C4

Worksheet A

VECTORS

1
G

H
D

I
E

F
B

The diagram shows three sets of equally-spaced parallel lines.

Given that AC = p and that AD = q, express the following vectors in terms of p and q.
a CA

b AG

AB

d DF

HE

AF

h DC

CG

k EC

IB

AH

IA

A
O

C
In the quadrilateral shown, OA = u, AB = v and OC = w.
Find expressions in terms of u, v and w for
a OB
3

b AC
A

c CB
B

D
E

C
F

The diagram shows a cuboid.

Given that AB = p, AD = q and AE = r, find expressions in terms of p, q and r for
a BC

b AF

R
O

d AG

DE

e GB

S
T

The diagram shows parallelogram ORST.

Given that OR = a + 2b and that OT = a 2b,
a find expressions in terms of a and b for
i

OS

ii TR

Given also that OA = a and that OB = b,

b copy the diagram and show the positions of the points A and B.
Solomon Press

BH

C4

VECTORS

Worksheet A continued

A
C

The diagram shows triangle OAB in which OA = a and OB = b.

The points C and D are the mid-points of OA and AB respectively.
a Find and simplify expressions in terms of a and b for
i

ii AB

OC

iii AD

iv OD

v CD

b Explain what your expression for CD tells you about OB and CD .

6

Given that vectors p and q are not parallel, state whether or not each of the following pairs of
vectors are parallel.
a 2p and 3p

b (p + 2q) and (2p 4q)

c (3p q) and (p

d (p 2q) and (4q 2p)

e ( 34 p + q) and (6p + 8q)

f (2q 3p) and ( 32 q p)

1
3

q)

The points O, A, B and C are such that OA = 4m, OB = 4m + 2n and OC = 2m + 3n, where
m and n are non-parallel vectors.
a Find an expression for BC in terms of m and n.
The point M is the mid-point of OC.
b Show that AM is parallel to BC.

The points O, A, B and C are such that OA = 6u 4v, OB = 3u v and OC = v 3u, where
u and v are non-parallel vectors.
The point M is the mid-point of OA and the point N is the point on AB such that AN : NB = 1 : 2
a Find OM and ON .
b Prove that C, M and N are collinear.

Given that vectors p and q are not parallel, find the values of the constants a and b such that
a ap + 3q = 5p + bq

b (2p + aq) + (bp 4q) = 0

c 4aq p = bp 2q

d (2ap + bq) (aq 6p) = 0

10

A
C
O

D
B

The diagram shows triangle OAB in which OA = a and OB = b.

The point C is the mid-point of OA and the point D is the mid-point of BC.
a Find an expression for OD in terms of a and b.
b Show that if the point E lies on AB then OE can be written in the form a + k(b a), where
k is a constant.
Given also that OD produced meets AB at E,
c find OE ,
d show that AE : EB = 2 : 1
Solomon Press

C4
1

Worksheet B

VECTORS

The points A, B and C have coordinates (6, 1), (2, 3) and (4, 3) respectively and O is the origin.
Find, in terms of i and j, the vectors
a OA

b AB

b qp
3

c | p + 2q |

d | 3q 2p |

b | 2q |

b q

d p 3q

c 5p + q

Find a unit vector in the direction

4

a
3
6

d 4p 2q

Given that p = 2i + j and q = i 3j, find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the angle made with
the vector i by the vector
a p

c 2p + 3q

Given that p = and q = , find

4
2
a |p|

d CA

BC

Given that p = i 3j and q = 4i + 2j, find expressions in terms of i and j for

a 4p

b
24

c
1

d
4

Find a vector
a of magnitude 26 in the direction 5i + 12j,
b of magnitude 15 in the direction 6i 8j,
c of magnitude 5 in the direction 2i 4j.

Given that m = 2i + j and n = i 5j, find the values of and such that
a m + n = 3i j

b 2m n = 3i + 8j

Given that r = 6i + cj, where c is a positive constant, find the value of c such that
a r is parallel to the vector 2i + j

b r is parallel to the vector 9i 6j

c | r | = 10

d |r|= 3 5

Given that p = i + 3j and q = 4i 2j,

a find the values of a and b such that ap + bq = 5i + 13j,
b find the value of c such that cp + q is parallel to the vector j,
c find the value of d such that p + dq is parallel to the vector 3i j.

