AQA Core 4 Vectors

Section 2: Angles and lines

Solutions to Exercise
1. (i)

3 2
5 . 1 (3 2) ( 5 1) 6 5 1

3
2
2
5 3 ( 5 ) 34

2
2
2
1 2 1 5

1
cos
34 5
85.6
12

(ii) -2 . 1 (1 2) ( 2 1) (3 1) 2 2 3 3
3 1

1

2
2
2
2 1 ( 2) 3 14
3

2

2
2
2
1 2 1 ( 1) 6
1

3
cos
14 6
109.1

2. (i) If vectors are parallel, a kb

2
3
6 k t


2
3
k
6 tk

Equating first row 2 3k k 23

Equating second row 6 23 t t 9

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AQA C4 Vectors 2 Exercise

(ii) If vectors are perpendicular, a.b 0

2 3
6 . t 0

6 6t 0
t 1
3 2 1
3. (i) Direction vector
1 5 6
2
1
3 1
Equation of line is r t or r t
5
6
1 6

2 3 5

(ii) Direction vector 3 1 2
5 1 4

3
5
2
5

Equation of line is r 1 t 2 or r 3 t 2
1
4
5
4

4. (i)

or

5

or 2
4

3 1 1
2
3 t 1 0 s 2


3 t 1 2s
3 t 2s
6 1 4s
Adding:

s 54 ,t

1
2

7
3 1 1 2
Position vector of intersection point 2 5
3
1 2

Intersection point is

7
2

5
2

2 3 4
1
(ii) t s
1 0 3
2
2 3t 4 s
1 3 2s

s 1,t 31
4 1 3
Position vector of intersection point
3 2 1
Intersection point is (3, 1).

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AQA C4 Vectors 2 Exercise

4 2 2
5. (i) AB: Direction vector
1 3 4
2
2
Equation of line is r t
3
4
3 6 3
BC: Direction vector
5 0 5
6
3
Equation of line is r s
0
5
2 2 6
3
(ii) At intersection point, t s
3 4 0
5
(1)
2 2t 6 3s
(2)
3 4t 5 s
(1) 2
4 4t 12 6s

3 4t 5 s
Adding:
7 12 s s 5 ,t 112
6
3 9
Position vector of intersection point 5

0
5 25
so intersection point is (-9, 25).

(2)

(iii) Angle between lines is the angle between the direction vectors.
2 3
4 . 5 (2 3) ( 4 5 ) 6 20 26

2
2
2
4 2 ( 4) 20

3
2
2
5 ( 3) 5 34

26
20 34
175.6
cos

6. Angle between lines is the angle between the direction vectors.

0 4

5 . 2 (0 4) (5 2) (1 2) 0 10 2 12
1 2

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AQA C4 Vectors 2 Exercise

0

2
2
2
5 0 5 1 26
1

4

2
2
2
2 4 2 2 24
2

12
26 24
61.3
cos

0
1 2
0



7. 0 t 1 1 s 3
1
3 0
5



Equating first row t 2
Equating second row t 1 2s 2 1 3s s 1
Considering third row: LHS 1 3t 1 6 5
RHS 5 s 5
The values s = -1, t = 2 satisfy all three equations, so the lines intersect.

0
1 2


Position vector of intersection point 0 2 1 2
1
3 5


Intersection point is (2, -2, -5).

1 2
1


8. If A lies on the line, 2 3 t 2
0 2
3

Equating first row 1 2 t t 1

Equating second row 2 3 2t t 21
Equations are inconsistent, so A does not lie on the line.

3 2
1


If B lies on the line, 1 3 t 2
1 2
3


Equating first row 3 2 t t 1
Equating second row 1 3 2t t 1
Equating third row 1 2 3t t 1
Equations are consistent, so B does lie on the line.

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AQA C4 Vectors 2 Exercise

1 2
1


If C lies on the line, 1 3 t 2
2 2
3


Equating first row 1 2 t t 1
Equating second row 1 3 2t t 2
Equations are inconsistent, so C does not lie on the line.

7 4 3
1


9. (i) Direction vector is 2 8 6 3 2
3 0 3
1


4
1


Equation of AB is r 8 t 2
0
1


4
1 8
1



(ii) At intersection, 8 t 2 2 s 1
0
1 0
1

(1)
4 t 8 s
8 2t 2 s
(2)
t s
(3)
(2)+(3): 8 3t 2 t 2, s 2
Substituting into (1): LHS 4 2 6
RHS 8 2 6
The equations are consistent so the lines intersect.
4
1 6


Position vector of intersection point 8 2 2 4
0
1 2


Intersection point is (6, -4, 2).

8 1 9

10. AB 7 2 5
9 3 12

2 8 6

BC 3 7 10
1 9 8

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AQA C4 Vectors 2 Exercise

2 1 3

AC 3 2 5
1 3 4

9 6

AB.BC 5 . 10 54 50 96 0
12 8

6 3

BC.AC 10 . 5 18 50 32 0
8 4

so vectors BC and AC are perpendicular, and therefore the triangle has a right
angle at C.
Area of triangle

1
2

1
2

( 6)2 ( 10)2 8 2 3 2 ( 5 )2 ( 4)2

1
2

200 50

BC AC

21 10 2 5 2
25 2
50 square units

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