, 5, 3
5 2 3 1
2 1 1
l :r 1 1 , 1
5 1 1

(ii)
1 1 A 2, 1, 5 N
1 1
AN AP 1 1
3 3
1 1
2 1 1 1 2
1
6 1 1 2 1 2
3
2 1 1 1 2
2 2 4
ON OA AN 1 2 1 .
5 2 7

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3 1
y 1 z 1
2. x 3 r 1 2 , .
2 2
1 2
Let M be the intersection of the 2 lines.
3 1
OM 1 2 for some fixed λ.
1 2
1
AM OM OA 2 2
6 2
16
9 2
32 8
AM 4
9 9
5
40
9
2 2
Thus required equation of line is r 1 4 ,
5 5
Shortest distance
8 2 2 8 5
AM 2 42 5
9 3

8 2 0
3(i) l1 : r 5 2 , and z-axis: r 0 ,
1 1 1
2 0
2 . 0 1
cos 70.5
1 1 3
9. 1
8 2
(ii) Let N be the foot of perpendicular of the origin from l. ON 5 2 for some .
1
8 2 2 2
5 2 . 2 0 16 4 10 4 1 0 3 ON 1
1 1 2
Possible extension question:
How to find the reflection of
a line in another if they are
parallel (or skew)?

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8 2 6 8 2 6 --- (1)
(iii) Let 5 2 4 5 2 4 --- (2)
1 1 --- (3)
3 1
From (1) and (2), we have and .
2 2
3
Equation (3) holds. the point of intersection is P 9, 6, .
2
4
When O on l2 is reflected in l1 , its image Q has position vector OQ 2ON 2 .
4
The mirror line passes through P and Q with direction vector
9 5
4 10 9 10
6 8 1
QP 2 16 has equation r 6 16 , .
3 11 2
4 11 1.5 11
2 2

4(i) Re-writing the equations of p1 and p2 in scalar-product form,

1
p1 : r 2 0
3
3
p2 : r 1 0.
2
Let denote the angle between p1 and p2 .
1 3
2 1
3 2 1
cos 60 .
2
1 ( 2) 2 2
3 3 2 2
1 2 2 2
RHS=0->the plane always pass through origin
7 1 0 3
(ii) Since 2 2 0 , P lies on p1 . Also, since 0 1 0, O lies on plane p2
1 3 0 2
Let d be the perpendicular distance from P to p2 . Then

P(1, 1, 0)

d
O

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d length of projection of OP onto normal vector of p2

3
OP 1
2
32 12 22
21
14
3 14
2
(iii) Let l and d1 be the line of intersection between p1 and p2 , and the distance from P to l
respectively.
3D View Side View
l Cross section of l

d1

60° P(1, 1, 0) 60° P(1, 1, 0)

From the above diagram,

3 14
d 2
d1 42
sin 60 3
2

7 1 6
(iv) QP = 2 1 3 Q(1, −1, −1) P(1, 1, 0)
1 1 0 d
Length of projection of QP onto p2
3
= length of vector component of QP perpendicular to 1
2
6 3
6
3 1 1 189 54
= 12 .
0 2 14 14 2
3
9 1 4

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(v) By observation, O (0,0,0) and B (0,−1,0) lie on p1 and p3 respectively.

Hence distance between the 2 planes
= length of projection of OB onto
common normal vector of p1 and p3
0 1
1 2
0 3
.
1 4 9
2 14
14 7

1 2
5(i) p1 : r 1 0 and p2 : r 4 12
1 1
1 1 1 2
Since 1 1 0 and 1 4 0 , i j 2k is perpendicular to both normal vectors
2 1 2 1
and is therefore parallel to both planes.

3 1 2 1 3 1
(ii) Equation of the plane: r 8 1 4 , , (or r 1 8 1 15 ).
2 1 1 2 2 2

(iii) Let z 0 . x y 0, 2 x 4 y 12 x 2, y 2 .
2
A common point on p1 and p2 is 2 .
0
2 1
Hence an equation of the line of intersection is r 2 1 .
0 2
3
(iv) Equation of line OP is r 8 , .
2
3 2
1 3
8 4 12 . Thus line OP meets p2 at , 4, 1 .
2 2
2 1

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(v) Let h be the perpendicular distance of P from p1 .

3 1
8 1
2 1
h 3 3.
12 12 ( 1) 2

Let q be the length of projection. q 2 OP2 h2 50 q 5 2.

