Vectors

Part 1: Vector forms, collinear vectors and unit vectors

1. Let 𝑃 = (−3, 1), 𝑄 = (5, 7), 𝑅 = (−1, 5)

.....⃑, 𝑄𝑅
Write down the vectors 𝑂𝑃 .....⃑ & 𝑃𝑅
.....⃑ as column vectors.

2. Given the vectors 𝒖 = −2𝑖 + 3𝑗 + 𝑘 and 𝒗 = −𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 3𝑘, find

a. 𝒖 + 𝒗

b. −3𝒖

c. −2(𝒖 − 𝒗)

d. |𝒖 + 𝒗|

e. |−3𝒖 + 𝒗|

0
3. Given that 𝒗 = 8 1 :, determine
−2

a. The unit vector 𝒖 in the direction of 𝒗.

b. The unit vectors parallel to 𝒗.

c. The vector with magnitude 5 in the direction of 𝒗.

4. Show that the points 𝑃 = (4, −1), 𝑄 = (6, −3), 𝑅 = (2, 1) are collinear.

CDE GDH
5. Show that if 𝑃 = (𝑎, 𝑏), 𝑄 = (𝑐, 𝑑), 𝑅 = (𝑒, 𝑓) and FDE = IDH then P, Q, R are

collinear points.

6. Consider points 𝐴 = (sin 𝑥 , −1 + cos 𝑥), 𝐵 = (sin 2𝑥 , cos 2𝑥), where 0 < 𝑥 < 𝜋.

.....⃑ is collinear with vector (sin 𝑥 , cos 𝑥).

a. Show that 𝐴𝐵

b. State the range of values for T...

𝐴𝐵..⃑T for any 0 < 𝑥 < 𝜋.
Part 2: Ratio theorems and direction cosines

1 7
1. The points A and B have position vectors 𝒂 = 8−1: and 𝒃 = 8−1: respectively.
4 −2

a. Find the position vector of point P which divides AB in the ratio 5:1.

b. Find the position vector of point Q so that 𝐴𝑄: 𝐵𝑄 = 3: 5 and Q lies

outside of AB.
2. The points A, B and R are collinear, with position vectors 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄 respectively.

2 2
Given that 𝒂 = 82: and 𝒃 = 8 6 :, find 𝒓 if:
5 −3

a. R divides 𝐴𝐵 in the ratio 3:1.

]^ `
b. R lies on BA produced such that _^ = a.

1 2
.....⃑ = 8 2 : and 𝑂𝐵
3. The points A and B have position vectors 𝑂𝐴 .....⃑ = 8−3:. The point
−2 6

1+𝜆
.....⃑ is such that 𝐴𝑃: 𝑃𝐵 = 𝜆: 1 − 𝜆. Show that 𝑂𝑃
P on 𝐴𝐵 .....⃑ = 8 2 − 5𝜆 :.
−2 + 8𝜆

4. Find the direction cosines and the direction angles for the vector 𝒊 − 2𝒋 − 3𝒌.

5. Find the direction cosines of vector V and show that the sum of the squares of the

direction cosines is 1.

2
a. 𝑽 = 8 5 :
−4

7
b. 𝑽 = 8−4:
6

Hence find the direction angles for vector 𝑽 for each case.
Part 3: Vector equations of straight lines

1. Given the points 𝑃 = (1, 3) & 𝑄 = (2, 5), find the vector, parametric and cartesian

equations for 𝑃𝑄.

1 −1
2. A line ℓ has vector equation 𝒓 = 8 1 : + 𝜆 8 0 : , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ.
−1 3

a. Find the coordinates of 3 distinct points on ℓ.

b. Show that the point 𝑃 = (0, 3, 2) does not lie on the line.

c. Write down the vector of the line through P parallel to ℓ.

2
3. Given that ℓ passes through the point 𝐶 = (0, 1, 3) and parallel to vector 81: ,
1

write down the vector, parametric and cartesian equations for ℓ.

