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Problems Sheet

This document contains problems related to vectors and vector calculus. It includes 7 problems on vectors, vector products, vector equations of lines, and vector equations of planes. The problems cover topics such as finding the resultant of vectors, determining if points are collinear, calculating areas of triangles using vectors, finding angles between lines, and investigating properties of lines and planes.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
75 views5 pages

Problems Sheet

This document contains problems related to vectors and vector calculus. It includes 7 problems on vectors, vector products, vector equations of lines, and vector equations of planes. The problems cover topics such as finding the resultant of vectors, determining if points are collinear, calculating areas of triangles using vectors, finding angles between lines, and investigating properties of lines and planes.

Uploaded by

Ranu Games
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Department of Mathematics University of Moratuwa

MA1013 Problems Sheet August 2013

P 1.1. Sum and Scalar Product of Vectors


P 1.1.1.

Given that 𝒂 = 𝟐 𝒊 + 𝟑 𝒋 − 𝒌 , 𝒃 = 𝟓 𝒊 − 𝟐 𝒋 + 𝟑 𝒌 and 𝒄 = 𝟑 𝒊 − 𝟕𝒌 , Calculate the


modulus and the unit vector along each of the following:

(a) 𝒂 + 𝒃 + 𝒄 (b) 𝟐 𝒂 + 𝟑 𝒃 − 𝟒 𝒄

P 1.1.2.

𝑨𝑩𝑪 is a right-angled triangle such that 𝑨𝑩 = 𝟑, 𝑩𝑪 = 𝟒 and 𝑪𝑨 = 𝟓. A particle is subjected to forces


7 , 5 and 4 kg wt respectively acting in directions parallel to the edges 𝑨𝑩, 𝑩𝑪 and 𝑪𝑨 of the above
triangle. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the particle.

P 1.1.3.

Electric point charges of magnitude 𝟑, 𝟓 and 𝟕 are placed at the points 𝑷 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 , 𝑸 𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟒 and 𝑹 𝟑, 𝟒, 𝟓
respectively. What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on a unit point charge placed at the
point (𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟏)?. ( You may assume a single constant k to include electrical properties)

P 1.1.4. Ratio Formula

Suppose 𝑨 and 𝑩 are two points having position vectors 𝒂 and 𝒃 respectively. Prove that if 𝑷 is the
point which divides the line joining 𝑨 and 𝑩 in the ratio 𝝀 ∶ 𝝁 , then the position vector of 𝑷 is given by
𝝁𝒂+𝝀𝒃
𝒑= 𝝁+𝝀
.

Suppose 𝑷, 𝑸 and 𝑹 are three points having position vectors 𝒑, 𝒒 and 𝒓 respectively. Show that the
(𝒑+𝒒+𝒓)
position vector of the centroid of the triangle 𝑷𝑸𝑹 is 𝟑
.

P 1.1.5. Examples:

Prove that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other. Conversely, prove by vector methods, that if
the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then that quadrilateral is a parallelogram.

P 1.1.6.

Prove that the lines joining the mid-points of the opposite edges of a tetrahedron bisect each other.

P 1.1.7.

𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 is a parallelogram . 𝑬 is the mid-point of 𝑨𝑩. Show that the line segments 𝑫𝑬 and 𝑨𝑪 trisect
each other.
P 1.1. The Dot Product of Vectors

P 1.1.1.

The points 𝑨 −𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 , 𝑩 𝟏, −𝟐, 𝟑 and 𝑪 𝟏, 𝟐, −𝟑 form the vertices of a triangle. Determine

(a) The lengths of the sides 𝑨𝑩, 𝑩𝑪 and 𝑪𝑨

(b) The angles 𝑨𝑩𝑪, 𝑩𝑪𝑨 and 𝑪𝑨𝑩 .

(c) The area of the triangle 𝑨𝑩𝑪.

P 1.1.2.

Three points 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 are said to be collinear if and only if they lie on a same straight line.