10

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A and B have position vectors and respectively.
6
2
Find
a the vector AB ,
b AB ,
c the position vector of the mid-point of AB,
d the position vector of the point C such that OABC is a parallelogram.
Solomon Press

C4

VECTORS

Worksheet B continued

11

Given the coordinates of the points A and B, find the length AB in each case.
a A (4, 0, 9), B (2, 3, 3)

12

Find the magnitude of each vector.

a 4i + 2j 4k

13

b A (11, 3, 5), B (7, 1, 3)

c 8i j + 4k

b i+j+k

d 3i 5j + k

Find
a a unit vector in the direction 5i 2j + 14k,
b a vector of magnitude 10 in the direction 2i + 11j 10k,
c a vector of magnitude 20 in the direction 5i 4j + 2k.

14

Given that r = i + 12j 4k, find the two possible values of such that | r | = 14.

15

Given that p = 3 , q = 2 and r = 5 , find as column vectors,

a p + 2q
16

b pr

c p+q+r

Given that r = 2i + j + k, find the values of and such that

a r is parallel to 4i + 2j 8k

17

d 2p 3q + r

b r is parallel to 5i + 20j 10k

Given that p = i 2j + 4k, q = i + 2j + 2k and r = 2i 4j 7k,

a find | 2p q |,
b find the value of k such that p + kq is parallel to r.

18

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors (2i + 7j + 4k),
(4i + j + 8k) and (6i 5j) respectively.
a Find the position vector of the mid-point of AB.
b Find the position vector of the point D on AC such that AD : DC = 3 : 1

19

Given that r = i 2j + k, and that r is parallel to the vector (2i 4j 3k),

a show that 3 + 2 = 0.
Given also that | r | = 2 29 and that > 0,
b find the values of and .

20

12

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors 2 , 7 and 1
respectively.
a Find the position vector of the point M, the mid-point of BC.
b Show that O, A and M are collinear.

21

The position vector of a model aircraft at time t seconds is (9 t)i + (1 + 2t)j + (5 t)k, relative
to a fixed origin O. One unit on each coordinate axis represents 1 metre.
a Find an expression for d 2 in terms of t, where d metres is the distance of the aircraft from O.
b Find the value of t when the aircraft is closest to O and hence, the least distance of the aircraft
from O.
Solomon Press

C4
1

Worksheet C

VECTORS
Sketch each line on a separate diagram given its vector equation.
a r = 2i + sj

b r = s(i + j)

c r = i + 4j + s(i + 2j)

d r = 3j + s(3i j)

e r = 4i + 2j + s(2i j)

f r = (2s + 1)i + (3s 2)j

Write down a vector equation of the straight line

a parallel to the vector (3i 2j) which passes through the point with position vector (i + j),
b parallel to the x-axis which passes through the point with coordinates (0, 4),
c parallel to the line r = 2i + t(i + 5j) which passes through the point with coordinates (3, 1).

Find a vector equation of the straight line which passes through the points with position vectors
1

a and
0
1
4

b and
4
1

c and
2
3

Find the value of the constant c such that line with vector equation r = 3i j + (ci + 2j)
a passes through the point (0, 5),
b is parallel to the line r = 2i + 4j + (6i + 3j).

Find a vector equation for each line given its cartesian equation.
a x = 1
d y=

3
4

b y = 2x

x2

e y=5

c y = 3x + 1
1
2

f x 4y + 8 = 0

A line has the vector equation r = 2i + j + (3i + 2j).

a Write down parametric equations for the line.
b Hence find the cartesian equation of the line in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c
are integers.