4. A line has vector equation 𝒓 = (1 + 𝑎)𝒊 − 𝑎𝒋 + 2𝒌 , 𝑎 ∈ ℝ.

a. Write down the coordinates of 2 points on the line.

b. Write down a vector with magnitude of 4 parallel to the line.

5. Relative to the origin, O, the points A, B and C have position vectors given by 𝒂 =

7 2 10
83: , 𝒃 = 81: and 𝒄 = 8 𝑠 : respectively, where s and t are constants.
2 3 𝑡

a. Find a vector equation of the line passing through O and parallel to 𝒂.

b. Find a vector equation of the line passing through A and B.

7 1
c. The line passing through A and C has equation given by 𝒓 = 83: + 𝜆 83: ,
2 0

𝜆 ∈ ℝ. Find s and t.
Part 4: Scalar product, vector product, length of projection, angles between angles,

perpendicular distance from point to line

1. Show that 𝒖 ∙ 𝒖 = |𝒖|` for any vector 𝒖.

.....⃑ ∙ .....⃑
2. Consider an equilateral triangle ABC. Find 𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶 + .....⃑ .....⃑ .
𝐵𝐶 ∙ 𝐴𝐶

.....⃑ ∙ .....⃑
3. Given that 𝐴(−1, 3, −2), 𝐵(−1, 1, 2) & 𝐶(1, −1, 1), find 𝐴𝐵 .....⃑ ∙ .....⃑
𝐵𝐶 and 𝐴𝐶 𝐵𝐶 .

`
4. Given that 𝒖 = pDq r, 𝒗 = ps`r, find the angle between 𝒖 & 𝒗.

1 2
5. Given that 𝒖 = 8−2: , 𝒗 = 8−1:, find the angle between 𝒖 & 𝒗.
1 1

H
6. Given the vectors pHDtr and pHD`
q
r, find the values of a for which the angle between

the vectors is acute.

7. If 𝒂 = 2𝒊 − 3𝒋 − 6𝒌 and 𝒃 = 𝒊 + 2𝒋 + 2𝒌, find

a. The length of projection of a on b.

b. The projection vector of a on b.

8. A, B, C & D are points with position vectors 𝒋 + 2𝒌, −𝒊 − 𝒋, 4𝒊 + 𝒌 and 3𝒊 + 𝒋 + 2𝒌

respectively. Prove that ABC is a right-angled triangle and that ABD is an isosceles.

 9. Consider the points 𝐴(−1, 3, 4), 𝐵(5, 7, 5) & 𝐶(3, 9, 6)

a. Given that ABCD is a parallelogram, find the coordinate of D.

.....⃑ × .....⃑
b. Find 𝐴𝐵 𝐵𝐶 .

c. Hence, find the area of ABCD.

−2 0 1 0
10. Given that 𝒂 = 8 7 : , 𝒃 = 8 4 : , 𝒄 = 80: , 𝒅 = 80:,
3 −1 0 1

a. Find the angle between 𝒂 and 𝒃.

b. Find the cross product of 𝒄 and 𝒅.

c. Find the length of projection and projection vector of

i. 𝒂 on 𝒃

ii. 𝒂 on 𝒄

11. Given that the points 𝐴(2, 8), 𝐵(−2, 1), 𝐶(3, −3) on a cartesian plane, find the

angle ABC and the exact area of triangle ABC.

12. The position vector of A and B relative to the origin are 6𝒊 + 4𝒋 − 𝒌 and 3𝒊 + 𝑝𝒋 +

2𝒌 respectively. Find,

.....⃑ and 𝑂𝐵
a. A vector that is perpendicular to both 𝑂𝐴 .....⃑ .

.....⃑ is perpendicular to 𝑂𝐵
b. The value of p for which 𝑂𝐴 .....⃑.

c. Angle AOB and angle ABO when 𝑝 = 0.

Part 5: equation of planes

1. Given the points 𝐴(1, 0, 1), 𝐵(−1, 1, 0), 𝐶(0, 1, −1), find the equation of the plane

ABC in vector form, scalar form and cartesian form.