Let 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 be three distinct points with position vectors 𝒂 = (𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐, 𝒂𝟑 ), 𝒃 = (𝒃𝟏 , 𝒃𝟐, 𝒃𝟑 ) and 𝒄 =
(𝒄𝟏 , 𝒄𝟐, 𝒄𝟑 ) respectively. Show that a necessary and sufficient condition for 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 to be collinear is
that there exist constants 𝜶, 𝜷 and 𝜸 , not all zero, such that 𝜶+𝜷+𝜸 = 𝟎 and 𝜶𝒂+𝜷𝒃+𝜸𝒄 = 𝟎.

P 1.1.3.

Given that 𝑨 = 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑 , 𝑩 = 𝟑, 𝒑, 𝟏 and 𝑪 = −𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟐 , find constants 𝒑 such that

(a) The points 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 are collinear.

(b) The lines 𝑨𝑩 and 𝑩𝑪 are orthogonal

(c) The triangle 𝑨𝑩𝑪 has area 10.

P 1.1.4.

Find a vector 𝒖 whose length is 𝟓 and which is perpendicular to the vectors 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 + 𝒌 and 𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌

P 1.1.5.

𝑶(𝟎, 𝟎, 𝟎), 𝑨(𝟒, 𝟎, 𝟎), 𝑩(𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟎) and 𝑪(𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟐) are vertices of a parallelepiped having 𝑶𝑨, 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑶𝑪 as
concurrent edges. Forces of magnitudes 7, 2 and 4 act on a particle at 𝑶 in the directions pointing
towards 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 respectively. Determine the resultant force on the particle. What is the component of
the resultant, along the diagonal of the parallelepiped.

P 1.1.6.

Forces of magnitude 5, 1 and 3 kg acting in the directions of 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟓𝒋 − 𝒌, 𝟑𝒊 − 𝟒𝒌 and – 𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌


respectively act on a particle which is displaced from the point (𝟐, −𝟏, 𝟎) to (−𝟏, 𝟓, 𝟏). Assuming that the
unit of lengths is meters, find the work done by the forces,
P 1.2. The Cross Product of Vectors

P 1.2.1.

Prove that for every 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄,

(i) 𝒂 × 𝒃 × 𝒄 = 𝒂 ∙ 𝒄 𝒃 − 𝒂 ∙ 𝒃 𝒄

(ii) (𝒂 × 𝒃) × 𝒄 = 𝒂 ∙ 𝒄 𝒃 − 𝒃 ∙ 𝒄 𝒂

P 1.2.2.

Show that each of the following is a necessary and sufficient condition for three points 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 with position
vectors 𝒂, 𝒃, and 𝒄 to be collinear.

(i) 𝒃 − 𝒂 × 𝒄 − 𝒂 = 𝟎.

(ii) 𝒂 × 𝒃 + 𝒃 × 𝒄 + 𝒄 × 𝒂 = 𝟎.

P 1.2.3.

The vertices 𝑨, 𝑩 and 𝑪 of a triangle have position vectors 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄 respectively. Prove that

𝟏
(a) The area of the triangle is 𝟐
𝒂×𝒃+𝒃×𝒄+𝒄×𝒂

𝒂×𝒃+𝒃×𝒄+𝒄×𝒂
(b) The perpendicular distance of the vertex 𝑨 from the side 𝑩𝑪 is 𝒃−𝒄

𝒂−𝒄 ∙ 𝒃−𝒄 𝒃+ 𝒂−𝒃 ∙ 𝒄−𝒃 𝒄


(c) The foot of the perpendicular from the vertex 𝑨 to the side 𝑩𝑪 is
𝒃−𝒄 𝟐

A triangle has its vertices at 𝑨(𝟓, 𝟏, 𝟒), 𝑩 𝟐, 𝟎, 𝟑 and 𝑪(𝟑, 𝟓, 𝟐) . Find

(i) The area of the triangle 𝑨𝑩𝑪.

(ii) The perpendicular distance of each vertex from the opposite side .

(iii) The foot of the perpendicular from each of the vertex to the opposite side .

P 1.2.4.

Prove that if 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄, 𝒅 are vectors and 𝜶, 𝜷 , 𝜸 are constants such that 𝜶𝒂+𝜷𝒃+𝜸𝒄 = 𝒅 and [𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄] ≠ 𝟎, then

[𝒅,𝒃,𝒄] [𝒂,𝒅,𝒄] [𝒂,𝒃,𝒅]


𝜶 = [𝒂,𝒃,𝒄] , 𝜷 = [𝒂,𝒃,𝒄] , 𝜸 = [𝒂,𝒃,𝒄]

P 1.2.5.