Find a cartesian equation for each line in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers.
a r = 3i + (i + 2j)

b r = i + 4j + (3i + j)

c r = 2j + (4i j)

d r = 2i + j + (5i + 2j)

e r = 2i 3j + (3i + 4j)

f r = ( + 3)i + (2 1)j

For each pair of lines, determine with reasons whether they are identical, parallel but not identical
or not parallel.
1

a r = + s
2
1
2

r = + t
3
2
9

b r = + s
4
2
r = + t
1
4

c r = + s
5
4
r = + t
6
1

Find the position vector of the point of intersection of each pair of lines.
a r = i + 2j + i
r = 2i + j + (3i + j)

b r = 4i + j + (i + j)
r = 5i 2j + (2i 3j)

d r = i + 5j + (4i + 6j)
r = 2i 2j + (i + 2j)

e r = 2i + 11j + (3i + 4j) f r = i + 2j + (3i + 2j)

r = 3i 7j + (5i + 3j)
r = 3i + 5j + (i + 4j)
Solomon Press

c r = j + (2i j)
r = 2i + 10j + (i + 3j)

C4

VECTORS

Worksheet C continued

10

Write down a vector equation of the straight line

a parallel to the vector (i + 3j 2k) which passes through the point with position vector (4i + k),
b perpendicular to the xy-plane which passes through the point with coordinates (2, 1, 0),
c parallel to the line r = 3i j + t(2i 3j + 5k) which passes through the point with
coordinates (1, 4, 2).

11

The points A and B have position vectors (5i + j 2k) and (6i 3j + k) respectively.
a Find AB in terms of i, j and k.
b Write down a vector equation of the straight line l which passes through A and B.
c Show that l passes through the point with coordinates (3, 9, 8).

12

13

Find a vector equation of the straight line which passes through the points with position vectors
a (i + 3j + 4k) and (5i + 4j + 6k)

b (3i 2k) and (i + 5j + 2k)

c 0 and (6i j + 2k)

d (i 2j + 3k) and (4i 7j + k)

Find the value of the constants a and b such that line r = 3i 5j + k + (2i + aj + bk)
a passes through the point (9, 2, 8),
b is parallel to the line r = 4j 2k + (8i 4j + 2k).

14

Find cartesian equations for each of the following lines.

2

a r = 3 + 5
15

c r = 5 + 2

b r = 1 + 6

Find a vector equation for each line given its cartesian equations.
a

x 1
3

y+4
2

=z5

x
4

y 1
2

z+7
3

x+5
4

=y+3=z

16

Show that the lines with vector equations r = 4i + 3k + s(i 2j + 2k) and
r = 7i + 2j 5k + t(3i + 2j + k) intersect, and find the coordinates of their point
of intersection.

17

Show that the lines with vector equations r = 2i j + 4k + (i + j + 3k) and

r = i + 4j + 3k + (i 2j + k) are skew.

18

For each pair of lines, find the position vector of their point of intersection or, if they do not
intersect, state whether they are parallel or skew.
3

a r = 1 + 1 and r = 2 + 0
8

c r = 2 + 3 and r = 2 + 3

e r = 1 + 5 and r = 2 + 3

b r = 3 + 1 and r = 2 + 2

d r = 5 + 4 and r = 6 + 1
0

12

11

f r = 7 + 4 and r = 1 + 2

Solomon Press

C4
1

Worksheet D

VECTORS
Calculate
b (4i j).(3i + 5j)

a (i + 2j).(3i + j)

c (i 2j).(5i 2j)

Show that the vectors (i + 4j) and (8i 2j) are perpendicular.

Find in each case the value of the constant c for which the vectors u and v are perpendicular.
3

a u = , v =
1
3
4

b u = , v =
1
c

c u= , v=
5
4

Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the angle between the vectors

a (4i 3j) and (8i + 6j)

b (7i + j) and (2i + 6j)

c (4i + 2j) and (5i + 2j)

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors (9i + j), (3i j)
and (5i 2j) respectively. Show that ABC = 45.

Calculate

a (i + 2j + 4k).(3i + j + 2k)

b (6i 2j + 2k).(i 3j k)

c (5i + 2k).(i + 4j 3k)

d (3i + 2j 8k).(i + 11j 4k)

e (3i 7j + k).(9i + 4j k)

f (7i 3j).(3j + 6k)

Given that p = 2i + j 3k, q = i + 5j k and r = 6i 2j 3k,

a find the value of p.q,
b find the value of p.r,
c verify that p.(q + r) = p.q + p.r

Simplify
a p.(q + r) + p.(q r)

b p.(q + r) + q.(r p)

Show that the vectors (5i 3j + 2k) and (3i + j 6k) are perpendicular.

