AHL 3.

14 Vector Equation of
line [247 marks]

2 + +2 =3
1. The plane П has the Cartesian equation 2x + y + 2z = 3 [7 marks]

⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
The line L has the vector equation r = ⎜ −5 ⎟ + μ ⎜ −2 ⎟ , μ, p ∈ R. The acute
⎝ 1 ⎠ ⎝ p ⎠
angle between the line L and the plane П is 30°.
Find the possible values of p.
2. Two ships, A and B , are observed from an origin O. Relative to O, their [5 marks]
position vectors at time t hours after midday are given by
4 5
rA = ( ) + t ( )
3 8
7 0
rB = ( ) + t( )
−3 12
where distances are measured in kilometres.
Find the minimum distance between the two ships.
 The lines l1 and l2 have the following vector equations where λ, μ ∈ R and
m ∈ R.
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛2⎞ ⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
l1 : r1 =⎜ −2 ⎟+λ⎜ 1 ⎟l2 : r2 =⎜ −4 ⎟+μ⎜ −5 ⎟
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝m ⎠ ⎝ −2m ⎠ ⎝ −m ⎠

3a. Show that l1 and l2 are never perpendicular to each other. [3 marks]

+4 − = ∈R
 The plane Π has Cartesian equation x + 4y − z = p where p ∈ R.
Given that l1 and Π have no points in common, find

3b. the value of m . [2 marks]

3c. the condition on the value of p. [2 marks]

A(5, −2, 5) B(5, 4, −1) C(−1, −2, −1) D(7, −4, −3)
 The points A(5, −2, 5), B(5, 4, −1), C(−1, −2, −1) and D(7, −4, −3) are
the vertices of a right-pyramid.

4a. −−→ −−→ [2 marks]

Find the vectors AB and AC .

4b. Use a vector method to show that BÂC = 60°. [3 marks]

4c. Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane Π that contains the [3 marks]
triangle ABC is −x + y + z = −2.

The line L passes through the point D and is perpendicular to Π .

4d. Find a vector equation of the line L. [1 mark]

D
4e. Hence determine the minimum distance, dmin , from D to Π . [4 marks]

ABCD
4f. Find the volume of right-pyramid ABCD. [4 marks]
 Consider the three planes
∏1 : 2x − y + z = 4
∏2 : x − 2y + 3z = 5
∏3 : −9x + 3y − 2z = 32

5a. Show that the three planes do not intersect. [4 marks]

5b. Verify that the point P(1, − 2, 0) lies on both ∏1 and ∏2 . [1 mark]

∏ ∏
5c. Find a vector equation of L, the line of intersection of ∏1 and ∏2 . [4 marks]

∏
5d. Find the distance between L and ∏3 . [6 marks]

O
 Two airplanes, A and B, have position vectors with respect to an origin O given
respectively by

⎛ 19 ⎞ ⎛ −6 ⎞
rA =⎜ −1 ⎟+t⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ 1 ⎠ ⎝ 4 ⎠

⎛1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
rB =⎜ 0 ⎟+t⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ 12 ⎠ ⎝ −2 ⎠
where t represents the time in minutes and 0 ≤ t ≤ 2. 5.
Entries in each column vector give the displacement east of O , the displacement
north of O and the distance above sea level, all measured in kilometres.

6a. Find the three-figure bearing on which airplane B is travelling. [2 marks]

6b. Show that airplane A travels at a greater speed than airplane B. [2 marks]

6c. Find the acute angle between the two airplanes’ lines of flight. Give your [4 marks]
answer in degrees.

P
 The two airplanes’ lines of flight cross at point P .

6d. Find the coordinates of P. [5 marks]

6e. Determine the length of time between the first airplane arriving at P and [2 marks]
the second airplane arriving at P .
6f. LetD(t) represent the distance between airplane A and airplane B for [5 marks]
0 ≤ t ≤ 2. 5.
Find the minimum value of D(t).

A(3, 0, 0), B(0, − 2, 0) C(1, 1, − 7)

 Three points A(3, 0, 0), B(0, − 2, 0) and C(1, 1, − 7) lie on the plane Π1 .

7a. −−→ −−→ [2 marks]

Find the vector AB and the vector AC .
7b. Hence find the equation of Π 1 , expressing your answer in the form [5 marks]
ax + by + cz = d, where a, b, c, d ∈ Z.