2. Given the points 𝐴(−3, 1, 1), 𝐵(1, 2, 0), 𝐶(1, 1, −2), find the equation of the plane

ABC in vector form, scalar form and cartesian form.

3. Find the equation of the plane which contains the point 𝐴(−1, 1, 2) and is normal

to the vector 𝒏 = 2𝒊 − 𝒋 − 𝒌. Hence show that (0, 4, 1) lies on the plane.

4. Find the equation of the plane which contains the point 𝑃(1, 0, 1) and is normal to

−1
the vector 𝒏 = 8 3 :. Hence find the coordinate of three distinct points on the
−1

plane.
Part 6: angles between lines, between planes, between lines and planes

zD`
1. Find the angle between the lines = 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑧 and 𝑥 = 2𝑦 = 𝑧 − 3.
q

2. Consider the lines with equations 𝒓 = p}qr + 𝜆pDs

s
r and 𝑦 = √3𝑥 − 3 . Find the

angle between these 2 lines.

3. Find the angle between the lines with equations 𝒓 = (2 − 𝛼)𝒊 + (−1 + 2𝛼)𝒋 +

(1 − 𝛼)𝒌 and 𝒓 = (2 + 𝛽)𝒋 + (3 + 𝛽)𝒌.

zDs
4. Calculate the angle between the line with equation = 2𝑦 = 3 − 2𝑧 and the
q

2 −2 −3
plane with vector equation 𝒓 = 81: + 𝛼 8−1: + 𝛽 8 1 :.
0 −2 1

5. Consider points 𝐴(1, 0, 1), 𝐵(−1, 1, 0), 𝐶(2, 3, −1) and 𝐷(−1, −1, −1)

a. Find a cartesian equation for the plane ABC.

b. Find a cartesian equation for the line AD.

c. Find the angle between the line AD and plane ABC.

6. Find the angle between planes defined by the equations

𝜋s : 𝑥 − 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1
4 −2 2
‚
𝜋` : 𝒓 = 81: + 𝛼 8 0 : + 𝛽 8−3:
2 −1 −1
Part 7: intersections between lines and planes

2 1
1. The line ℓ with vector equation 𝒓 = 8−1: + 𝜆 8−1: and the plane 𝜋 with
3 2

cartesian equation 2𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 + 2 = 0 intersect at a point. Find the coordinates

of the point of intersection.

zDs ƒ „
2. Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of the line = = q and the
a `

plane −𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 5.

3. Consider the line ℓ with parametric equations 𝑥 = 3𝑘, 𝑦 = 2 − 2𝑘, 𝑧 = 1 − 𝑘, and

4 −2 1
the plane with vector equation 𝒓 = 81: + 𝛼 8 0 : + 𝛽 8−1:.
2 −1 −2

a. Write down the parametric equations for the plane.

b. Hence find the coordinates of intersection between the line and the plane.

z
4. Determine the value of k for which the line ` = 𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘 − 𝑧 and the plane

(2𝑘 − 1)𝑥 − 𝑘𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5 + 𝑘 are parallel.

5. Find, if possible, coordinates of the points of intersection of these pairs of lines,

ƒ…t
a. 𝑥 = 2𝑦 − 1 = 𝑧 + 3 and 𝑥 − 1 = = 𝑧 + 2
q

−1 1
b. 𝒓 = 8 1 : + 𝛼 81: and 𝑥 = 𝑦 = 𝑧 + 1
−1 1
 zDs ƒDs sD„
6. Consider the line ℓs : 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 2, 𝑧 = 3 − 𝑥 and ℓ` : q
= †
= q
.

a. Show that the lines are parallel.

b. Find the cartesian equation of the plane defined by the two lines.