10

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors (3i + 4j 6k),
(i + 5j 2k) and (8i + 3j + 2k) respectively. Show that ABC = 90.

11

Find in each case the value or values of the constant c for which the vectors u and v are
perpendicular.

12

a u = (2i + 3j + k),

v = (ci 3j + k)

b u = (5i + 3j + 2k),

v = (ci j + 3ck)

c u = (ci 2j + 8k),

v = (ci + cj 3k)

d u = (3ci + 2j + ck),

v = (5i 4j + 2ck)

Find the exact value of the cosine of the angle between the vectors
1

a 2 and 1
13

b 1 and 3

c 2 and 7

d 3 and 4

Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the angle between the vectors

a (3i 4k) and (7i 4j + 4k)

b (2i 6j + 3k) and (i 3j k)

c (6i 2j 9k) and (3i + j + 4k)

d (i + 5j 3k) and (3i 4j + 2k)

Solomon Press

C4

VECTORS

Worksheet D continued

14

The points A (7, 2, 2), B (1, 6, 3) and C (3, 1, 2) are the vertices of a triangle.
a Find BA and BC in terms of i, j and k.
b Show that ABC = 82.2 to 1 decimal place.
c Find the area of triangle ABC to 3 significant figures.

15

Relative to a fixed origin, the points A, B and C have position vectors (3i 2j k),
(4i + 3j 2k) and (2i j) respectively.
a Find the exact value of the cosine of angle BAC.
b Hence show that the area of triangle ABC is 3 2 .

16

Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the acute angle between each pair of lines.
a r=

1

3
1

4
4
2

and r =

5

2
1

8
0
6

c r = 1 + 1 and r = 6 + 5
17

b r=

0

3
7

6
1
18

and r =

4

6
3

4
12
3

11

d r = 3 + 6 and r = 1 + 1

Relative to a fixed origin, the points A and B have position vectors (5i + 8j k) and
(6i + 5j + k) respectively.
a Find a vector equation of the straight line l1 which passes through A and B.
The line l2 has the equation r = 4i 3j + 5k + (5i + j 2k).
b Show that lines l1 and l2 intersect and find the position vector of their point of intersection.
c Find, in degrees, the acute angle between lines l1 and l2.

18

Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the acute angle between the lines with cartesian equations
x2
3

19

y
2

z+5
6

and

x4
4

y +1
7

z 3
.
4

The line l has the equation r = 7i 2k + (2i j + 2k) and the line m has the equation
r = 4i + 7j 6k + (5i 4j 2k).
a Find the coordinates of the point A where lines l and m intersect.
b Find, in degrees, the acute angle between lines l and m.
The point B has coordinates (5, 1, 4).
c Show that B lies on the line l.
d Find the distance of B from m.

20

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A and B have position vectors (9i + 6j) and (11i + 5j + k)
respectively.
a Show that for all values of , the point C with position vector (9 + 2)i + (6 )j + k lies
on the straight line l which passes through A and B.
b Find the value of for which OC is perpendicular to l.
c Hence, find the position vector of the foot of the perpendicular from O to l.

21

Find the coordinates of the point on each line which is closest to the origin.
a r = 4i + 2j + 7k + (i + 3j 4k)

b r = 7i + 11j 9k + (6i 9j + 3k)

Solomon Press

C4
1

Worksheet E

VECTORS
Relative to a fixed origin, the line l has vector equation
r = i 4j + pk + (2i + qj 3k),
where is a scalar parameter.
Given that l passes through the point with position vector (7i j k),
a find the values of the constants p and q,

(3)

b find, in degrees, the acute angle l makes with the line with equation
r = 3i + 4j 3k + (4i + 5j 2k).
2

(4)

The points A and B have position vectors 6 and 0 respectively, relative to a

fixed origin.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line l which passes through A and B.

(2)

The line m has equation

5

r = 5 + t 4 .
Given that lines l and m intersect at the point C,

b find the position vector of C,

(5)

c show that C is the mid-point of AB.

(2)

Relative to a fixed origin, the points P and Q have position vectors (5i 2j + 2k) and
(3i + j) respectively.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line L1 which passes through P and Q.