A tetrahedron has its vertices at 𝑨(𝟓, 𝟏, 𝟒), 𝑩 𝟐, 𝟎, 𝟑 , 𝑪(𝟑, 𝟓, 𝟐) and 𝑫(𝟒, 𝟑, 𝟓) .

Write down the equations, in vector and scalar form for the six edges of the tetrahedron. Find an outward, normal,
unit vector to each of the four faces.
P 1.3. Vector equations of straight lines

P 1.3.1.

Suppose 𝑨 and 𝑩 are two points having position vectors 𝒂 and 𝒃 respectively. Show that the equation of the
straight line through 𝑨 and 𝑩 can be written as 𝒓 = 𝒕 𝒂 + 𝟏 − 𝒕 𝒃, where 𝒕 is a parameter. If 𝑷 is a point on
this line, with parameter 𝒕, what can you say about the position of 𝑷 with respect to 𝑨 and 𝑩 in each of the
following cases:
(a) 𝒕 < 𝟎 (b) 𝒕 = 𝟎 (c) 𝟎<𝒕<𝟏 (d) 𝒕 = 𝟏 (e) 𝟏<𝒕

P 1.3.2.

Let 𝒓 = 𝒖𝟏 + 𝒔𝒗𝟏 and 𝒓 = 𝒖𝟐 + 𝒕𝒗𝟐 are vector equations of two straight lines 𝒍𝟏 and 𝒍𝟐 . ( Here, 𝒔 and 𝒕 are
independent parameters. Show that

𝒗𝟏 ∙𝒗𝟐
(a) The angle between 𝒍𝟏 and 𝒍𝟐 is 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏
𝒗𝟏 𝒗𝟐

(b) If 𝒍𝟏 and 𝒍𝟐 intersect , then 𝒖𝟏 , 𝒗𝟏 , 𝒗𝟐 = 𝒖𝟐 , 𝒗𝟏 , 𝒗𝟐 and the point of intersection is given by

𝒖𝟏 ,𝒖𝟐 ,𝒗𝟐 𝒖𝟐 ,𝒖𝟏 ,𝒗𝟏


𝒓 = 𝒖𝟏 − 𝒗𝟏 = 𝒖𝟐 − 𝒗𝟐
𝒗𝟏 ,𝒖𝟐 ,𝒗𝟐 𝒗𝟐 ,𝒖𝟏 ,𝒗𝟏

𝒖𝟏 ,𝒗𝟏 ,𝒗𝟐 − 𝒖𝟐 ,𝒗𝟏 ,𝒗𝟐


(c) If 𝒍𝟏 and 𝒍𝟐 do not intersect, the distance between 𝒍𝟏 and 𝒍𝟐 is 𝒗𝟏 ×𝒗𝟐

P 1.3.3.

Given that 𝑨 = 𝟐, −𝟑, −𝟏 , 𝑩 = −𝟐, 𝟑, 𝟗 , 𝑪 = 𝟑, −𝟐, 𝟒 , 𝑫 = −𝟏, −𝟏, −𝟏 and 𝑬 = 𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟏 .


Show that the line segments
(i) 𝑨𝑩 and 𝑪𝑫 intersect
(ii) 𝑨𝑩 and 𝑪𝑬 do not intersect

Find the distance between 𝑨𝑩 and 𝑪𝑬 .

P 1.3.4.

𝑨 = 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑 , 𝑩 = 𝟑, −𝟐, 𝟏 , 𝑪 = −𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟐 and 𝑫 = −𝟑, −𝟑, −𝟑 are vertices of a given tetrahedron.

𝑷, 𝑸, 𝑹 and 𝑺 are the centroids of the faces opposite to 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 respectively. Show that 𝑨𝑷, 𝑩𝑸, 𝑪𝑹 and
𝑫𝑆 meet at one point 𝑰.

P 1.3.5.

𝑨 = 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑 , 𝑩 = 𝟑, −𝟐, 𝟏 , 𝑪 = −𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟐 and 𝑫 = −𝟑, −𝟑, −𝟑 are vertices of a given tetrahedron.

