Vector Application [162 marks]

1. SPM.1.AHL.TZ0.8

The plane П has the Cartesian equation 2 x+ y+ 2 z=3

( )()
3 1
The line L has the vector equation r ¿ −5 + μ − 2 , μ , p ∈ R . The acute angle
1 p
between the line L and the plane П is 30°.

Find the possible values of p.

[7]

2. SPM.2.AHL.TZ0.7

Two ships, A and B , are observed from an origin O. Relative to O, their

position vectors at time t hours after midday are given by

rA = ( 43)+t (58)
rB = (−73)+t (120 )
where distances are measured in kilometres.

Find the minimum distance between the two ships.

[5]

3. EXN.1.AHL.TZ0.8

The lines l 1 and l 2 have the following vector equations where λ , μ ∈ R and
m ∈ R.

( ) () ( ) ( )
3 2 −1 2
l 1 :r 1= − 2 + λ 1 l 2 :r 2= − 4 + μ −5
0 m −2 m −m

(a)

Show that l 1 and l 2 are never perpendicular to each other.

[3]

The plane Π has Cartesian equation x +4 y − z =p where p ∈ R .

 Given that l 1 and Π have no points in common, find

(b.i)

the value of m .

[2]

(b.ii)

the condition on the value of p.

[2]

4. EXN.2.AHL.TZ0.11

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.

(a)
→ →
Find the vectors AB and AC.

[2]

(b)
^ C=60 ❑∘ .
Use a vector method to show that B A

[3]

(c)

Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane Π that contains the
triangle ABC is − x + y + z=− 2.

[3]

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

(d.i)

Find a vector equation of the line L.

[1]

(d.ii)

Hence determine the minimum distance, d min , from D to Π .

 [4]

(e)

Find the volume of right-pyramid ABCD.

[4]

5. 24M.1.AHL.TZ2.11

The plane Π 1 has equation 2 x+ 6 y − 2 z=5 .

(a)

1
( )
Verify that the point A 2, , 1 lies on the plane Π 1.
2

[1]

The plane Π 2 is given by ( k 2 − 6 ) x+ ( 2k + 3 ) y+ p z=q, where p , q , k ∈ R and p ≠ 0.

(b)

In the case where p=− 6, Π 2 is perpendicular to Π 1 and A lies on Π 2. Find

the value of k and the value of q .

[5]

For parts (c), (d) and (e) it is now given that Π 2 is parallel to Π 1 with k =3.

(c)

Determine the value of p.

[2]
51
It is also given that q=− .
2

The line through A that is perpendicular to Π 1 meets Π 2 at the point B.

(d.i)

Find the coordinates of B.

[5]

(d.ii)

Hence, show that the perpendicular distance between Π 1 and Π 2 is √ 11.

 [2]

(e)

Find the equation of a third parallel plane Π 3 which is also a

perpendicular distance of √ 11 from Π 1.

[4]

6. 23N.2.AHL.TZ2.8

Three points are given by A ( 0 , p ,2 ), B (1 , 1 ,1 ) and C ( p , 0 , 4 ) where p is a

positive constant.

(a)

( )
→ → 2− 3 p
Show that A B × A C = − 2− p .
p2 −2 p

[4]

(b)

|
Hence, find the smallest possible value of A B × A C .
→ → 2
)
[3]

(c)

Hence, find the smallest possible area of triangle A BC .

[2]

7. 23N.2.AHL.TZ2.12

( ) ()
1 2
Line L is given by the vector equation r 1= 2 + s 3 where s ∈ R .
−3 6

( ) ()
9 4
Line M is given by the vector equation r 2= 9 +t 1 where t ∈ R.
11 2

(a)

Show that lines L and M intersect at a point A and find the position
vector of A .
 [5]

(b)

()
0
Verify that the lines L and M both lie in the plane Π given by r • 2 =7 .
−1

[3]

()
−3
Point B has position vector 12 . A line through B perpendicular to Π
2
intersects Π at point C .

