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Exam-Style Questions on VectorsProblems on Vectors adapted from questions set in previous Mathematics exams. |
1. | GCSE Higher |
Find \(4a - b\) as a column vector.
2. | GCSE Higher |
Calculate the vector \(3a - 2b\) if the vectors \(a\) and \(b\) are:
$$ a = \begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ -5 \\ \end{pmatrix} $$ $$ b = \begin{pmatrix} -1 \\ -3 \\ \end{pmatrix} $$3. | IGCSE Extended |
OABC is a parallelogram with O as origin. The position vector of A is \(a\) and the position vector of C is \(c\).
F is the mid-point of AB and the point E divides the line OC such that OE:EC = 2:1.
The point E also divides the line AD such that AE:ED = 3:2.
Find the following in terms of \(a\) and \(c\).
(a) \(\overrightarrow{OB}\)
(b) \(\overrightarrow{AC}\)
(c) \(\overrightarrow{AE}\)
(d) the position vector of F.
(e) \(\overrightarrow{AD}\)
(f) \(\overrightarrow{BD}\)
4. | GCSE Higher |
(a) Shape \(A\) is translated to shape \(B\) using the vector \( \begin{pmatrix}m\\n\\ \end{pmatrix}\). What are the values of \(m\) and \(n\)?
(b) Vectors \(a, b, c, d\) and \(e\) are drawn on an isometric grid. Write each of the vectors \(c, d\) and \(e\) in terms of \(a\) and/or \(b\).
5. | GCSE Higher |
ABCD is a quadrilateral. The points E, F, G and H are the midpoints of the sides of this quadrilateral.
$$\vec{CH} = a, \vec{DG} = b \text{ and } \vec{DF} = c$$
Show that HG is parallel to EF.
6. | IGCSE Extended |
ABCDOE is a regular hexagon with O as origin. The position vector of A is \(a\) and the position vector of B is \(b\).
Find the following in terms of \(a\) and \(b\).
(a) \(\overrightarrow{BA}\)
(b) \(\overrightarrow{OE}\)
(c) the position vector of C.
If the sides of the hexagon are each of length 10cm calculate:
(d) the size of angle \(BCD\).
(e) the area of triangle \(BCD\).
(f) the length of the line from B to D.
(g) the area of the hexagon.
7. | GCSE Higher |
Consider a triangle ABC where M is the midpoint of AB and F is the point on BC where BF:FC = 3:4.
(a) If \(\overrightarrow{AB}=b\) and \(\overrightarrow{AC}=c\) work out \(\overrightarrow{MF}\) in terms of \(b\) and \(c\) giving your answer in its simplest form.
(b) Use your answer to part (a) to explain whether MF is parallel to AC or not.
8. | GCSE Higher |
In the parallelogram OABC two of the sides can be represented by vectors \(a\) and \(c\).
\( \overrightarrow{OA} = a \) and \( \overrightarrow{OC} = c \)
\( X \) is the midpoint of the line \( AC \).
\( OCD \) is a straight line such that \(OC:CD = k:1 \)
Given that \( \overrightarrow{XD} = 3c - \frac12 a \) find the value of \( k \).
9. | GCSE Higher |
ABCD is a quadrilateral
\(\overrightarrow{AB} = p\)
\(\overrightarrow{BC} = q\)
\(\overrightarrow{CD} = 2q - p\)
(a) Express \(\overrightarrow{AD}\) in terms of \(p\) and/or \(q\) giving your answer in its simplest form.
E is the midpoint of AB.
F is the point on DE such that DF : FE = n : 1
AFC is a straight line.
(b) Work out the value of n.
10. | IGCSE Extended |
(a) If A is the point (3,5) write down the position vector of A.
(b) If B is the point (6,9) find \(\mid\overrightarrow{AB} \mid\) the magnitude of \( \overrightarrow{AB}\).
The following diagram is not to scale.
\(O\) is the origin, \(\overrightarrow{OP}=p\) and = \(\overrightarrow{OQ}=q\).