(2)

The line L2 has equation

r = 4i + 6j k + (5i j + 3k).

b Show that lines L1 and L2 intersect and find the position vector of their point of
intersection.

(6)

c Find, in degrees to 1 decimal place, the acute angle between lines L1 and L2.

(4)

Relative to a fixed origin, the lines l1 and l2 have vector equations as follows:
l1 :

r = 5i + k + (2i j + 2k),

l2 :

r = 7i 3j + 7k + (i + j 2k),

where and are scalar parameters.

a Show that lines l1 and l2 intersect and find the position vector of their point of
intersection.

(6)

The points A and C lie on l1 and the points B and D lie on l2.
Given that ABCD is a parallelogram and that A has position vector (9i 2j + 5k),
b find the position vector of C.

(3)

Given also that the area of parallelogram ABCD is 54,

c find the distance of the point B from the line l1.
Solomon Press

(4)

C4

VECTORS

Worksheet E continued

Relative to a fixed origin, the points A and B have position vectors (4i + 2j 4k) and
(2i j + 2k) respectively.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line l1 which passes through A and B.

(2)

The line l2 passes through the point C with position vector (4i 7j k) and is parallel to
the vector (6j 2k).

b Write down, in vector form, an equation of the line l2.

(1)

c Show that A lies on l2.

(2)

d Find, in degrees, the acute angle between lines l1 and l2.

(4)

10

The points A and B have position vectors 1 and 1 respectively, relative to a

fixed origin O.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line l which passes through A and B.

(2)

The line l intersects the y-axis at the point C.

b Find the coordinates of C.

(2)

The point D on the line l is such that OD is perpendicular to l.

c Find the coordinates of D.

(5)

d Find the area of triangle OCD, giving your answer in the form k 5 .

(3)

Relative to a fixed origin, the line l1 has the equation

1

r = 6 + s 4 .
a Show that the point P with coordinates (1, 6, 5) lies on l1.

(1)

The line l2 has the equation

4

r = 4 + t 2 ,
and intersects l1 at the point Q.
b Find the position vector of Q.

(3)

The point R lies on l2 such that PQ = QR.

c Find the two possible position vectors of the point R.
8

(5)

Relative to a fixed origin, the points A and B have position vectors (4i + 5j + 6k) and
(4i + 6j + 2k) respectively.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line l1 which passes through A and B.

(2)

The line l2 has equation

r = i + 5j 3k + (i + j k).
b Show that l1 and l2 intersect and find the position vector of their point of intersection.

(4)

c Find the acute angle between lines l1 and l2.

(3)

d Show that the point on l2 closest to A has position vector (i + 3j k).

(5)

Solomon Press

C4
1

Worksheet F

VECTORS
The points A and B have position vectors

2

1
5

and

0

3
4

respectively, relative to a

fixed origin.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line l which passes through A and B.

(2)

The line m has equation

6

r = 5 + 3 ,
where a is a constant.
Given that lines l and m intersect,
b find the value of a and the coordinates of the point where l and m intersect.
2

(6)

Relative to a fixed origin, the points A, B and C have position vectors (4i + 2j k),
(2i + 5j 7k) and (6i + 4j + k) respectively.
a Show that cos (ABC) =

1
3

(3)

The point M is the mid-point of AC.

b Find the position vector of M.

(2)

c Show that BM is perpendicular to AC.

(3)

d Find the size of angle ACB in degrees.

(3)
9

11

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A and B have position vectors 5 and 7
respectively.
a Find, in vector form, an equation of the line L which passes through A and B.

(2)

The point C lies on L such that OC is perpendicular to L.

b Find the position vector of C.

(5)

c Find, to 3 significant figures, the area of triangle OAC.

(3)

d Find the exact ratio of the area of triangle OAB to the area of triangle OAC.

(2)

Relative to a fixed origin O, the points A and B have position vectors (7i 5j k) and
(4i 5j + 3k) respectively.
a Find cos (AOB), giving your answer in the form k 6 , where k is an exact fraction.

(4)

b Show that AB is perpendicular to OB.

(3)

The point C is such that OC =

3
2

OB .

c Show that AC is perpendicular to OA.

(3)

d Find the size of ACO in degrees to 1 decimal place.

(3)

Solomon Press