3 − +2 =2
 Plane Π2 has equation 3x − y + 2z = 2.

7c. The line

L is the intersection of Π1 and Π2 . Verify that the vector [2 marks]
⎛ 0 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
equation of L can be written as r = ⎜ −2 ⎟+λ⎜ 1 ⎟.
⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠

The plane Π 3 is given by 2x − 2z = 3. The line L and the plane Π3 intersect at

the point P.

7d. Show that at the point P, λ = 34 . [2 marks]

P
7e. Hence find the coordinates of P. [1 mark]

The point B(0, −2, 0) lies on L.

7f. Find the reflection of the point B in the plane Π 3 . [7 marks]

7g. Hence find the vector equation of the line formed when L is reflected in [2 marks]
the plane Π 3 .

+1
Consider the line L1 defined by the Cartesian equation x 2 = y = 3 − z.

8a. Show that the point (−1, 0, 3) lies on L1 . [1 mark]

8b. Find a vector equation of L1 . [3 marks]

⎛0⎞ ⎛ ⎞
 ⎛0⎞ ⎛ a ⎞
Consider a second line L2 defined by the vector equation r = ⎜ 1 ⎟+t⎜ 1 ⎟,
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠
where t ∈ R and a ∈ R.

8c. Find the possible values of a when the acute angle between L 1 and L2 is [8 marks]
45°.
8d. It is given that the lines L1 and L2 have a unique point of intersection, A [7 marks]
, when a ≠ k.
Find the value of k, and find the coordinates of the point A in terms of a.

, ∈R
 The lines l1 and l2 have the following vector equations where λ, μ ∈ R.
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
l1 : r1 =⎜ 2 ⎟+λ⎜ −2 ⎟
⎝ −1 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

⎛2⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
l2 : r2 =⎜ 0 ⎟+μ⎜ −1 ⎟
⎝4⎠ ⎝ 1 ⎠

9a. Show that l1 and l2 do not intersect. [3 marks]

9b. Find the minimum distance between l1 and l2 . [5 marks]
 In this question, all lengths are in metres and time is in seconds.
Consider two particles, P1 and P2 , which start to move at the same time.
Particle P1 moves in a straight line such that its displacement from a fixed-point is
given by s(t)= 10 − 74 t2 , for t ≥ 0.

10a. Find an expression for the velocity of P1 at time t. [2 marks]

10b. ParticleP2 also moves in a straight line. The position of P2 is given by [5 marks]
−1 4
r =( )+t( ).
6 −3
The speed of P1 is greater than the speed of P2 when t > q.
Find the value of q.

A B (1, 1, 2) (9, , − 6)
 Points A and B have coordinates (1, 1, 2) and (9, m, − 6) respectively.

11a. −−→ [2 marks]

Express AB in terms of m.

⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
 ⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛ 2 ⎞
The line L, which passes through B, has equation r = ⎜ −19 ⎟+s⎜ 4 ⎟.
⎝ 24 ⎠ ⎝ −5 ⎠

11b. Find the value of m . [5 marks]

2 1
11c. Consider a unit vector u, such that u = pi − 23 j + 13 k, where p > 0. [8 marks]
−−→
Point C is such that BC = 9u.
Find the coordinates of C.
12. A straight line,Lθ , has vector equation r [6 marks]
⎛5⎞ ⎛ 5 ⎞
= ⎜ 0 ⎟ + λ ⎜ sin θ ⎟ , λ, θ ∈ R.
⎝0⎠ ⎝ cos θ ⎠
The plane Π p , has equation x = p, p ∈ R.
Show that the angle between Lθ and Π p is independent of both θ and p.
 Consider the lines L1 and L2 with respective equations
L1 : y = − 23 x + 9 and L2 : y = 25 x − 19
5
.

13a. Find the point of intersection of L 1 and L2 . [2 marks]

A third line, L3 , has gradient − 34 .

13b. Write down a direction vector for L 3 . [1 mark]

13c. L3 passes through the intersection of L 1 and L2 . [2 marks]

Write down a vector equation for L3 .

⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛6⎞
 ⎛ −3 ⎞ ⎛6⎞
A line, L1 , has equation r = ⎜ 9 ⎟ + s ⎜ 0 ⎟. Point P (15, 9, c) lies on L 1 .
⎝ 10 ⎠ ⎝2⎠

14a. Find c. [4 marks]

14b. A second line,

L2 , is parallel to L1 and passes through (1, 2, 3). [2 marks]
Write down a vector equation for L 2 .