\(OP\) is extended to \(R\) so that \(OP=PR\).
\(OQ\) is extended to \(S\) so that \(OQ=QS\).
(c) Write down \(\overrightarrow{RQ}\) in terms of \(p\) and \(q\).
(d) \(PS\) and \(RQ\) intersect at \(M\) and \(RM=2 MQ\).
Use vectors to find the ratio \(PM:PS\), showing all your working.
11. | GCSE Higher |
In the diagram above (not drawn to scale) \(X\) is the point on \(AB\) such that \(AX:XB = 9:4\).
The position vector of \(A\) is \(3a\) and the position vector of \(B\) is \(3b\).
Find the value of \(k\) if \(\vec{OX} = k(4a + 9b)\) where \(k\) is a scalar quantity.
12. | IB Standard |
The line L is parallel to the vector \(\begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 5 \\ \end{pmatrix} \),
(a) Find the gradient of the line L .
The line L passes through the point (11, 3).
(b) Write down the equation of the line L in the form \(y=ax+b\)
(c) Find a vector equation for the line L.
13. | IB Standard |
Consider two perpendicular vectors \(p\) and \(q\).
(a) Let \(r=p-q\). Draw a diagram to show what this relationship might look like.
(b) If \(p=\begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \\ -3 \\ \end{pmatrix}\) and \(q=\begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ n \\ -5 \\ \end{pmatrix}\), where \(n\in \mathbb Z\), find \(n\).
14. | IB Analysis and Approaches |
The following diagram shows parallelogram OABC with \( \overrightarrow{OA}\ = \pmb{a} \), \( \overrightarrow{OC}\ = \pmb{c} \) and \(|\pmb{c}| = 2|\pmb{a}| \)
The angle \(ABC = \theta \), where \(0 \lt \theta \lt \pi\).
Point M is on [AB] such that \( \overrightarrow{AM} = k\overrightarrow{AB} \), where \( 0 \le k \le 1 \).
OM is perpendicular to MC.
(a) Express \( \overrightarrow{OM} \) and \( \overrightarrow{MC} \) in terms of \(\pmb{a}\) and \(\pmb{c}\).
(b) Hence, use a vector method to show that \( |a|^2(1-2k)(2\cos{\theta}-(1-2k))=0 \).
(c) Find the range of values for \( \theta \) such that there are two possible positions for M.
15. | IB Standard |
George and Hugo like to fly model airplanes. On one day George's plane takes off from level ground and shortly after that Hugo's plane takes off.
The position of George’s plane \(s\) seconds after it takes off is given by \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 2 \\ 0 \\ \end{pmatrix} + s\begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ -2 \\ 6 \\ \end{pmatrix} \) where the distances are in metres.
(a) Find the speed of George’s plane to the nearest integer.
(b) Find the height of George’s plane after four seconds.
The position of Hugo’s airplane \(t\) seconds after it takes off is given by \(\begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ -4 \\ 0 \\ \end{pmatrix}+t\begin{pmatrix} 7 \\ -2 \\ 9 \\ \end{pmatrix} \) where the distances are in metres.
(c) Show that the paths of the planes are not perpendicular.
The two airplanes collide at the point \((46, -16, 54)\).
(d) How long after George’s plane takes off does Hugo’s plane take off ?
16. | IB Standard |
The line \(L_1\) passes through the points A(3, 5, 1) and B(3, 6, 0).
(a) Show that \(AB=\begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ -1 \\ \end{pmatrix}\)
(b) Find a direction vector for \(L_1\)
(c) a vector equation for \(L_1\)
Another line \(L_2\) has equation \(\begin{pmatrix} 8 \\ 3 \\ -2 \\ \end{pmatrix} + t \begin{pmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \\ \end{pmatrix}\). The lines \(L_1\) and \(L_2\) intersect at the point P.
(d) Find the coordinates of P.
(e) Find a direction vector for \(L_2\).
