Title: Vector 3D

Chapter: Vector 3D
Approximate Time to Complete (to be filled by student): ________________________
Total Marks Scored:
Worksheet Compiled By: Prashant Jain (PJ Sir)

 Attempt the worksheet in one go. See answers in one go at the end.
 All questions carry 4 marks for positive and -1 if you leave and -2 if you attempt
incorrectly.
 All proving or show questions (if done correctly) are of 4 marks. There is no negative
marking.
 If you cheat in worksheet then you are only cheating and such sinners do not get
selection in JEE so for your own sake refrain from cheating.
 Maintain the solutions of this worksheet and share the link of solution pdf in the
tracker if you want to be monitored.

Vectors and their representation :

Vector quantities are specified by definite magnitude and definite direction. A vector is generally

represented by a directed line segment, say AB . A is called the initial point and B is called the terminal
 
point. The magnitude of vector AB is expressed by  AB .
Zero vector :
A vector of zero magnitude i.e. which has the same initial and terminal point, is called a zero vector. It is
denoted by O. The direction of zero vector is indeterminate.
Unit vector :
 
A vector of unit magnitude in the direction of a vector a is called unit vector along a and is denoted by

 a
a , symbolically â   .
|a|

Equal vectors :
Two vectors are said to be equal if they have the same magnitude, direction and represent the same
physical quantity.
Collinear vectors :
Two vectors are said to be collinear if their directed line segments are parallel irrespective of their
directions. Collinear vectors are also called parallel vectors. If they have the same direction( )

they are named as like vectors but if they have opposite direction () then they are named as

unlike vectors.
   
Symbolically, two non-zero vectors a and b are collinear if and only if, a  b , where   R

    a a a

a  b  a1ˆi  a2 ˆj  a3kˆ =  b1ˆi  b 2 ˆj  b3kˆ  a1 = b1, a2 = b2, a3 = b3  1 = 2 = 3 ( =)
b1 b2 b3

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
   a1 a2 a3
Vectors a = a1 î + a 2 ˆj + a3kˆ and b = b1 î + b2 ˆj + b3 kˆ are collinear if = =
b1 b2 b3

     
Note : If a,b are non zero, noncollinear vectors, such that xa  yb  x 'a  y 'b  x  x ' , y  y' ,
(where x, x’, y, y’ are scalars)

Example # 1 : Find unit vector of ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ


Solution : a = ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ
 
a = a x ˆi + a y ˆj + a z kˆ
2 2 2
if then | a | = a x  a y  a z

 a 1 2 3
  |a| = 14  â =  = î – ĵ + k̂
|a| 14 14 14

 
Example # 2 : a = (x + 1) î – (2x + y) ĵ + 3 k̂ and b = (2x – 1) î + (2 + 3y) ĵ + k̂
   
find x and y for which a and b are parallel.
  x 1 –(2x  y) 3
Solution : a and b are parallel  = =  x = 4/5 , y = –19/25
2x – 1 2  3y 1

Coplanar vectors :
A given number vectors are called coplanar if their line segments are all parallel to the same plane. Note
that “two vectors are always coplanar”.

Multiplication of a vector by a scalar :

 
If a is a vector and m is a scalar, then m is a vector parallel to a whose magnitude is m times that of
  
a . This multiplication is called scalar multiplication. If a and a are vectors and m, n are scalars, then
:
     
(i) m (a)  (a) m  ma (ii) m (na)  n(ma)  (mn)a
      
(iii) (m  n) a  ma  na (iv) m (a  b)  ma  mb

Self Practice Problems :

(1) Given a regular hexagon ABCDEF with centre O, show that
          
(i) OB – OA = OD – OE (ii) EA = 2 OB + OF (iii) AD + EB + FC = 4 AB
   
(2) Let ABCDEF be a regular hexagon. If AD = x BC and CF = y AB then find xy.
(3) The sum of the two unit vectors is a unit vector. Show that the magnitude of the their difference
is 3 .
Answers : (2) – 4

Addition of vectors :   

  
(i) If two vectors a and b are represented by OA and OB , then their sum a  b is a

vector represented by OC , where OC is the diagonal of the parallelogram OACB.
         