(c)

[N/A]

[[N/A]]

(c.i)

Find the position vector of C .

[4]

(c.ii)

| )
→
Hence, find B C .

[3]

(d)

Find the reflection of the point B in the plane Π .

[3]

8. 23M.1.AHL.TZ1.12

Two lines, L1 and L2, intersect at point P . Point A (2 t , 8 , 3) , where t >0, lies
on L2. This is shown in the following diagram.

not to scale
 π
The acute angle between the two lines is .
3

() ( )
1 → 2t
The direction vector of L1 is 1 , and P A = 0 .
0 3+t

(a)

Show that 4 t =√ 10 t 2 +12t +18.

[4]

(b)

Find the value of t .

[4]
 (c)

Hence or otherwise, find the shortest distance from A to L1.

[4]

A plane, Π , contains L1 and L2.

(d)

Find a normal vector to Π .

[2]

The base of a right cone lies in Π centred at A such that L1 is a tangent

to its base. The volume of the cone is 90 π √ 3 cubic units.

(e)

Find the two possible positions of the vertex of the cone.

[7]

9. 23M.1.AHL.TZ2.9
→ →
The following diagram shows parallelogram O A B C with O A =a, O C =c
and |c ) =2|a ) , where |a ) ≠ 0 .

→ →
The angle between O A and O C is θ , where 0<θ <π .
→ → → →
Point M is on [ A B] such that A M =k A B, where 0 ≤ k ≤1 and O M • M C =0

(a)
 → →
Express O M and M C in terms of a and c .

[2]

(b)
2
Hence, use a vector method to show that |a ) ( 1 −2 k ) ( 2 cos θ − (1 −2 k ) )=0 .

[3]

(c)

Find the range of values for θ such that there are two possible positions
for M .

[4]

10. 23M.2.AHL.TZ1.8
π
The angle between a line and a plane is α , where α ∈ R , 0<α < .
2
x −1 y +2
The equation of the line is = =5 − z , and the equation of the plane
3 2
is 4 x+ ( cos α ) y + ( sin α ) z=1.

Find the value of α .

[7]

11. 22N.2.AHL.TZ0.7

Consider the vectors u=i+ j and v= cos ( 1n ) i+(sin 1n ) j, where n ∈ Z +¿¿

.

Let θ be the angle between u and v .

(a)

Find an expression for cos θ in terms of n .

[3]

(b)

Find the exact value of the limit approached by θ as n → ∞ ).

[3]

12. 22N.2.AHL.TZ0.12
 Consider the points A ( 1, 2 , 3 ), B ( k , −2 , 1 ) and C (5 , 0 , 2 ), where k ∈ R .

(a)
→ →
Write down AB and AC.

[2]

(b)

Given that the points A , B and C lie on a straight line, show that k =9.

[1]

For k =9, let L1 be the line passing through A , B and C.

(c.i)

Find a vector equation of the line L1.

[2]

(c.ii)
x −1 y
Line L2 has the equation = =1− z . Show that the lines L1 and L2 are
2 3
skew.

[8]

For k ≠ 9, let Π be the plane containing A , B and C.

(d.i)

Find the Cartesian equation of the plane Π .

[4]

(d.ii)

Find the coordinates of the point on the plane Π which is closest to the
origin ( 0 , 0 , 0 ) .

[5]

13. 22M.1.AHL.TZ1.11

Consider the three planes

∏
1
:2 x − y + z=4
∏
2
: x −2 y +3 z=5

∏
3
:−9 x +3 y − 2 z=32

(a)

Show that the three planes do not intersect.

[4]

(b.i)

Verify that the point P ( 1 ,− 2 , 0 ) lies on both ∏

1
❑ and ∏ ❑.
2

[1]

(b.ii)

Find a vector equation of L, the line of intersection of ∏

1
❑ and ∏ ❑.
2

[4]

(c)

Find the distance between L and ∏

3
❑.

[6]

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