15 Vectors

Ext15

Extension 1 ABC is any triangle. P is the mid-point of AB and G is the point on CP such
Exercise 15 that CG:GP ˆ 2:1.
C

The point G where the

medians meet is called
the centroid of the triangle.
G

A B
P
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a Given that OA ˆ a, OB ˆ b, etc., find an expression for OG in terms of a, b
and c.
b Hence prove that the medians of a triangle are concurrent.
2 Given four points A, B, C and D, the point G, whose position vector g is defined by
g ˆ 14 (a ‡ b ‡ c ‡ d)
is called the centroid of A, B, C and D. Prove that G lies on the line joining D
to M, the centroid of triangle ABC. Find the ratio DG:GM.
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3 In the diagram, OP ˆ p and OR ˆ r. P is the mid-point of OQ and PX:XR=1:3.
R

r Y
X

O Q
p P
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Express OX ˆ x in terms of p and r. Taking OY to be hOX, find QY in terms
of p, r and h and hence find the ratio QY:YR.
Q
4 OABC is a rectangle. P lies on AB and divides C B
it in the ratio AP:PB ˆ 2:1. Q is the mid-point
of BC. P

OP meets AQ at the point R. R

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a Express OP in terms of a and c.
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b By expressing OR in two different ways, O A

find AR:RQ.
5 The point C lies on AB and divides it in the ratio AC:CB ˆ m:n.
Show that c, the postion vector of C, is given by
   
n m
cˆ a‡ b This result is called the Ratio Theorem.
m‡n m‡n

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 15 Vectors

6 OABC is a parallelogram. X and Y are the mid-points of the sides AB and BC

respectively.
Q
C B

O A
Show that OX and OY trisect the diagonal AC.
7 OBC is a triangle and the line NL produced meets the line OC produced at M.
B

O M
C
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Given that ON ˆ 34 OB and BL ˆ 23 BC , express the vector NL in terms of b and
c, the position vectors of the points B and C with respect to the origin O. Find an
expression for the position vector of any point R on the line NL. Hence express
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OM as a multiple of OC. Find the ratio CM/MO and verify that
ON BL CM
  ˆ 1
NB LC MO
8 Given the vectors a and b, where
a ˆ x1 i ‡ y1 j ‡ z1 k
and
b ˆ x2 i ‡ y2 j ‡ z2 k
prove that the vector
c ˆ (y1 z2 y2 z1 )i ‡ (z1 x2 z2 x1 )j ‡ (x1 y2 x2 y1 )k
is perpendicular to both a and b.
9 By considering (b a).(b a), in the triangle shown, prove the cosine rule.
B

b A

a
θ

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 15 Vectors

10 r1 and r2 are unit vectors making angles a and b respectively with the positive
x-axis.
y

r1

r2

α
β
x
0

a Show that
 
cos a
r1 ˆ
sin a
and obtain an equivalent vector for r2 .
b By considering r1 .r2 prove that
cos (a b) ˆ cos a cos b ‡ sin a sin b
c Deduce that
cos (a ‡ b) ˆ cos a cos b sin a sin b
11 The point O is the centre of the circumcircle of triangle ABC (the circumcircle is
the circle which passes through the vertices of a triangle) and G is its centroid.
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H is a point on OG such that OH ˆ 3OG.
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Prove that AH is perpendicular to BC .
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Prove also that BH is perpendicular to AC and CH is perpendicular to AB .
(The point H is called the orthocentre of the triangle.)

12 In the triangle OPQ the angle POQ is a right angle. The point R lies on PQ and
PR:RQ ˆ 1:3.
Express the position vector of R in terms of p and q, the position vectors of P
and Q.
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Given that OR is perpendicular to PQ , prove that OP:OQ ˆ 1: 3.

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 15 Vectors

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13 OABC is a tetrahedron with OA ˆ a, OB ˆ b and OC ˆ c.
O

C
A

B
a Show that the line segments joining the mid-points of opposite edges bisect
each other.
b Given that two pairs of opposite edges are perpendicular prove that
a.b ˆ b.c ˆ c.a, and show that the third pair of opposite edges is also
perpendicular.
14 Given that
0 1 0 1 0 1
4 3 1
B C B C B C
aˆB C
@ 2A nˆB
@0A
C pˆB
@3A
C

3 4 3
and that R is a point on the line r ˆ a ‡ t n, express PR2 in terms of t.
Show that, as t varies, the least value of PR2 is 37 and verify that, in this case,
PR is perpendicular to the line.
15 Given that a is a constant vector that is perpendicular to a unit vector ^u, and
that R is any point on the line r ˆ a ‡ t^u, show that the distance to R from a
fixed point P, whose postion vector is p, is given by
PR2 ˆ (a p).(a p) 2t (^u.p) ‡ t 2
Hence show that the least value of PR2 , as t varies, is (a p).(a p) u.p)2 .
(^
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Prove that PR is then perpendicular to the given line.

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