𝑱, 𝑲, 𝑳 and 𝑴 are the feet of the perpendiculars from 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 respectively, to the opposite faces. Show that
𝑨𝑱, 𝑩𝑲, 𝑪𝑳 and 𝑫𝑴 meet at one point 𝑯.
P 1.4. Vector equations of planes

P 1.4.1.

𝑨 = 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑 , 𝑩 = 𝟑, −𝟐, 𝟏 , 𝑪 = −𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟐 and 𝑫 = −𝟑, −𝟑, −𝟑 are vertices of a given tetrahedron. Find

(a) the equations of the four faces, 𝑨𝑩𝑪, 𝑨𝑪𝑫, 𝑨𝑫𝑩 and , 𝑩𝑪𝑫 in vector form.
(b) the equations of the four faces, 𝑨𝑩𝑪, 𝑨𝑪𝑫, 𝑨𝑫𝑩 and , 𝑩𝑪𝑫 in scalar form.
(c) the angle between the six pairs of faces [𝑨𝑩𝑪, 𝑨𝑪𝑫], [𝑨𝑪𝑫, 𝑨𝑫𝑩] , [𝑨𝑫𝑩, 𝑨𝑩𝑪], [𝑩𝑪𝑫, 𝑪𝑫𝑩},
[𝑪𝑫𝑩, 𝑫𝑩𝑪] and [𝑫𝑩𝑪, 𝑩𝑪𝑫].

P 1.4.2.

Find the equation for the line along which the two planes 𝑷𝟏 : 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟒𝒛 = 𝟓 and 𝑷𝟐 : 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟑𝒛 = 𝟐
intersect.

P 1.4.3.

Find the point of intersection of the planes 𝑷𝟏 : 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟒𝒛 = 𝟓, 𝑷𝟐 : 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟑𝒛 = 𝟐 and 𝑷𝟑 : 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 = 𝟏.

(Hint: Use P 1.2.4)

P 1.4.4.

Find the constant 𝒒 such that the planes 𝑷𝟏 : 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟒𝒛 = 𝟓, 𝑷𝟐 : 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟒𝒚 + 𝟑𝒛 = 𝟐 ,𝑷𝟑 : 𝒙 − 𝒚 + 𝒛 = 𝟏 and


𝑷𝟒 : 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 = 𝒒 meet at one point.

P 1.4.5.

Four points 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 are said to be coplanar if and only if they lie on a same plane. Let 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 be four
distinct points with position vectors 𝒂 = (𝒂𝟏 , 𝒂𝟐, 𝒂𝟑 ), 𝒃 = (𝒃𝟏 , 𝒃𝟐, 𝒃𝟑 ), 𝒄 = (𝒄𝟏 , 𝒄𝟐, 𝒄𝟑 ) and 𝒅 = (𝒅𝟏 , 𝒅𝟐, 𝒅𝟑 )
respectively. Show that a necessary and sufficient condition for 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 to be coplanar is that there exist
constants 𝜶, 𝜷, 𝜸 and 𝜹 , not all zero, such that 𝜶 + 𝜷 + 𝜸 + 𝜹 = 𝟎 and 𝜶𝒂 + 𝜷𝒃 + 𝜸𝒄 + 𝜹𝒅 = 𝟎.

P 1.4.6.

Show that each of the following is a necessary and sufficient condition for four points 𝑨, 𝑩, 𝑪 and 𝑫 with position
vectors 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 and 𝒅 to be coplanar.

(i) 𝒃 − 𝒂 × 𝒄 − 𝒂 ∙ (𝒅 − 𝒂) = 𝟎.

(ii) 𝒃, 𝒄, 𝒅 = 𝒂, 𝒄, 𝒅 + 𝒃, 𝒂, 𝒅 + [𝒃, 𝒄, 𝒂]

P 1.4.7.

Find a constant 𝒒 such that 𝑨 = 𝟐, 𝟏, −𝟑 , 𝑩 = 𝟑, −𝟐, 𝟏 , 𝑪 = −𝟏, 𝟑, 𝟐 and 𝑫 = −𝟑, −𝟑, 𝒒 , are coplanar.

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