(ii) a  b  b  a (commutative) (iii) (a  b)  c  a  (b  c)  (associative)
         
(iv) a  0  a  0  a    (v) a  ( a)  0  ( a)  a  
       
(vi) | a  b |  | a |  | b |    (vii) | a  b |  || a |  | b ||  

 
Example # 3 : The two sides of ABC are given by AB = 2 î + 4 ĵ + 4 k̂ , AC = 2 î + 2 ĵ + k̂ . Then find the
length of median through A.
Solution : Let D be mid point of BC
    1  
In ABC, AB + BD = AD  AB + BC = AD A
2
  
AB  (AB  BC) 
 = AD
2
 
AB  AC   4iˆ  6ˆj  5kˆ 77
 = AD  | AD | = = B D C
2 2 2
For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
Example # 4 : In a triangle ABC, D, E, F  are
 the mid-points of the sides BC, CA and AB A respectively
 
then prove that, AD = – ( BE + CF ).
  1  
Solution : AD = 3 GD = 3. (GB  GC) where D is mid-point of BC F 2
G
E
2
3 2 
 
2   
 
 1
= EB  FC  = – ( BE + CF )
2  3 3  B D C

Position vector of a point:  


Let O be a fixed origin, then the position vector of a point P is the vector OP . If a and b are position
vectors of two points A and B, then
  
AB = b  a = position vector (p.v.) of B  position vector (p.v.) of A.
DISTANCE FORMULA
   
Distance between the two points A (a) and B (b) is AB = ab

SECTION FORMULA
 
If a and b are the position vectors of two points A and B, then the p.v. of
 
 na  mb
a point which divides AB in the ratio m: n is given by r  .
mn
 
ab
Note : Position vector of mid point of AB = .
2
 
Example # 5 : Let O be the centre of a regular pentagon ABCDE and OA = a .
    
Then AB  2BC  3CD  4DE  5EA =
         
Solution : OA  a,OB  b,OC  c,OD  d,OE  e
            
       
 
AB  2BC  3CD  4DE  5EA = b  a + 2 c  b + 3 d  c + 4 e  d + 5  a  e 
        

   
= 5a – a  b  c  d  e = 5a , (since a  b  c  d   e = 0)

Example # 6 : In a triangle ABC, D and E are points on BC and AC respectively, such that BD = 2DC and
BP
AE = 3EC. Let P be the point of intersection of AD and BE. Find using vector method.
PE
 
Solution : Let the position vectors of points B and C be respectively b and c referred to A as origin of
reference.
BP PD A(0)
Let = and =      
PE AP 3
   
  3  c 2c  b E
 b 1
2c  b  3  
3
AD = , AE = c  AP = 4 =  P 1
3 4  1  1  2 µ 1 
  C(c)
B(b) D
comparing the coefficient of b & c
1 1 3 2
= and =
 1 3(  1) 4(  1) 3(  1)
solving above equations we get  = 8/3

Self Practice Problems     


(4) Express vectors BC , CA and AB in terms of the vectors OA , OB and OC
  
(5) If a, b are position vectors of the points(1,–1),(–2, m), find the value of m for which a and

b are collinear.
  
(6) The vertices P, Q and S of a PQS have position vectors p, q and s respectively.
   
(i) Find the position vector of t of point T in terms of p, q and s , such that ST : TM = 2 : 1
and M is mid-point of PQ.

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
 (ii) If the parallelogram PQRS is now completed. Express , the position vector
  
of the point R in terms of p, q and s
      
(7) In a quadrilateral ABCD, AB = p , BC = q , DA = p – q . If E is the mid point of BC and F is
4
the point on DE such that DF = DE. Show that the points. A,F,C are collinear.
5

(8) Point L, M, N divide the sides BC, CA, AB of ABC in the ratios 1 : 4, 3 : 2, 3 : 7 respectively.
   
