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Assignment 1

This document contains instructions for Assignment 1 of the course WTW124. It provides 3 questions to complete, with subparts to each question. Students are informed that submitting the assignment means declaring they will complete it with academic integrity. They are not allowed any assistance on the assignment. Calculations must be shown for full marks. The questions cover topics like determining distances and velocities of moving particles in space, and proving vector identities.

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ntokozocecilia81
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27 views

Assignment 1

This document contains instructions for Assignment 1 of the course WTW124. It provides 3 questions to complete, with subparts to each question. Students are informed that submitting the assignment means declaring they will complete it with academic integrity. They are not allowed any assistance on the assignment. Calculations must be shown for full marks. The questions cover topics like determining distances and velocities of moving particles in space, and proving vector identities.

Uploaded by

ntokozocecilia81
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WTW124 (2020) Assignment 1 [Total = 10]

By submitting any part of this assignment you automatically declare the following:

The University of Pretoria commits itself to produce academic work of integrity. I affirm that I am
aware of and have the read the Rules and Policies of the University, more specifically the Disciplinary
Procedure and the Tests and Examination Rules, which prohibit any unethical, dishonest or improper
conduct during tests, assignments, examinations and/or any other forms of assessment. I am aware
that no student or any other person may assist or attempt to assist another student, or obtain help,
or attempt to obtain help from another student or any other person during tests, assessments, assign-
ments, examinations and/or any other forms of assessment.

You must complete all questions. Only selected questions will be marked.

1. NB: Show all your calculations. If you only give a final answer you will get zero for your work.
Let α be the last digit in your student number.
(a) Let x̄ = h1 − α2 , 0, 2αi and ȳ = h2, 2, 1i. Determine ||x̄||ȳ − ||ȳ||x̄.
(b) Consider the points p̄ = h1, x, x + 1i and q̄ = h1, 1, 1i for some real number x. Find all x if
the distance between p̄ and q̄ is 2 units.
(c) Let v̄ = h4, 2, −4i and w̄ = h1, 1, 1i. Determine ((v̄ · w̄)v̄ − ||v̄||w̄) · v̄.
[2 marks here]

2. Throughout this question, time is measured in seconds, and distance in meters. A particle travels
through space along a straight line L1 at constant velocity. At time t = 0, the particle is at the
point p̄ = h3, 3, 1i. Two seconds later, the particle is at the point q̄ = h7, 5, 5i.
(a) At what speed does the particle move? (Use speed = distance ÷ time.)
(b) Let x̄(t) denote the position of the particle at time t. VERIFY that x̄(t) = h3+2t, 3+t, 1+2ti
where t ∈ R is the vector equation of the straight line that this particle moves in space.
A second particle also moves along a straight line, L2 , at constant velocity. At time t = 0, the
particle is at the point ā = h2, 1, 9i, and at time t = 1 the particle is at b̄ = h3, 2, 7i.
(c) Show that the paths along which the two particles travel do intersect.
(d) Do the two particles collide? Explain fully.
[1+1+2+1=5]

3. Let ū and v̄ be algebraic vectors in Rn . Prove the identities below. Do not forget to state which
facts you used in your proof. For example, maybe you use the fact that for any p̄ ∈ Rn we
have ||p̄|| ≥ 0.

(a) ||ū − v̄||2 + ||ū − 2v̄||2 + ||ū + 3v̄||2 = 3||ū||2 + 14||v̄||2


(b) 8ū · v̄ = ||ū + 2v̄||2 − ||ū − 2v̄||2
(c) Did you write your name, surname and student number on each page? Do you have no more
than ONE QUESTION per page? Did you submit your answers in the correct order? Ps: It is
strongly advisable to check your PDF submission. That is, you submit the correct workings and
your work is READABLE.
[3 marks here]
Ps: Having Q2a,Q2b,Q2c,Q2d on the same page is good. But having Q2d and Q3a on the same
page will result in penalties.

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