0 6
6(i) Since D lies on the plane DEFG, OD 0 and OF 3 .
1 3

6 0 6
DF OF OD 3 0 3
3 1 2

6 2
GE CA OA OC 3 3 1
0 0
Since both DF and EG are parallel to the plane DEFG, the equation of plane DEFG is
0 6 2
r OD DF EG 0 3 1 , , (shown).
1 2 0
6 2 2 1
Normal vector to the plane, n 3 1 4 2 2
2 0 12 6
1 0 1 1
Hence equation of DEFG is given by r 2 0 2 r 2 6
6 1 6 6

(ii) Since the planes p, DEFG and OBFD F

have no common point of
intersection, the line DF does not G
intersect p and hence is parallel to p.
Therefore,
a 6 B
C
2 3 0 6a 6 12 a 1. E
6 2 D

O A

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(iii) Let M be the midpoint of CD. Then

can also use CG
0 0 0
OC OD 1 D plane DEFG
OM 3 0 3/ 2
2 2
0 1 1/ 2
M p
From the diagram, since the plane p is
equidistant between C and DEFG, M lies on
p.
C
Hence equation of p is given by
1 0 1 1
r 2 3/ 2 2 r 2 0
6 1/ 2 6 6
Hence b = 0. (shown)

(iv) Note that O lies on p. Hence perpendicular distance from C to p

1 0 1
2 3 2 6 41
or 0.937(3 s.f.)
6 0 6 41
OC
12 22 ( 6) 2 12 22 ( 6) 2

4 2
7(i) Equation of line AX : r 1 3 , .
p 0

X is the point of intersection between line AX and plane 1 , therefore

4 2 2 2
1 3 3 2 8 4 3 9 2 1 . Therefore OX 2 .
p 0 p

2 0
2 0
Or draw diagram to see
p 1
If OX makes an angle of 45o with z-axis, cos 45
8 p2

p 1
p2 8 p 2 2 . Since p > 0, we have p 2 2.
8 p 2
2

1 2
(ii) 2 :r 1 1 . AB OB OA 6 .
1 q p

Plane 2 parallel to vector AB AB normal of plane 2 .

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2 1
6 1 0 2 6 q p 0 q 2 2 4.
q p 1

(iii) Perpendicular distance

= length of projection of OX onto the normal

O
of both planes

2 2
2 3
X
2 2 0 2
.
13 13
Alternatively, the perpendicular distance is the distance from the origin to 1 which is

2 2
given by .
2
2
32 02 13

2 1 2
(iv) 1 :r 3 2 and 4 :r 3 3 .
0 2 0

2
Since plane 4 is parallel to 3 which is the normal of 1 , 4 is perpendicular to 1 .
0

Alternatively, we can find a normal vector of 4 and show that it is perpendicular to the

normal vector of 1 .

1 2 6 6
3 3 4 , Equation of 4 :r 4 0.
2 0 3 3

To find common point of intersection, solve the following equations:

1 : 2x 3 y 2
2 : x y z 1
4 : 6 x 4 y 3z 0

7 12 30
From GC, the position vector of the point of intersection is i j k .
11 11 11

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Further Practice Questions

1(i) OA i 3k , OR 4i 3j AR 3i 3j 3k
1 1
A vector equation of line AR is r 0 1 .
3 1
Hence a Cartesian equation of line AR is x 1 y 3 z .

1 4
(ii) ON for some fixed λ, OB OQ QB OQ OA 5i 3k BN
3
1 7/3 8/3
4
BN 1 0 ON 4 / 3 and BN 4/3
3
1 5/3 4/3
Let length of projection be d,

16 4
d AB 2 BN 2 42 6
9 3
B

(iii) By Ratio Theorem, 1 unit

OE 2OB
ON
3
O N
OE 3ON 2OB
3
4
2 units
1

1 2
E
2(i) Their normal vectors are perpendicular since 2 1 0.
2 0

Thus the planes p1 and p2 are perpendicular to each other.

1 2 2
(ii) A normal vector to p3 , n 2 1 4
2 0 5
Since p3 passes through O, its equation is given by

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0
r n 0 n
0
2 0 2
r 4 0 4
.
5 0 5
x 2 0 2
y 4 0 4
z 5 0 5
2 x 4 y 5z 0

Thus its Cartesian equation is 2 x 4 y 5z 0.

1 2
3 4
(iii) Perpendicular distance from (1, 3, 1) to p3 is .
1 5 3 3 5
22 42 ( 5) 2 5 5

1 0 1
3(i) A normal vector of 2 is 1 1 1 , a Cartesian equation of 2 is x y z 0 .
0 1 1
Solving the Cartesian equations simultaneously with a GC, we have an equation of l2:
3 2
r 3 t 1 ,t by letting z t .
0 1
2 2
l1 and l2 has parallel direction vectors since 1 1 . Thus they are parallel.
1 1
2 0 2 2
1 1 1 10
Shortest distance AB 1 2 1 0 .
6 6 6 3
1 0 1 4

Possible extension question:

How can we find an equation of
l2 without converting the
equation of 2 to the Cartesian
form?

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0.5b 2
Distance between p1 and p3 is the length of projection of vector AB 4 onto their
6
normal vectors.
0.5b 2 1
4 1
6 1 0.5b 2 4 6 1
is given to be .
3 3 3
0.5b 2 1
0.5b 2 1 or 0.5b 2 1
b 6 or b 10 Possible extension question:
Alternatively, we can solve (v) by
considering the distance from O to p1
and p3. How can this be done?