Prove that AL + BM + CN is a vector parallel to CK , when K divides AB in the ratio 1 : 3.
        
Answers : (4) BC  OC  OB , CA  OA  OC , AB  OB  OA (5) m=2
 1       
(6) (i) t = (p  q  s) (ii) r = (q  p  s)
3

Distance formula
Distance between any two points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) is given as (x1  x 2 )2  (y1  y 2 )2  (z1  z2 )2

Distance of a point P from coordinate axes

Let PA, PB and PC are distances of the point P(x, y, z) from the coordinate axes OX, OY and OZ
respectively then PA = y 2  z 2 , PB = z2  x 2 , PC = x 2  y 2

Example # 7 : Find the locus of a point which is equidistance from A (0,2,3) and B (2, –2, 1).
Solution : let P (x, y, z) be any point which is equidistance from A (0,2,3) and B (2, – 2, 1)
PA = PB
 (x – 0)2  (y – 2)2  (z – 3)2 = (x – 2)2  (y  2)2  (z – 1)2 x – 2y – z + 1 = 0

Example # 8 : Find the locus of a point which moves such that the sum of its distances from points A(0, 0, –)
and B(0, 0, ) is constant.
Solution : Let the variable point whose locus is required be P(x, y, z)
Given PA + PB = constant = 2a (say)
 (x  0)2  (y  0)2  (z   )2 + (x  0)2  (y  0)2  (z   )2 = 2a
 x 2  y 2  (z   )2 = 2a – x 2  y 2  (z   )2
 x2 + y2 + z2 + 2 + 2z = 4a2 + x2 + y2 + z2 + 2 – 2z – 4a x 2  y 2  (z   )2
z2  2
 4z– 4a2 = – 4a x 2  y 2  (z   )2   + a2 – 2z = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2 – 2z
a2
 2  x2 y2 z2
or, x2 + y2 + z2  1  2  = a2 – 2  + 2 + 2=1
 a  a 
2 2
a  2
a
This is the required locus.

Self practice problems :

(9) One of the vertices of a cuboid is (0, 2, –1) and the edges from this vertex are along the positive
x-axis, positive y-axis and positive z-axis respectively and are of lengths 2, 2, 3 respectively find
out the vertices.
(10) Show that the points (0, 4, 1), (2, 3, –1), (4, 5, 0) and (2, 6, 2) are the vertices of a square.
(11) Find the locus of point P if AP2–BP2=20, where A  (2, –1, 3) and B  (–1, – 2, 1).
Answers : (9) (2,2, –1), (2, 4, –1), (2, 4, 2), (2, 2, 2), (0, 2, 2), (0, 4, 2), (0, 4, –1).
(11) x + y + 2z = 6

Centroid of a triangle

 x  x 2  x 3 y1  y 2  y 3 z1  z 2  z3 
G  1 , , 
 3 3 3 

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
Incentre of triangle ABC
 ax  bx 2  cx 3 ay1  by 2  cy 3 az1  bz 2  cz3 
I  1 , ,  Where AB = c, BC = a, CA = b
 abc abc abc 

Example # 9 : Show that the points A(2, 3, 4), B(–1, 2, –3) and C(–4, 1, –10) are collinear. Also find the ratio
in which C divides AB.
Solution : Given A  (2, 3, 4), B  (–1, 2, –3), C  (– 4, 1, –10).
A (2, 3, 4) B (–1, 2, –3)

Let C divide AB internally in the ratio k : 1, then

 k  2 2k  3 3k  4  k  2
C  , ,   k  1 = – 4 3k = – 6 k = –2
 k  1 k  1 k  1 
2k  3 3k  4
For this value of k, = 1, and = –10
k 1 k 1
Since k < 0, therefore C divides AB externally in the ratio 2 : 1 and points A, B, C are collinear.