7. Find the line of intersection of the following pairs of planes if possible,

1 1
a. 𝜋s : 𝒓 ∙ 83: = 4 and 𝜋` : 𝒓 ∙ 8−1: = 4
2 −1
2 −2 1 3 −2 0
b. 𝜋s : 𝒓 = 81: + 𝛼 8 1 : + 𝛽 8−1: and 𝜋` : 𝒓 = 8 4 : + 𝛼 8 1 : + 𝛽 8 1 :
0 0 1 −1 0 −2

1 1
8. The equations of 2 planes are given by 𝜋s : 𝒓 ∙ 8 2 : = 13 and 𝜋` : 𝒓 ∙ 83: = −8
−4 3

a. Write down the cartesian equations of both planes.

b. Find the vector equation of the line of intersection between the 2 planes.

9. The equations of 2 lines are given by

ℓs : 𝑟 = −2𝑖 + 𝑗 + 9𝑘 + 𝜆(2𝑖 + 5𝑗 + 4𝑘) , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ

ℓ` : 𝑟 = 11𝑖 + 8𝑗 + 3𝑘 + 𝜇(3𝑖 − 𝑗 + 5𝑘) , 𝜇 ∈ ℝ

Determine if the lines are parallel, intersecting or skewed, giving a reason for

your answer.

Part 8: foot of perpendicular, shortest distance from a point, reflections along line/plane

1. Find the coordinates of the foot of perpendicular, N, of the point 𝐵(6, −4, 1) to the

3 2
line 𝒓 = 81: + 𝜆 8−1: , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ . Hence find the coordinates of the point of
0 3

3 2
reflection of the point B in the line 𝒓 = 81: + 𝛼 8−1:.
0 3

2. A line ℓ has equation 𝑟 = (7𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 3𝑘) + 𝜇(𝑖 + 𝑗 + 𝑘) , 𝜇 ∈ ℝ.

a. Find the foot of perpendicular, N, of the point 𝐵(6, 4, 4) to ℓ.

b. Find the point P on the line passing though N and B which is situated at a

distance √342 units from ℓ and is on the same side of ℓ as B.

3. Find the position vector of the foot of perpendicular from the point 𝑄(5, 2, 4) to

4 −2
the line ℓ whose vector equation is 𝒓 = 82: + 𝜆 8−1: , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ. Hence, find the
1 1

perpendicular distance from the point Q to the line ℓ.

4. Given three points 𝑃 = (3, 1, 3), 𝑄 = (−1, −1, −3), 𝑅 = (5, 2, −1) , find the

coordinates of the point S on the line PQ such that RS is perpendicular to PQ. Hence

find the coordinate of the point obtained when R is reflected in the line PQ.

 5. Find the position vector of the foot of the perpendicular from a point 𝐴(2, 1, 4) to

the plane 𝜋: 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = −6. Hence find the point of reflection of A in the plane 𝜋.

6. A plane 𝜋s has equation 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 3 and a point A has coordinates (1, 3, 1).

Find the perpendicular distance from A to 𝜋s . Find the equation of a parallel plane

𝜋` such that A is equidistant from 𝜋s to 𝜋` .

1 2
7. A line has equation 𝒓 = 81: + 𝜆 81: , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ and the plane has equation 𝑥 + 2𝑦 −
0 4

𝑧 = 1. Determine the shortest distance between the line and the plane.

8. Two planes are defined by 2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = −3 and 2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑧 = 12 respectively.

Find the distance between the planes.

−4
9. Two planes are defined by 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 5 and 𝒓 ∙ 8 4 : = 7 respectively.
−2

Explain why the planes are parallel and find the distance between them.

4 −1
10. The line ℓ has equation 𝒓 = 8−6: + 𝜆 8 2 : , 𝜆 ∈ ℝ and the plane 𝑝 has equation
−2 0
−2
𝒓 ∙ 8 1 : = 6. Find:
−2
a. The acute angle between ℓ and 𝑝.

b. The intersection point between ℓ and 𝑝.

c. The foot of perpendicular from point 𝐵(4, −6, −2) to 𝑝.

d. The reflection of B in 𝑝.

e. The reflection of ℓ in 𝑝.

f. The shortest distance from B to 𝑝.

3
g. Given point 𝐶 8−4:, the length of projection of 𝐵𝐶 onto 𝑝.
−2

h. The length of projection of 𝐵𝐶 onto the normal of the plane.