VECTORS (A/L Combined Maths)

1.

Define a vector. Explain the terms position vector, unit vector,

null vector and the modulus of a vector. a is a vector, define
a, where is a scalar. If
AB ,
=4i find

2.

3.

BC

and

O A =i + 2j,

CA

OB =3i + 4j,

OC

and hence find the lengths of

the sides of the triangle ABC.

State and prove the commutative law of vectors. P, Q, R and S
are four points in the space and U and V are the mid points of
PQ +
PS +
RQ +
RS = 4
UV .
PQ and RS. Prove that

DC ,
a and b are the position vectors of A and B. If AB =
show that ABCD is a parallelogram and its diagonals are
bisected each other. Conversely show that, if the diagonals of a
quadrilateral are bisected each other, the quadrilateral is a
parallelogram.

4.

OACB is a parallelogram. The mid point of AC is D and the point

of intersection of the diagonals AB and OD is E. If
OB
and

5.

OD
= b, express

OA

= a

in terms of a and b and show that

3AE = AB.
When i is a unit vector define i. In a rectangular coordinate
system the unit vectors parallel to OX and OY are i and j. Show
that the position vector of any point A on the plane is

r =

^ X=. Get the

a( cos i + sin j) where OA = a and A O

position vector

OA '

of

A which is the point when OA is

rotated through 90about O to get OA is the plane oxy. Hence

find the position vector OO in the square OAOA.
6.

A and b are position vectors of A and B. Show that the position

vector of P, that divides AB in the ratio : ( + 0) can be
represented by (a + b)/( + ).
Show that there exist , and such that a + b +c = 0
and + + = 0, when the points with position vectors a, b
and c are collinear. Also prove its converse.

7.

In the triangle ABC, the mid points of the sides BC, CA and AB
are D, E and F respectively. Prove that
BC
i)

CA
+

AB
ii) 2
AD
iii)
8.

AB
+

BC
+3
BE
+

=0

CA
+

CF
+

FC
=2

=0

If the in-centre of triangle ABC is I, prove that a

+c

IC

IA

+b

IB

= 0, where a, b and c are lengths of the sides

according to the standard notation. Also using vectors show

that the medians of the triangle are concurrent.
9.

A, B and C are vertices of a triangle and If

and

O A =a,

OB =b

OC =c. The point Q is inside the triangle and produced

AQ, BQ and CQ meet the sides BC, CA and AB at X, Y and Z

respectively such that BX : XC = 1 : 2 and AQ : QC = 2 : 3.
OQ
Show that

= (9a + 4b + 2c)/15. Deduce that

CY : YA =

9 : 2.
1
0.

Position vectors of the points P and Q are p and q respectively.

PQ divides internally and externally at R and S such that PR :
RS = PS : QS = m : 1 ( m>0, 1). Show that

RS

=2m(p

q)/(1 m2).
1
1.

Define the scalar product of two vectors.

If r = 3i + 2j +4k and p = 2i + 5j + 3k, find

|r|

and

| p|

and the angle between r and p.

State the condition that satisfy the equation i + j +k = 0
where i, j, k are three mutually perpendicular unit vectors and
, , are three scalars.

W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip./M.Sc.)