Example # 10 :The vertices of a triangle are A(5, 4, 6), B(1, –1, 3) and C(4, 3, 2). The internal bisector of BAC
meets BC in D. Find AD.
Solution : AB = 42  5 2  32  5 2
AC = 12  12  42  3 2
Since AD is the internal bisector of BAC
BD AB 5
    D divides BC internally in the ratio 5 : 3
DC AC 3
 5  4  3  1 5  3  3( 1) 5  2  3  3   23 12 19 
 D  , ,  or, D=  , ,
 53 53 53   8 8 8 
2 2 2
 23   12   19  1530
 AD = 5  8   4  8   6  8  = unit
      8

Example # 11 : If the points P, Q, R, S are (4, 7, 8), (– 1, – 2, 1), (2, 3, 4) and (1,2,5) respectively, show that PQ
and RS intersect. Also find the point of intersection.
Solution : Let the lines PQ and RS intersect at point A.
   4 2  7   8 
Let A divide PQ in the ratio  : 1, (  –1) then A   , , . .... (1)
  1  1   1 
 k  2 2k  3 5k  4 
Let A divide RS in the ratio k : 1, then A   , ,  ..... (2)
 k 1 k 1 k  1 

From (1) and (2), we have,

  4 k  2
 –k –  + 4k + 4 = k + 2 + k + 2 2k + 3 – 3k – 2 = 0 .....(3)
 1 k 1
2  7 2k  3
 –2k – 2 + 7k + 7 = 2k + 3 + 2k + 3 4k + 5 – 5k – 4 = 0 .....(4)
 1 k 1
  8 5k  4
 ..... (5)
 1 k 1
Multiplying equation (3) by 2, and subtracting from equation (4), we get –  + k = 0 or,  = k
Putting  = k in equation (3), we get 22 + 3 – 3 – 2 = 0  =1=k
Clearly  = k = 1 satisfies eqn. (5), hence our assumption is correct.
 1  4 2  7 1  8  3 5 9
 A  , ,  or, A  , ,  .
 2 2 2   2 2 2

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
Self practice problems :
(12) Find the ratio in which yz plane divides the line joining the points A (4, 3, 5) and B (7, 4, 5).
(13) Find the co-ordinates of the foot of perpendicular drawn from the point A(1, 2, 1) to the line
joining the point B(1, 4, 6) and C(5, 4, 4).
8 
(14) Two vertices of a triangle are (4, –6, 3) and (2, –2, 1) and its centroid is  , 1, 2  . Find the
3 
third vertex.
3 7 1
(15) Show that  , ,  is the circumcentre of the triangle whose vertices are
2 2 2
A (2, 3, 2), B (0, 4, 1) and C (3, 3, 0) and hence find its orthocentre.
Answers : (12) 4 : 7 Externally (13) (3, 4, 5) (14) (2, 5, 2) (15) (2, 3, 2)

Direction cosines and direction ratios

(i) Direction cosines : Let  be the angles which a directed line makes with the positive
directions of the axes of x, y and z respectively, then cos , cos cos  are called the direction
cosines of the line. The direction cosines are usually denoted by , m, n.

Thus  = cos , m = cos , n = cos .

(ii) If , m, n be the direction cosines of a line, then 2 + m2 + n2 = 1
(iii) Direction ratios : Let a, b, c be proportional to the direction cosines , m, n then a, b, c are called
the direction ratios.
If a, b, c, are the direction ratios of any line L, then aiˆ  bjˆ  ckˆ will be a vector parallel to the line
L.
If , m, n are direction cosines of line L, then  î + m ĵ + n k̂ is a unit vector parallel to the line L.
(iv) If , m, n be the direction cosines and a, b, c be the direction ratios of a vector, then (, m, n)
 a b c   a b c 
=  , ,  or  2 , , 
 2 2  2 
 a b c a b c a b c   a b c a b c a b c 
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