P P
 Two distinct lines, l1 and l2 , intersect at a point P . In addition to P , four distinct
points are marked out on l1 and three distinct points on l2 . A mathematician
decides to join some of these eight points to form polygons.

15a. Find how many sets of four points can be selected which can form the [2 marks]
vertices of a quadrilateral.
15b. Find how many sets of three points can be selected which can form the [4 marks]
vertices of a triangle.

⎛1⎞ ⎛1⎞
 ⎛1⎞ ⎛1⎞
The line l1 has vector equation r1 = ⎜ 0 ⎟ + λ ⎜ 2 ⎟, λ ∈ R and the line l2 has
⎝1⎠ ⎝1⎠

⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛5⎞
vector equation r2 = ⎜ 0 ⎟ + μ ⎜ 6 ⎟, μ ∈ R.
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝2⎠
The point P has coordinates (4, 6, 4).

15c. Verify that P is the point of intersection of the two lines. [3 marks]

The point A has coordinates (3, 4, 3) and lies on l1 .

15d. Write down the value of λ corresponding to the point A. [1 mark]

B
 The point B has coordinates (−1, 0, 2) and lies on l2 .

15e. −−→ −→ [2 marks]

Write down PA and PB .

C D
15f. Let C be the point on l1 with coordinates (1, 0, 1) and D be the point on [8 marks]
l2 with parameter μ = −2.
Find the area of the quadrilateral CDBA.

16
 16
Let f (x) = x
. The line L is tangent to the graph of f at x = 8.

16a. Find the gradient of L. [2 marks]

8
L can be expressed in the form r = ( ) + tu.
2

16b. Find u. [2 marks]

 1
The direction vector of y = x is ( ).
1

16c. Find the acute angle between y = x and L. [5 marks]

( ∘ )( )
16d. Find (f ∘ f) (x). [3 marks]

16e. Hence, write down f −1 (x). [1 mark]

16f. Hence or otherwise, find the obtuse angle formed by the tangent line to [3 marks]
f at x = 8 and the tangent line to f at x = 2.

⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
 ⎛ −1 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
17. [6 marks]
The vector equation of line L is given by r = ⎜ 3 ⎟ + t ⎜ 5 ⎟.
⎝ 8 ⎠ ⎝ −1 ⎠
Point P is the point on L that is closest to the origin. Find the coordinates of P.
 Consider a triangle OAB such that O has coordinates (0, 0, 0), A has coordinates
(0, 1, 2) and B has coordinates (2b , 0, b − 1) where b < 0.

18a. Find, in terms of b, a Cartesian equation of the plane Π containing this [5 marks]
triangle.
 Let M be the midpoint of the line segment [OB].

18b. Find, in terms of b, the equation of the line L which passes through M [3 marks]
and is perpendicular to the plane П.
18c. Show that L does not intersect the y-axis for any negative value of b . [7 marks]
 Consider the points A(−3, 4, 2) and B(8, −1, 5).

19a. −−→ [2 marks]

Find AB .

19b. ∣−−→∣ [2 marks]

Find ∣AB ∣.
∣ ∣

⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
 ⎛ 2 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
A line L has vector equation r = ⎜ 0 ⎟ + t ⎜ −2 ⎟. The point C (5, y, 1) lies on
⎝ −5 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
line L.

19c. Find the value of y. [3 marks]

−−→ ⎛
19d. 8 ⎞ [2 marks]
Show that AC = ⎜ −10 ⎟.
⎝ −1 ⎠

−−→ −−→
19e. −−→ −−→ [5 marks]
Find the angle between AB and AC .

19f. Find the area of triangle ABC. [2 marks]

 Point A has coordinates (−4, −12, 1) and point B has coordinates (2, −4, −4).

20a.
⎛ 6 ⎞ [1 mark]
→ =
Show that AB
⎝ −5 ⎠
8

The line L passes through A and B.

20b. Find a vector equation for L. [2 marks]

20c. Point C (k , 12 , −k) is on L. Show that k = 14. [4 marks]

20d. Find → ∙ AB
OB → . [2 marks]
20e. Write down the value of angle OBA. [1 mark]

20f. Point D is also on L and has coordinates (8, 4, −9). [6 marks]

Find the area of triangle OCD.
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