(f) Hence, find the angle between \(L_1\) and \(L_2\).
17. | IB Standard |
Two points \(A\) and \(B\) have coordinates (1 , 3 , 6) and (8 , 7 , 10) respectively.
(a) Find \( \overrightarrow{AB} \) in terms of the unit vectors \(i, j\) and \(k\).
(b) Find \(\mid\overrightarrow{AB} \mid\)
Let \( \overrightarrow{AC} = 5i + 2j - k\)
(c) Find the angle between \(AB\) and \(AC\).
(d) Find the area of triangle \(ABC\).
(e) Hence or otherwise find the shortest distance from \(C\) to the line through \(A\) and \(B\).
18. | A-Level |
The points A and B have coordinates \((3,-2,1)\) and \((4, 0, -1)\) respectively.
The line \(l\) has the following equation:
$$ r= \begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ 2 \\ 0 \\ \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} -1 \\ -2 \\ 0 \\ \end{pmatrix} $$The point C lies on \(l\) where \(\lambda = 3\).
(a) Find the coordinates of C.
(b) Find the acute angle ABC, giving your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree.
(c) The point D lies on a line through A and B such that angle ADC is a right angle. Find the coordinates of D.
(d) The point E completes the parallelogram ACBE. Find the coordinates of E.
19. | IB Analysis and Approaches |
(a) Find the equation of the intersection of these two planes:
$$ 3x-y+2z = 5 $$ $$ x+y+3z=15$$(b) Find the shortest distance from this line to the origin.
20. | IB Analysis and Approaches |
Two lines, \(L_1\) and \(L_2\), intersect at point \(P\).
Point \(A(3t, 6, 5)\), where \(t \neq 0\), lies on \(L_2\).
The acute angle between the two lines is \(\frac{\pi}{4}\).
The direction vector of \(L_1\) is \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}\), and \(\overrightarrow{PA} = \begin{pmatrix} 3t \\ 0 \\ 5 + t \end{pmatrix}\).
(a) Find the value of \(t\).
(b) Hence or otherwise, find the shortest distance from \(A\) to \(L_1\).
A plane, \(\Pi\), contains \(L_1\) and \(L_2\).
(c) Find a normal vector to \(\Pi\).
The base of a right cone lies in \(\Pi\), centred at \(A\) such that \(L_1\) is a tangent to its base. The volume of the cone is \(300 \pi\) cubic units.
(e) Find the two possible positions of the vertex of the cone.
21. | IB Analysis and Approaches |
Consider the vectors \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) such that \(\mathbf{a} = \begin{pmatrix} 16 \\ -12 \end{pmatrix} \) and \( |\mathbf{b}| = 11\).
(a) Find the possible range of values for \(|\mathbf{a+b}|\).
Consider the vector \(\mathbf{p}\) such that \(\mathbf{p=a+b}\).
(b) Given that \(|\mathbf{a+b}|\) is a minimum, find \(\mathbf{p}\).
Consider the vector q such that \(\mathbf{q} = \begin{pmatrix}x \\ y \end{pmatrix} \) , where \(x,y \in \mathbb{R} \).
(c) Find \(\mathbf{q}\) such that \(\mathbf{|q| = |b|}\) and \(\mathbf{q}\) is perpendicular to \(\mathbf{a}\).
22. | IB Analysis and Approaches |
Consider the three planes:
$$ \Pi_1: \quad x+3y+2z=5 $$ $$ \Pi_2: \quad 2x+y+9z=20 $$ $$ \Pi_3: \quad x-y+6z=8 $$(a) Show that the three planes do not have a common point of intersection.
(b) Verify that the point \(P(1 , 0 , 2)\) lies on both \( \Pi_1 \text{ and } \Pi_2 \)
(c) Find a vector equation of \(L\), the line of intersection of \( \Pi_1 \text{ and } \Pi_2 \)
(d) Find the distance between \(L\) and \( \Pi_3 \)
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