(v) If the coordinates P and Q are (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2), then the direction ratios of line PQ are,
x  x1
a = x2  x1, b = y2  y1 & c = z2  z1 and the direction cosines of line PQ are  = 2 ,
| PQ |
y 2  y1 z  z1
m= and n = 2 .
| PQ | | PQ |
cos 3
Example # 12 : If a line makes angle , ,  with the co-ordinate axes. Then find the value of  cos 
.

cos3 4cos3   3 cos 

Solution :  =  = (4cos2 – 3)
cos  cos 
= 4(cos2 + cos2 + cos2) – 3 – 3 – 3 = 4 – 9 = – 5 Ans. –5

Example # 13 : If the direction ratios of two lines are given by mn – 4n + 3m = 0 and  + 2m + 3n = 0 then
find the direction ratios of the lines.
 m n  m n
Solution : Eliminating  we have m = ± 2 n  = = & = =
–2 2 – 3 2 1 2 2–3 – 2 1
Ans. ( (–2 2 – 3), 2 ,  ), (2 2 – 3) , 2  – where   R – {0}

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
Self practice problems:
(16) Find the direction cosines of a line lying in the xy plane and making angle 30° with x-axis.

(17) A line makes an angle of 60° with each of x and y axes, find the angle which this line makes
with z-axis.
(18) A plane intersects the co-ordinates axes at point A(2, 0, 0), B(0, 4, 0), C(0, 0, 6) ; O is origin.
Find the direction ratio of the line joining the vertex B to the centroid of face ABC.

3 1 2 8
Answers : (16) = ,m=± , n=0 (17) 45° (18) ,– ,2
2 2 3 3

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
 EXERCISE – I
Part - I : Subjective Questions
  
1. (i) Let position vectors of points A,B and C are a , b and c respectively. Point D divides line segment

BC internally in the ratio 2 : 1. Find vector AD .
  
(ii) Let ABCD is parallelogram. Position vector of points A,C and D are a , c and d respectively . If E

divides line segment AB internally in the ratio 3 : 2 then find vector DE .
 
(iii) Let ABCD is trapezium such that AB = 3 DC . E divides line segment AB internally in the ratio 2 : 1
   
and F is mid point of DC. If position vector of A,B and C are a,b and c respectively then find vector FE .

 
2. In a ABC, AB = 6iˆ  3ˆj  3kˆ ; AC = 3iˆ 3ˆj 6kˆ
D and D are points trisections of side BC
 
Find AD and AD .

3. If ABCD is a quadrilateral, E and F are the mid-points of AC and BD respectively, then prove that
    
AB  AD  CB  CD  4EF

4. Let ABCD is parallelogram where A = (1,2,4) , B = (8,7,9) and D = (6,1,5) . Find direction cosines of line
AC
5. Find the direction cosines , m, n of line which are connected by the relations  + m + n = 0, 2mn + 2m
– n = 0.

Part - II : Only One Option Correct Type

 
 

1. If the vector b is collinear with the vector a  2 2 , 1, 4 and b = 10, then:
       
(A) a  b = 0 (B) a  2b = 0 (C) 2a  b = 0 (D) 3a  b = 0

2. OABCDE is a regular hexagon of side 2 units in the XYplane as shown in figure . O being the origin and
OA taken along the Xaxis. A point P is taken on a line parallel to Zaxis through the centre of the

hexagon at a distance of 3 units from O in the positive Z direction. Then vector AP is:
y

D C

E • B

x
O A

z
(A)  ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ (B) ˆi  3 ˆj  5kˆ (C)  ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ (D) ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ

3. If the sum of the squares of the distances of a point from the three coordinate axes be 36, then its distance
from the origin is

(A) 6 (B) 3 2 (C) 2 3 (D) 6 2

4. A line makes angles  with the coordinate axes. If  + = 90º, then  =
(A) 0 (B) 90º (C) 180º (D) 45°
For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
 Answer Key
Part - I : Subjective Questions
        
2c  b – 3a 3c  5a – 8d 5b  a – 6c
1. (i) (ii) (iii)
3 5 6
 6 2 3   –6 –2 –3 
2. 5iˆ  ˆj 4kˆ , 4iˆ ˆj 5kˆ . 4.  7 , 7 , 7 ,  7 , 7 , 7 
   