3 2
(ii) Let OC 1 1 for some . ABC 90o BA BC 0,
0 1
0 0 2 7
2 . 2 1 0 . Solving it, we get 2 and OC 3 .
0 0 1 2
7 0 7
Since CD AB, OD 3 2 OD 5 .
2 0 2

(iii) Since O lies on 2 , midpoint of OA 1.5, 0.5, 0 lies on 3 .

1
A normal vector of 3 is 1 since 3 is parallel to 2 .
1
1 1.5 1
An equation of 3 is r 1 0.5 1 1 , i.e. x y z 1 . (shown)
1 0 1

Let F be foot of perpendicular from A to 3 and pick a point E (1, 0, 0) on 3 .

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8
1 1 1 3
1 1 1 4
AF AE 1 1 1 , OF OA AF .
3 3 3 3
1 1 1
1
3
4(i) Let n1 and n2 be normals of p1 and p2 respectively.
1 0 1 2 1 3 1 3 5
n1 0 1 1 , n2 3 0 2 . 1 2 6 is a direction vector of
1 1 1 0 1 3 1 3 1
l.
Therefore l is parallel to 5i + 6j + k.

1 3
1 2
1 1 3
(ii) Angle between p1 and p2 cos 75.7 (to 1 d.p) .
3 22

4 2 3 2 3
2 4 2 2 2
2 6 3 4 3
(iii) Perpendicular distance 22
22 22

(iv) The point (2, 4, 6) must lie on p3, so 2a 8 12 b b 2a 4 .

Since the three planes meet at a single point, we must exclude the case where they meet
along a line.

Thus p3 must not contain the line l, i.e. the normal vector of p3 must not be perpendicular
to the direction vector of l.
a 5
2 6 0 a 2
2 1

Therefore b = 2a + 4, where a ≠ 2.

1 2
(v) p1: r 1 4 and p3: r 2 b.
1 2

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2
Point A with position vector OA 4 lies p1. Choose a point on p3, say B with position
6
0.5b
vector OB 0
0

Challenging Questions

1(i) OP for some ,

0
2
PA and PB 2 .
c c

PA PB
cos APB
PA PB
2 2 c2
2 2 2 2
2 c2 2 c2
2 2
2 2 c2 2 2 2 2
2 2
since 2 c2 2 c2
4 4 c2
2 2 4 c2
2 2 4 4 c2
4
1 2
.
2 4 4 c2

(ii) When c 6
4 2
cos APB 1 2
1 2
.
2 4 10 1 4
2 2 2
Since 0 2
(since 1 0 for all ),
1 4 4
1
cos APB 1 0 APB 60
2

2(i) A normal vector to OAC is c i . Since OAC contains the origin, it has a vector equation
r c i 0.
Similarly, a vector equation of OBC is r c j 0.

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c1
(ii) Let c c2 .
c3
c1 1 c1 0 0 c3
c2 0 c2 1 c3 0
c i c j c3 0 c3 0 c2 c1 c1c2
LHS cos .
c i c j c i c j c i c j c i c j
c i c j
cos c i c1 cos c j c2
cot and cot .
sin c i c i sin c j c j
c i c j
c1 c2 c1c2
RHS cot cot LHS . (Proven)
c i c j c i c j

(iii) 0 cos 1 as 090 .

cot
From (ii), 0 cot cot 1.
tan
Since tan 0 for acute angle between lines, cot tan 90 tan .

Since tan is an increasing function for acute angles,

90
90
a1 0
3(i) ON 0 , AN a2 AN a2 2 a32 .
0 a3
a1 0
(ii) An equation of l is r 0 0 , .
0 1
x a1
Any point on l lies on the xz-plane as y 0 satisfies the equation of the xz-plane, y 0.
z
Therefore, l lies in the xz-plane.

a1
(iii) Since P lies on l, its position vector is 0 for some fixed . Let the positon vector of

b1
point B on the x-axis be 0 .
0

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b1 a1
2
AB a2 AB b1 a1 a2 2 a32 ,
a3
b1 a1
2 2
PB 0 PB b1 a1 .

2
Since AB BP for any b1 , a22 a32 a22 a32 .

a1 a1
Thus OP 0 or OP 0 (let this point be P’).
a2 2 a32 a2 2 a32

O N B x
C

z
On the xz-plane, C c1 , 0, c3 and P a1 , 0, a2 2 a32 are on the same side of the x-axis

but C and P ' a1 , 0, a2 2 a32 are on the opposite sides. Thus, line segment CP does not
cut the x-axis but CP’ does.

Since AB PB P ' B , the least possible value of AB BC (or P ' B BC ) is the length of
P ' C . P ' B BC P ' C by Triangular Inequality and the equal sign can be obtained when
B is the intersection between line segment CP’ and the x-axis.

2
2
Thus, the minimum value of AB BC is the CP ' c1 a1 c3 a2 2 a32

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