1 1 2 2 1 1
5.  ,  , or , ,
6 6 6 6 6 6

Part - II : Only One Option Correct Type

1. (C) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (B)

Solution
Part - I : Subjective Questions

A a

1. (i)  
B b  C c 
D
2:1
 
2c  b
Position vector of D is
3
  
2c  b 
vector AD = –a
3
D C

(ii)

A B
3 E 2
  
Vector DC = c – d
   
Vector c – d = c – d
 3  
Vector AE =
5
c–d  
 3  
Position vector of E is a  (c – d)
5
     
 5a  3c – 3d  5a  3c – 8d
vector DE = – d =
5 5

(iii)

D 1:1 C
F

E
A B
2:1

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
   
Vector AB = b – a
 
  b–a
Vector DF = FC =
6
   1  
 
 
AF = AC + CF = (c – a) + a–b
6
 2  
vector AE =
3
 
b–a
   2   1   
FE = AE – AF = 
3
   

b – a –  c – a  a – b 
 6 

5  
 
 
= b–a + a–c
6
  
5b  a – 6c
=
6

2.

 
 2 · AB 1 · AC 12iˆ 6ˆj 6kˆ  3iˆ 3ˆj 6kˆ
AD = =
3 3
ˆ ˆ
15i 3 j 12k ˆ
= = 5iˆ  ˆj 4kˆ
3
 
 1 · AB 2 · AC 6iˆ 3ˆj 3kˆ  6iˆ 6ˆj 12kˆ
AD = = = 4iˆ ˆj 5kˆ .
3 3

 
ac
3. E 
2

 
bd
F 
2
   
AB  AD  CB  CD
   
             b  d (a  c)  
= b – a  d – a  b – c  d – c = 2[b  d – a – c] = 4  –  = 4EF
 2 2 

4. Mid point of BD is M (7,4,7)

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222
 (6,1,5)
D C

A B (8,7,9)
(1,2,4)

Direction ratio of AM is (6,2,3)

6 2 3  –6 –2 –3 
direction cosines of AC is  , ,  or  , , 
7 7 7  7 7 7 

5. n = – ( + m) ........(1) 2mn + 2ml – nl = 0 ............(2)

– 2k ( + m) + 2m + ( + m)  = 0

 – 2m – 2m2 + 2m + 2 + m = 0  2 + m – 2m2 = 0   1, –2
m
Case - I :

We have  1  =m So n = – 2 So  : m : n = 1 : 1 : – 2.
m
1 1 2 1 1 2
 direction cosines are , , or  ,  ,
6 6 6 6 6 6
Case - II :

We have  2   = – 2m  :m:n=–2:1:1
m

2 1 1 2 1 1
Hence direction cosines are , , or , ,
6 6 6 6 6 6

Part - II : Only One Option Correct Type

   
1. b  (2 2 ˆi – ˆj  4k)
ˆ ; | b |  10  || 8  1  16  10   = 2  b   2a

2. G  (iˆ  3 ˆj)

  
Let Position vector of P is p  GP || kˆ then p – (iˆ  3 ˆj) = k̂
 
 p = ˆi  3 ˆj + k̂ also OP = 3  1 3  2 = 3  

  2 = 5   =  5 
  p = ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ
  
For positive Z-axis p  ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ . So AP = p – 2iˆ = – ˆi  3 ˆj  5 kˆ

3. x2 + y2 + y2 + z2 + z2 + x2 = 36  2(x2 + y2 + z2) = 36  x 2  y 2  z2  3 2

4. cos2 + cos2 + cos2 = 1   +  = 90º  sin2 + cos2 + cos2 = 1

 = 90º –   cos2 = 0  cos = sin  = 90º

For Unacademy Subscription Use “PJLIVE” Code | Join t.me/pjsir42 for Updates
For More Info: 75970-84242, 95490-43333/2222